Greetings and politeness in Russian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Russian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Russian phrases in this lesson
- ЗдравствуйтеZDRAH-stvooy-tyeh
- Hello
- Доброе утроDOH-bro-yeh OO-tra
- Good morning
- Добрый вечерDOB-ry VYE-cher
- Good evening
- До свиданияda svee-DAH-nya
- Goodbye
- Покаpa-KA
- See you
- Пожалуйстаpa-ZHAL-sta
- Please
- Спасибоspa-SEE-ba
- Thank you
- Не за чтоNYE-za-shta
- You're welcome
- Проститеpras-TEE-tye
- Sorry
- Извинитеeez-vee-NEE-tyeh
- Excuse me
- Очень приятноO-chen pree-YAT-na
- Nice to meet you
The standard polite greeting for strangers, shops, and formal situations. Use with anyone you address as Вы. The "в" in the middle is silent in natural speech.
Used until around noon. Russians greet warmly at the start of the day, so this lands well in shops and offices in the morning.
Said arriving anywhere in the evening.
The standard polite farewell, literally "until the meeting." Among friends, Пока (pa-KA) is the casual equivalent, equivalent to "bye."
Literally "for now", the goodbye for friends and family. До свидания (da svi-DA-ni-ya) is the polite one.
The same word as "you're welcome." Add it to any request to soften the tone. In Russian, polite requests often rely on intonation as much as the word itself.
The everyday thank you. Used constantly in shops, cafes, and conversation. Russians say it naturally without the effusiveness sometimes expected in other cultures.
Literally "not for anything". Пожалуйста (pa-ZHAL-sta) also works, but it is already please.
Literally "forgive", the real apology.
Use to get someone's attention or to apologize for a minor inconvenience. The casual version is Извини, used with friends. For "sorry about something bigger," Russians say Простите.
Literally "very pleasant".