« The Russian Alphabet (Русский Алфавит)

Alphabet Notes

• Cursive Writing: Russian cursive is somewhat variable. You may often encounter upon slightly differing variations of cursive handwriting. Generally, you can choose the style you prefer, as long as it's legible for others.
• Pronunciation of Unstressed Vowels: The vowels О and Е are often pronounced as А and И respectively when unstressed. However, they are still written as О and Е.
• Ш and Щ: These two consonants are not pronounced the same. Щ is sharper than Ш, and is pronounced similarly to the "sh" in "sheep." Meanwhile, Ш is simply pronounced like the "sh" in "shut."
• Softened (Palatized) Consonants: Softening a consonant in Russian refers to palatization. That is, modifying a consonant sound by moving the tongue closer to the hard palate (the roof of the mouth). It's as if you're pronouncing the consonant while also trying to say a very slight "y" sound simultaneously. For instance, when the consonant Т is softened, it sounds more like the T in "tune," while the regular Т would sound more like the "t" in "top."
• Rolling the Р: The Russian Р is rolled or trilled, unlike the English R. Practice trilling your tongue against the roof of your mouth to get the sound right.

The Russian Alphabet