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Cars and driving

From the petrol station to the traffic police — the words you need behind a Russian wheel.

Quick answer

To drive a car is води́ть маши́ну; to be going somewhere by car is е́хать на маши́не. Your licence is права́ — always plural.

The car

маши́наmashínacar
автомоби́льavtomobílautomobile (formal)
рульrulsteering wheel
колесо́kolesówheel
дви́гательdvígatelengine
бага́жникbagázhnikboot, trunk

On the road

доро́гаdorógaroad
шоссе́shosséhighway
пробкаpróbkatraffic jam
светофо́рsvetofórtraffic light
парко́вкаparkóvkacar park
бензи́нbenzínpetrol

Paperwork and trouble

права́pravádriving licence (pl.)
штрафshtraffine
страхо́вкаstrakhóvkainsurance
ава́рияaváriyaaccident
ГИБДДgi-bi-di-ditraffic police
ремо́нтremóntrepair

At the wheel

Я е́ду на маши́не.I am going by car.
Здесь больша́я про́бка.There is a big traffic jam here.
Мне ну́жен бензи́н.I need petrol.
Покажи́те ва́ши права́.Show me your licence. — what you will hear

Права́ is plural

The word literally means “rights”, so it takes plural agreement: мои́ права́, где мои́ права́? — never моё пра́во, which means a right in the abstract.

Typical mistakes

Я води́ть в Москву́.

Я е́ду в Москву́ на маши́не.

води́ть is the skill of driving; a specific trip uses е́хать.

Где моё права́?

Где мои́ права́?

Plural noun, plural possessive.

Check yourself

How do you ask where your driving licence is?

Права́ is plural.

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