3. The Secret Agents

The next group includes sixteen letters of the Russian alphabet that we call "secret agents". If you try to guess their pronunciation it won't be an easy task because they all have an unusual look. The good news is that these letters represent sounds that are relatively familiar to you as an English speaker.

Б б - pronounced as "b" in "boy"

Г г - pronounced as "g" in "good"

Д д - pronounced as "d" in "desk"

Ё ё - pronounced as "yo" in "yonder"

Ж ж - pronounced as "s" in "pleasure"

П п - pronounced as "p" in "people"

Ф ф - pronounced as "f" in "fast"

И и - pronounced as "ee" in "feet"

Й й - pronounced as "y" in "boy"

Л л - pronounced as "l" in "last"

Ц ц - pronounced as "ts" in "its"

Ш ш - pronounced as "sh" in "short"

Щ щ - pronounced as "shch" in "bush chat". This letter reminds a combination of "Ш" (sh) and "Ч" (ch).

Э э - pronounced as "e" in "echo"

Ю ю - pronounced as English "you" but shorter

Я я - pronounced as "ya" in "yard"