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The chances are if you weren't born in the Motherland you'll never learn to read Nabokov in his native tongue (well, he wrote his best works in English anyhow!), but that's no excuse for not getting to grips with some of the Ruski basics. You'll certainly find plenty of use for them, as English is nowhere near as widely spoken as in the rest of Europe and you can't take anything for granted - even (or should we say 'especially') in train stations and places where you most need a good line of communication. Apart from making navigation easier, a little bit of Russian can also help break the ice with the locals and dispel the notion that you are just another ignorant Westerner...
Get started by having a look at the words and phrases we list here. However, if you want to really want to get ahead then you should sign up for some lessons at a language school, or else find your own personal tutor (ask any Russian male and they'll be more than happy to teach you all the rude words!). Pronunciation isn't easy though and is best attempted after loosening the tongue with a few vodkas... Good luck! a few words... 
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