Russian letter: Л л
Be careful not to confuse the Russian letter Л with the one we learned earlier - П.
Л look like a gate too, but its left side is a bit curled. Sometimes it looks like the A without the horizontal line across.
Л has the same sound as the English L.
Writing
Printed 1
Л л
Printed 2
Л л
Printed 3
Л л
Cursive
Л л
Hand-written 1
Hand-written 2
Л л
Pronunciation
Transcription
[ l ]
How to pronounce
like l in like
Pronunciation tips
Practice with syllables
- ло
- ла
- ле
- ли
Words with this letter
With stress marks
ле́то
Cursive / Handwritten
лето
лето
лето
Transcription / Translation
[ lyé-ta ]
summer
summer
Pronunciation tips
Unstressed О sounds like А.
With stress marks
лес
Cursive / Handwritten
лес
лес
лес
Transcription / Translation
[ lyes ]
forest
forest
Pronunciation tips
With stress marks
лист
Cursive / Handwritten
лист
лист
лист
Transcription / Translation
[ leest ]
sheet, leaf
sheet, leaf
Pronunciation tips
With stress marks
лак
Cursive / Handwritten
лак
лак
лак
Transcription / Translation
[ lak ]
varnish, lacquer
varnish, lacquer
Pronunciation tips
With stress marks
по́ле
Cursive / Handwritten
поле
поле
поле
Transcription / Translation
[ pó-lye ]
field
field
Pronunciation tips
At the end of a word Е keeps its original sound.
Practice with a worksheet
Practice the hand-written Russian letter Л as well as the syllables and words listed above, with this worksheet: download the worksheet.
In some of my textbooks, I am told that Russian “l” is sometimes pronounced like English “w.”
For instance, “ona byla” should be said: “boo-e-wah.”
But when I listen to mp3s, I hear “bee-la.”
Which is correct?
Thank you!
Hello Rosalie,
I don’t know who wrote your textbook, but this information is not correct.
In fast conversational speech, the sound Л can be “swallowed” and maybe sound as “W” indeed. But you should not get used to speak like that, people will not understand you.