Gramota.ru
The go-to Russian-language reference portal: spelling and explanatory dictionaries, an expert Q&A desk, grammar rules with exercises and a magazine about language.
What it is
Gramota.ru is the reference portal native speakers open whenever they're unsure how a Russian word is spelled or stressed. It bundles a whole shelf of dictionaries — spelling, explanatory, stress, synonyms, antonyms, common difficulties — plus punctuation and idiom guides, a Q&A desk where specialists answer readers' questions, and a magazine with articles, interviews and lectures about language. The whole site is in Russian.
Why we picked it
Most people treat Gramota as a quick lookup box and close the tab after one word. Behind that box, though, is a large, clearly maintained project. The built-in textbook walks through spelling and punctuation rules from the basics up, and every topic comes with interactive exercises, so you can test yourself on a tricky prefix or a comma rule in a couple of minutes. The magazine is surprisingly fun: linguists look at how new job titles get named, explain when two grammatical variants are interchangeable, and even run a quiz on iconic signs in Russian Sign Language. News on the homepage is updated several times a week. And the Q&A archive holds answers to thousands of real questions people have asked.
Where to start
- Search for a word you've always hesitated over and compare what several dictionaries say.
- Open the "hot questions" section of the Q&A desk for the most common arguments about usage.
- Try a few exercises in the textbook section on a rule that trips you up.
- Read a couple of magazine pieces on rules and norms — they work as popular linguistics.
- Check the "Word of the Year" picks.
Who it's for
Learners of Russian at intermediate level and up, translators, editors and anyone who writes in Russian for work. Teachers will find ready-made drills, and language nerds will enjoy the magazine.
Quick answers
Is it in English? No, the portal is entirely in Russian, so it suits people who already read Russian comfortably.
Can I ask my own question? Yes, there is a Q&A desk where you can send a question to experts, and its archive is open to browse.
Is it only dictionaries? No — there are also rules with exercises, a magazine, news, lectures and podcasts.
