Quick Essentials ⚡
- Word: кни́га (KNEE-gah) — book
- Plural: кни́ги (KNEE-ghee) — books
- Gender: feminine
- Diminutive: кни́жка (KNEEJ-kah) — small/cute book
- Adjective "book-": кни́жный (KNEEJ-nih)
Must-Know Patterns 🎯
- "a/the book": кни́га (KNEE-gah)
- "this book": э́та кни́га (EH-tah KNEE-gah)
- "my book": моя́ кни́га (mah-YAH KNEE-gah)
- "I'm reading a book": Я чита́ю кни́гу. (yah chee-TAH-yoo KNEE-goo)
- "interesting book": интере́сная кни́га (een-tee-RES-nah-yah KNEE-gah)
- "bookstore": кни́жный магази́н (KNEEJ-nih mah-gah-ZEEN)
Grammar Tip: After many action verbs (e.g., чита́ть (chee-TAHT')), "book" takes the accusative кни́гу (KNEE-goo): чита́ть кни́гу (chee-TAHT' KNEE-goo).
Mini-Dialogue 💬
— Что ты чита́ешь? (shto tih chee-TAH-yesh?)
— What are you reading?
— What are you reading?
— Кни́гу. (KNEE-goo)
— A book.
— A book.
— Каку́ю кни́гу? (kah-KOO-yoo KNEE-goo?)
— Which book?
— Which book?
Pronunciation in One Line 🗣️
кни́га = KNEE-gah (stress first syllable), кни́ги = KNEE-ghee, кни́гу = KNEE-goo