Social media is a double-edged sword. Depending on your perspective, it’s either tearing us apart or bringing us together as never before. Really, it all depends on how you use it. Sure, you can spend hours reading terrible takes, but you can also find ways to supplement your language learning. Russian is particularly useful online because, after English, Russian is the most-used language on the internet. If you’re interested in engaging with more Russian content, we would strongly recommend finding some Russian Twitter accounts. It’s a great way to get little doses of language practice during your day.
Not sure where to get started? Here are a few of our favorite Russian Twitter accounts to follow.
Russian Twitter Accounts To Follow
Russian Language @RussianLanguage
#Russian Word of the Day – ску́чно: feel bored
— Russian Language (@russianlanguage) August 20, 2020
Click for audio!https://t.co/9iDrm3QCYE pic.twitter.com/bflXA02VmS
First up, we have an account specifically for learning the Russian language. It’s the account for the company Transparent Language, and most of its posts are Russian words of the day. It may sound simple, but learning a new word each day can really help you stay on track as you’re taking on the language.
5 умных мыслей @5umm
Вы должны уметь находиться в одиночестве, ведь именно так в человеке развиваются особые черты, делающие его интересным.
— 5 умных мыслей (@5umm) July 24, 2020
Энди Уорхол
The name of this Twitter account roughly translates to “5 smart thoughts,” and it’s essentially only quotations from various thinkers around the world. It may sound simple, but it has racked up over 3 million followers, making it one of the most popular accounts in Russia. You can use it both to practice your Russian and inspire your inner muse.
Russian Memes United @RussianMemesLtd
when my boss shows me my social media posts about how much I hate my job pic.twitter.com/p1DAfA4VgW
— Russian Memes United (@RussianMemesLtd) August 25, 2020
For many people, the whole point of Twitter is looking at memes. And why limit yourself to a single language? This account finds Russian memes and — with the language learner in mind — writes out the English translation. While it may be mostly in good fun, you should try and use these to test your vocabulary.
No Context Russia @Russia_NC
— No Context Russia (@Russia_NC) August 21, 2020
No Context Russia is another joke account, with images and videos that often include examples of the Russian language. This one is a little more difficult than Russian Memes United because the translation isn’t usually included, but it can still be fun.
bbcrussian @bbcrussian
"В Россию с любовью": как Шон Коннери отдыхал от поклонников в Советском Союзе https://t.co/4H57eYX87S
— bbcrussian (@bbcrussian) August 25, 2020
Do you use Twitter for your news? Following accounts like the official account of the BBC Russian Service can be a great resource. We recommend the BBC first because its connection to English means there are resources that can make understanding these stories a little better.
Meduza @meduzaproject
В Ессентуках у четырех кошек два года назад умерла хозяйка. Они остались жить в запертой квартире, соседи кормили их через щель в двери — сейчас животных наконец спаслиhttps://t.co/MuBOr4lLTx
— Meduza (@meduzaproject) August 25, 2020
Maybe you want a news source that’s specific to Russia, we’d recommend the Meduza Project. It both creates its own stories, as well as aggregating information, podcasts and more from all over Russia. If you don’t have the vocabulary yet to understand it all, there’s an English edition of Meduza that can help you learn more about the country.