Language/Russian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions
I'm excited to introduce you to this lesson on everyday greetings and introductions in Russia! This is an essential first step in communicating with the people of Russia.
To make the most of this lesson, it's best that you've already learned the Cyrillic alphabet and the basics of Russian pronunciation. Don't worry if you haven't, you can always go back to the previous lessons and learn at your own pace.
In this lesson, we will cover common Russian greetings, forms of address, and basic social exchanges.
Greetings
In Russia, people greet each other more formally than most western cultures. When greeting someone for the first time, it is common to shake hands. Men usually greet other men with a firm handshake and women with a light one. A significant aspect of Russian culture is the use of diminutive forms of names. It's a way of indicating intimacy and familiarity, but it's usually reserved for people you know well. Below are some of the most common greetings in Russian:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Здравствуйте | zdrast'vyuyte | Hello |
| Привет | pree-VYET | Hi |
| Доброе утро | DO-bra-ye OO-tra | Good morning |
| Добрый день | DO-briy den' | Good afternoon |
| Добрый вечер | DO-briy vee-cher | Good evening |
Forms of address
People in Russia usually use "Вы" (Vi) to address new acquaintances, persons of higher authority, or people they don't know well. "Ты" (Ty) is typically used to address close friends, children, and animals.
It’s common among women to address their friends as "дорогая," (dorogaya) which means expensive or dear. They can also use their friend’s diminutive name.
Let's take an example in which you meet the person for the first time.
- A: Добрый день! (dobroy den') - Good afternoon!
- B: Добрый день! (dobroy den')
- A: Как вас зовут? (kak vas zovut?) - What is your name?
- B: Меня зовут Иван. А как вас зовут? (menya zovut Ivan. A kak vas zovut?) - My name is Ivan. And what is your name?
- A: Меня зовут Анна. (menya zovut Anna.) - My name is Anna.
Farewells
Saying goodbye is also an essential part of social exchanges. Here are some common Russian phrases for goodbyes:
| Russian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| До свидания | da svee-DAN-ya | Goodbye |
| Пока | pa-KA | Bye |
| Увидимся | u-vee-DEEM-see | See you |
| До скорого | da skah-RA-va | See you soon |
Conclusion
Congratulations on completing this lesson on Russian greetings and introductions! You'll find that knowing these simple phrases can go a long way in making new friends and acquaintances in Russia. Continue to practice them until they become second nature.
Sources
Videos
Russian Greetings and Introductions - YouTube
Best Greetings in Russian - YouTube
20 Russian Greetings and Farewells - YouTube