> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://overleaf-pro.ayaka.space/latex/latex-questions/01-how-can-i-typeset-text-in-cyrillic-e.g.-in-russian.md).

# How can I typeset text in Cyrillic (e.g., in Russian)?

## Introduction

To typeset Cyrillic text on Overleaf you'll need to load some extra packages—the exact packages will depend on the compiler you are using: pdfLaTeX, XeLaTeX, LuaLaTeX or LaTeX (i.e., DVI to PDF).

## Typesetting Cyrillic with pdfLaTeX or LaTeX

If you're using pdfLaTeX or LaTeX as your compiler, then the following would work:

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[T2A,T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[main=english,russian]{babel}
\begin{document}
This is English and this is Russian: \textcyrillic{Здравствуй, мир!}
\end{document}
```

[Open this `pdfLaTeX` example in Overleaf.](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=pdflatex\&snip_name=Typesetting+Cyrillic+text\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%7Barticle%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%5BT2A%2CT1%5D%7Bfontenc%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%5Bmain%3Denglish%2Crussian%5D%7Bbabel%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0AThis+is+English+and+this+is+Russian%3A+%5Ctextcyrillic%7B%D0%97%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%83%D0%B9%2C+%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%21%7D%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D)

This example produces the following output:

![Russian Cyrllics typeset in LaTex](/files/PBuFRUYdVcG5g0SCW4If)

## Typesetting Cyrillic with XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX

The XeLaTeX and LuaLaTeX compilers have built-in support for UTF-8 encoded text so there is no need to use the `\inputenc` package (`\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}`). Since 2018 there has been no need to use `\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}` with pdfLaTeX too—see the [April 2018 issue of LaTeX News](https://www.latex-project.org/news/2018/04/10/issue28-of-latex2e-news-released/) and the Overleaf blog post [*TeX Live upgrade—September 2019*](https://www.overleaf.com/blog/tex-live-upgrade-september-2019).

For XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX the [`polyglossia` package](https://ctan.org/pkg/polyglossia?lang=en) may be useful, especially if you want to choose a custom font.

```latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{polyglossia}
\setmainlanguage{english}
\setotherlanguage{russian}
\newfontfamily{\russianfont}[Script=Cyrillic]{CMU Serif}
\begin{document}
This is English and this is Russian: \textrussian{Здравствуй, мир!}
\end{document}
```

[Open this LuaLaTeX example in Overleaf.](https://www.overleaf.com/docs?engine=lualatex\&snip_name=Cyrillc+text+typeset+with+LuaTeX\&snip=%5Cdocumentclass%7Barticle%7D%0A%5Cusepackage%7Bpolyglossia%7D%0A%5Csetmainlanguage%7Benglish%7D%0A%5Csetotherlanguage%7Brussian%7D%0A%5Cnewfontfamily%7B%5Crussianfont%7D%5BScript%3DCyrillic%5D%7BCMU+Serif%7D%0A%5Cbegin%7Bdocument%7D%0AThis+is+English+and+this+is+Russian%3A+%5Ctextrussian%7B%D0%97%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D1%83%D0%B9%2C+%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%21%7D%0A%5Cend%7Bdocument%7D)

This LuaLaTeX example produces the following output:

![aly=Cyrillic text typeset with LuaLaTeX](/files/lOJuyl9ujstLV6PET4F0)

## TIP: How to switch LaTeX compilers

Note that you can switch the compiler to XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX by clicking on the **Menu** button at the upper-left and changing the **Compiler** setting—the following short video shows you how to do that.

{% embed url="<https://www.filepicker.io/api/file/ikMVZIu9S6SurOfUPO34>" %}

## Some related Overleaf articles

* [Russian](/latex/languages/14-russian.md)
* [International language support](/latex/languages/03-international-language-support.md)
* [Multilingual typesetting on Overleaf using polyglossia and fontspec](/latex/languages/01-multilingual-typesetting-on-overleaf-using-polyglossia-and-fontspec.md)
* [Using fonts with XeLaTeX](/latex/fonts/03-xelatex.md)


---

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