Cyrillic is not the same as transliteration
Several Latin transliteration systems may produce different forms of the same name. Existing passport spellings take precedence.
East Slavic language
Have Russian translated
русский язык
Russian is part of the personal language repertoire of Saiga Abbasova and Parviz Abbasov. For official documents, transliteration, the country of origin and historical document conventions are particularly important.
Russian is spoken as a first language by approximately 150 million people and is spoken or used by around 250 million people in total.
Geographical distribution of Russian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Russia
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Ukraine
Latvia
Estonia
Republic of Moldova
Germany
United States
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Russian at a glance
- Native name
- русский язык
- Language family
- East Slavic language
- Script
- Cyrillic alphabet
- Language code
- ru
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth, marriage and divorce certificates
- Certificates, diplomas and employment record books
- Residence and civil-status documents
- Court and notarial documents
- Powers of attorney and apostilles
Origin and development
How the language developed
Russian is an East Slavic language. Its written tradition was strongly influenced by Church Slavonic; under Peter the Great, a simplified civil script emerged in the early 18th century.
The spelling reform after 1917 shaped modern orthography. Through the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, Russian spread far beyond the territory of today's Russian Federation.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Soviet document tradition
Older documents from different successor states may contain Russian forms, stamps and names of public authorities.
Personally spoken languages
Saiga and Parviz speak Russian and can personally review documents and respond directly to follow-up questions.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Здравствуйте | Zdravstvuyte | Good day |
| Спасибо | Spasibo | Thank you |
| Пожалуйста | Pozhaluysta | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Russian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Other related service languages
Russian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Russian
Can I have Russian translated into German and German into Russian?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Russian?
Birth, marriage and divorce certificates, certificates, diplomas and employment record books, residence and civil-status documents, and court and notarial documents are typical examples. Other types of document can also be assessed using a clear photograph or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check for Russian?
We check the language direction, document type, use of the Cyrillic alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be required.
Do I need a certified translation of my Russian document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Ask us to review your Russian ↔ German requirements
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
