Week 25, Lesson 49, Monday
Say what hurts
Russian says what hurts the way it says what you have: at me, the head hurts. One pattern, and you can explain any pain.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Month 6, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can name the parts of the body and say what hurts.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- The body
- What hurts
- In the past
The body
The body, with its Russian names. Learn them from the picture before the grammar.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| голова́, глаз, у́хо | head, eye, ear |
| го́рло, зуб | throat, tooth |
| рука́, нога́ | arm or hand, leg or foot |
| живо́т, спина́ | stomach, back |
Plurals you need: глаза́, у́ши, зу́бы, ру́ки, но́ги.
What hurts
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| У меня́ боли́т голова́. | I have a headache. |
| У меня́ боли́т го́рло. | I have a sore throat. |
| У меня́ боля́т зу́бы. | My teeth hurt. |
| Что у вас боли́т? | What hurts? |
What hurts is the subject: one thing боли́т, several боля́т. The person takes у меня́, у тебя́, у него́.
In the past
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Вчера́ у меня́ боле́ла голова́. | Yesterday I had a headache. |
| У него́ боле́л зуб. | He had toothache. |
The past agrees with what hurt: боле́ла голова́, боле́л зуб, боле́ли но́ги.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: The soft л
боли́т and боля́т have a soft л: the tongue flat and wide, as in люблю́.
- боли́т [ba-LIT] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- боля́т [ba-LYAT] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Что у вас боли́т?What hurts?
- У меня́ боли́т …My … hurts.
- Вы пло́хо вы́глядите.You don't look well.
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
голова́
глаз, глаза́
eye, eyes
у́хо, у́ши
ear, ears
го́рло
зуб, зу́бы
tooth, teeth
рука́
нога́
живо́т
спина́
боли́т, боля́т
hurts, hurt
Что у вас боли́т?
What hurts?
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Say what hurts today, and what hurt yesterday.
Екатери́на
- Ask Что у вас боли́т? and point at body parts for you to name.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write what hurts today, and what hurt yesterday.
See a model answer
Сего́дня у меня́ боли́т спина́. Вчера́ у меня́ боле́ла голова́.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 49.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can name the parts of the body and say what hurts.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 49 on Tuesday: the body and what hurts.
I can name the parts of the body and say what hurts.