Modern (post-1918)

Modern Russian Alphabet

The Modern Russian alphabet is a 33-letter adaptation of the Cyrillic script used to write the Russian language. It was officially standardized in the early 20th century following the 1918 Russian orthographical reform, which removed several archaic letters (like ѣ, і, ѳ, and ѵ). The alphabet includes 10 vowels (а, е, ё, и, о, у, ы, э, ю, я), 21 consonants, and two "silent" modifier signs: the hard sign (ъ) and the soft sign (ь). The hard sign historically marked a lack of palatalization but now primarily acts as a separator, ensuring that the following vowel (е, ё, ю, я) is pronounced with a preceding /j/. The soft sign indicates that the preceding consonant is palatalized (soft). Unlike many Latin-based alphabets, Russian orthography requires careful attention to stress and context, as unstressed vowels undergo significant reduction, often changing their sound entirely (e.g., "о" often sounds like "а" or schwa when unstressed). The letter а (A/Az) continues the unbroken lineage from Greek Alpha through Old Cyrillic Az.