Greetings and Politeness in Russian

Russian has formal and informal greetings. Choosing the right one is part of good manners.

Hello

Russian	Romanised	Use
Здравствуйте	zdravstvuyte	formal, or to several people
Привет	privyet	informal, with friends
Доброе утро	dobroye utro	good morning
Добрый день	dobry dyen'	good afternoon
Добрый вечер	dobry vyecher	good evening

Здравствуйте is the safe, polite choice for strangers, shops and offices.

Goodbye

• До свидания (do svidaniya), goodbye, polite
• Пока (poka), bye, informal
• Спокойной ночи (spokoynoy nochi), good night

Thanks and sorry

• Спасибо (spasibo), thank you
• Большое спасибо (bol'shoye spasibo), thank you very much
• Пожалуйста (pozhaluysta), please, and also you're welcome
• Извините (izvinite), excuse me, I'm sorry
• Простите (prostite), forgive me

Asking how someone is

• Как дела? (kak dela?), How are things?
• Хорошо, спасибо. (khorosho, spasibo), Fine, thank you.
• А у вас? (a u vas?), And you?

Small habits

• Russians often do not smile at strangers in public, and it is not unfriendly.
• Say Здравствуйте when you enter a shop or office.
• Use пожалуйста often.

Tips

1. Default to formal.
2. Move to informal when invited.
3. Use the dictionary to check meanings and forms.

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