Чем ты занимаешься? What do you do? Talking about Jobs and Professions in Russian
In this post you’ll learn how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in Russian. First you’ll learn how to ask someone what their job is. Next you’ll learn how to say what you do for a living with Russian vocabulary for many common jobs. Finally you’ll learn how to talk about where you work, or whether you’re retired or looking for a job.
Asking about Jobs and Professions in Russian
If you want to ask what kind of work someone does in Russian, these expressions will be handy. The verb to work is работать and the noun work/job is работа. The verb заниматься also means to work, in the sense of to be engaged in some kind of work. It’s followed by the instrumental case (чем).
- Чем ты занимаешься?
What do you do? - У тебя есть работа?
Do you have a job? - Где ты работаешь?
Where do you work?
Common Jobs and Professions in Russian
When you say what your job is, just give the job, of course without any translation for be. Many jobs in Russian have both feminine and masculine forms.
- Я учитель (m)/ учительница (f), преподаватель (m) / преподавательница (f).
I’m a teacher. - Я студент (m)/студентка (f).
I’m a student. - Я медсестра (f)/медбрат (m).
I’m a nurse. - Я врач.
I’m a doctor. - Я зубной врач.
I’m a dentist. - Я полицейский, офицер полиции.
I’m a police officer. - Я пожарный.
I’m a fireman. - Я продавец (m) /продавщица (f).
I’m a salesperson. (salesman/saleswoman) - Я официант (m) /официантка (f).
I’m a server. (waiter/waitress) - Я бармен.
I’m a bar tender. - Я повар.
I’m a cook. - Я актёр (m) /актриса (f).
I’m an actor. - Я писатель (m) /писательница (f).
I’m a writer. - Я журналист (m) /журналистка (f).
I’m a journalist. - Я художник (m) / художница (f), артист (m) / артистка (f)
I’m an artist. - Я певец (m) /певица (f).
I’m a singer. - Я танцор (m) /танцовщица (f).
I’m a dancer.
More Jobs and Professions in Russian
- Я строитель (m) /строительница (f).
I’m a construction worker. - Я водопроводчик.
I’m a plumber. - Я электрик.
I’m an electrician. - Я инженер.
I’m an engineer. - Я плотник.
I’m a carpenter. - Я юрист (m) /юристка (f).
I’m a lawyer. - Я архитектор.
I’m an architect. - Я веб дизайнер.
I’m a web designer. - Я секретарь.
I’m a secretary. - Я психиатр.
I’m a psychiatrist. - Я психолог.
I’m a psychologist. - Я социальный работник.
I’m a social worker. - Я инструктор по йоге.
I’m a yoga instructor. - Я кассир.
I’m a cashier. - Я почтальон.
I’m a postal worker. (mail carrier) - Я руководитель офиса.
I’m an office supervisor. - Я госслужащий (m) / госслужащая (f).
I’m a civil servant.
Talking about Companies and Working in Russian
Now let’s look at some more expressions to talk about where, or whether, you work.
- Я работаю в офисе.
I work in an office. - Я работаю на большую/маленькую компанию.
I work for a big/small company. - Я работаю дома.
I work at home. - У меня свой бизнес.
I have my own business. - У меня есть работа.
I have a job. - У меня нет работы.
I don’t have a job. - Я ищу работу.
I’m looking for a job. - Я на пенсии.
I’m retired. - Я на пособии по безработице.
I’m on unemployment.
Get on the road to speaking Russian with the Language Garage!
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about jobs, professions, and working in Russian. Now you know how to talk about work, and you’ve learned Russian vocabulary for many common jobs and professions. If you’d like to learn more, check out our other posts on Russian language, culture, and more. And if you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Russian lessons with a real teacher, check out The Language Garage Russian. Our lessons are given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work. We can come to you. And we have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!
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