If you don’t know how to say Hello in Russian, then this article is for you! Stop using the same greeting and say «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte)» and try adding lively greetings to your speech.
The most popular question is «What does Privyet mean» and the answer will pleasantly surprise you. This is the most common greeting used in everyday life. The main feature of this word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privyet)» is that it should not be used: in public places, to strangers and to people who are older than you.
How to say Hello in Russian?
In Russian, you can count more than 10 types of greetings. However, most are just colloquial, which you will not find in Russian textbooks.
If you want to say Hello in Russian, you can use any greeting:
- ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte);
- ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΠ΅ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdravie zhelayu);
- ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privyet);
- ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ (Privetstvuyu);
- ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat);
- ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΎ (Dobroe utro);
- ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ (Dobryy den);
- ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ (Dobryy vecher);
- ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ (Dobroy nochi).
What is your favorite way of saying «Hello» in Russian? Leave your answer in the comments!
However, the direct and official meaning of the word Hello has only one word — Hello (Zdravstvuyte). If you want to start learning Russian, but do not know where to start, then the article «How to Learn Russian» is already waiting for you!
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What is a typical Russian greeting?
The most typical greetings in Russian are «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte)» and «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privyet)». These two greetings are used most often regardless of the time of day.
It is also customary to use greetings of the time of day as a standard greeting: Π΄ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ (Dobroe utro), Π΄ΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ (Dobryj den), Π΄ΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ (Dobryj vecher), and Π΄ΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ (Dobroj nochi).
Hello in Russian — ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte)
ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte) is the most common and official greeting in Russian. The word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅» is used in everyday life to greet strangers, colleagues at work, teachers at school, or university.
Imagine the situation. You met your boss at work in the morning. You can say «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅» in a polite tone.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte)»:
Example: «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΠ°ΡΠΈ Π΄Π΅Π»Π°? (Zdravstvuyte, kak vashi dela)»
How do you spell Zdravstvuyte?
How to say Hi in Russian — ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privet)
Now that you know the official greeting in Russian, let’s talk about how to say Hi in Russian. Hi is «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ» in Russian. The word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privet)» is used when talking to friends, family, classmates, or coworkers (if you have a good relationship).
It is not recommended to use the word ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privet) to greet teachers, strangers, people who are older than you or whose position on the career ladder is higher than you.
If you saw your friend on the streets, you can safely shout «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privet)» to him.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ (Privet)»
Example: ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΡΡ? (Privet, kak ty)
How do you spell Privet?
How to say Hey in Russian — Π₯Π°ΠΉ (Haj)
In English, there is an informal greeting «Π₯Π°ΠΉ», which is used practically unchanged in Russian. Sometimes you can hear Π₯Π°ΠΉ, in fact, this colloquial form of the word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅Ρ», which is not used so often but is present in Russian.
How to pronounce the word Π₯Π°ΠΉ:
Example: Π₯Π°ΠΉ, ΡΡΠΎ Π½ΠΎΠ²Π΅Π½ΡΠΊΠΎΠ³ΠΎ? (Haj, chto novenkogo?)
How do you spell Haj?
An informal way to say Hello in Russian — ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅ (Zdraste)
An extremely lazy and uneducated way of saying «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅ (Zdraste)» is actually what the majority of the population of our country says. Not because it is uneducated and lazy, but because it has become a habit.
You can hear the word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅ (Zdraste)» absolutely everywhere: on the street, in a store, on a bus, and in other places. The meaning of this word has lost its meaning compared to the word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΡΡΠ²ΡΠΉΡΠ΅ (Zdravstvuyte)». The word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅ (Zdraste)» can say to anyone, anywhere.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅ (Zdraste)»:
Example: ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°ΡΡΡΠ΅, Π½Π΅ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ΡΠΊΠ°ΠΆΠΈΡΠ΅ ΠΊΠΎΡΠΎΡΡΠΉ ΡΠ°Ρ? (Zdraste, ne podskazhite kotoryj chas?)
How do you spell Zdraste?
Female way of greeting — ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ (Privetik)
ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ (Privetik) are most often used by girls when communicating with girls — this is the main application of this greeting. As an exception to the rule, men or boys can use «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ» to greet girls.
It is believed that only gay guys can use this word to greet other guys. However, this is just a myth, because everyone can use the word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ» as a joke greeting.
ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ (Privetik) should not be used in public places, at official events, and when talking with strangers.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊ»:
Example: ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΠΈΠΊΠΈ, ΠΡ Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π΅Π»ΠΈ Π²ΡΠ΅ΡΠ°ΡΠ½ΠΈΠΉ ΡΠ΅ΡΠΈΠ°Π»? (Privetik, Vy videli vcherashniy serial?)
How do you spell Privetik?
Phone greeting — ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ (Allo)
ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ (Allo) replaced the usual Hello when talking on the phone. You might be confused, but ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ and ΠΠ»Ρ are the same, but with a slight difference.
If you call your boss and at the beginning of the dialogue say «ΠΠ»Ρ», that may sound disrespectful. But if you say «ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ», then everything will be pretty normal.
However, do not forget that «ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ» and «ΠΠ»Ρ» are colloquial forms of telephone greetings. If you do not want to sound impolite, it is better to use ordinary forms of greetings for everyday life.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ»
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠ»Ρ»
Example: ΠΠ»Π»ΠΎ, ΠΠ°ΠΌ ΡΠ΄ΠΎΠ±Π½ΠΎ ΡΠ΅ΠΉΡΠ°Ρ Π³ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΡΠΈΡΡ? (Allo, Vam udobno sejchas govorit?)
How do you spell Allo?
Male greeting — ΠΠ΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ (Zdorovo)
This greeting is considered masculine and sounds like «ΠΠ΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ», although in recent years it is often used by girls as well. This is an informal form of greeting among friends and family.
It is better not to say «ΠΠ΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ» when meeting strangers, those who are older than you, or at official events.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠ΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ»
Example: ΠΠ΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ²ΠΎ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΆΠΈΠ·Π½Ρ? (Zdorovo, kak zhizn?)
How do you spell Zdorovo?
Good Morning in Russian — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΎ (Dobroe utro)
From 6 am to 12 noon, you can safely say «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΎ (Dobroe utro)». This greeting is universal and applies to absolutely everyone. At the same time, you will look like a very respectful person.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΎ (Dobroe utro)»
Example: ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠ΅ ΡΡΡΠΎ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΡΠΏΠ°Π»ΠΎΡΡ? (Dobroe utro, kak spalos?)
How do you spell Dobroe utro?
Good Afternoon in Russian — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ (Dobryy den)
ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ (Dobryy den) is also a universal greeting that can be used to everyone without fear of being in an awkward situation. The time span can be considered the interval between 12 noon and 6 pm.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ (Dobryj den)»
Example: ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ, Π° Π½Π΅ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ΡΠΊΠ°ΠΆΠΈΡΠ΅ Π³Π΄Π΅ Π·Π΄Π΅ΡΡ ΡΡΠ°Π»Π΅Ρ? (Dobryy den, a ne podskazhite gde zdes tualet?)
How do you spell Dobryy den?
Good Evening in Russian — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ (Dobryy vecher)
«ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ (Dobryy vecher)» — used by all residents of Russia from 6 pm to 10 pm. As with the previous two greetings, you don’t have to worry about looking stupid.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ (Dobryy vecher)»
Example: ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΡΠΉ Π²Π΅ΡΠ΅Ρ, ΠΏΡΠ΅ΠΊΡΠ°ΡΠ½ΠΎ Π²ΡΠ³Π»ΡΠ΄ΠΈΡΡ! (Dobryy vecher, prekrasno vygljadite!)
How do you spell Dobryy vecher?
Good Night in Russian — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ (Dobroy nochi)
From 22 pm and until 6 am you can safely use the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ (Dobroy nochi)». The expression is universal and applies to all people without exception.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ (Dobroy nochi)»
Example: ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎΠΉ Π½ΠΎΡΠΈ, Π³Π΄Π΅ Π·Π΄Π΅ΡΡ ΠΌΠ°Π³Π°Π·ΠΈΠ½, Π½Π΅ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ΡΠΊΠ°ΠΆΠΈΡΠ΅? (Dobroy nochi, gde zdes magazin, ne podskazhite?)
How do you spell Dobroy nochi?
Welcome in Russian — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)
You may hear the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)» as soon as you land in Russia. But for the inhabitants of the country, this expression has a slightly different meaning.
Imagine a situation, your Russian friend invited you to visit him. Coming to his house, he can tell you — ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)!
The expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)» is used when entering or entering a building or territory. In other words, you cannot say «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)» to a passer-by on the street, he will not understand you.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ (Dobro pozhalovat)»
Example: ΠΠΎΠ±ΡΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ, Π±ΡΠ΄Ρ ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ Π΄ΠΎΠΌΠ°! (Dobro pozhalovat, bud kak doma!)
How do you spell Dobro pozhalovat?
Welcome 2 — Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΎΠΌ (S priezdom)
The expression «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΎΠΌ (S priezdom)» is used among familiar people. For example, you met someone and then left the city. When you return back to town to your friend, he may say «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΎΠΌ (S priezdom)».
This expression has the direct meaning of Welcome. The truth is used when you come back somewhere by car, bus or train.
How to pronounce the expression «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΎΠΌ (S priezdom)»
Example: Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΎΠΌ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ Π΄ΠΎΡΠΎΠ³Π°? (S priezdom, kak doroga?)
How do you spell S priezdom?
Welcome 3 — Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ (S prilyotom)
«Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ (S prilyotom)» has the same meaning as the expression «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ (S priezdom)», but only applies when a person arrives by plane.
If someone arrives by car, then you should not use the word «Arrival (S prilyotom)». But having landed on the plane, you can safely say «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ (S prilyotom)».
How to pronounce the expression «Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ (S prilyotom)»
Example: Π‘ ΠΏΡΠΈΠ»ΡΡΠΎΠΌ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ Π²ΡΠ΅ ΠΏΡΠΎΡΠ»ΠΎ? (S prilyotom, kak vse proshlo?)
How do you spell S prilyotom?
Military greetings — ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdraviya zhelayu)
The expression «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdraviya zhelayu)» is widespread among the military. In everyday life, it is rarely used, except among the military.
The literal meaning of the expression «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdraviya zhelayu)» — I wish you health. This greeting is used absolutely for all soldiers and officers. You can say «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdraviya zhelayu)» at any time of the day.
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ (Zdraviya zhelayu)»
Example: ΠΠ΄ΡΠ°Π²ΠΈΡ ΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ, ΡΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΠΈΡ ΡΠ΅ΡΠΆΠ°Π½Ρ! (Zdraviya zhelayu, tovarishh serzhant!)
How do you spell Zdraviya zhelayu?
Say Hello after a long separation — Π‘ΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π»Π΅Ρ, ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π·ΠΈΠΌ! (Skolko let skolko zim)
A popular expression for friends and acquaintances «Π‘ΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π»Π΅Ρ, ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π·ΠΈΠΌ! (Skolko let skolko zim)». This expression is very popular among the adult population of Russia. Young people practically do not use this expression.
You can use this expression for acquaintances who have not been seen for a long time and accidentally met on the street, or if your friend suddenly wrote to you.
How to pronounce «Π‘ΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π»Π΅Ρ, ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π·ΠΈΠΌ! (Skolko let skolko zim)»
Example: ΠΠ°Ρ, ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π»Π΅Ρ, ΡΠΊΠΎΠ»ΡΠΊΠΎ Π·ΠΈΠΌ, ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠΈΠ²Π°Π΅ΡΡ? (Vau, skolko let skolko zim, kak pozhivaesh?)
How do you spell skolko let skolko zim?
ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ (Privetstvuyu Vas)
The expression «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ (Privetstvuyu Vas)» is seldom used in live speech. However, out of habit, it is used when talking on the network. In real life, you may only hear the expression «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ (Privetstvuyu Vas)» when you come to a store or to an official event.
As an example, imagine a situation: you go to a store and the seller may say to you: «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ Π² Π½Π°ΡΠ΅ΠΌ ΠΌΠ°Π³Π°Π·ΠΈΠ½Π΅Β «Π£ ΠΠ°ΡΠΈΡΡ».
How to pronounce the expression «ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ (Privetstvuyu Vas)»
Example: ΠΡΠΈΠ²Π΅ΡΡΡΠ²ΡΡ ΠΠ°Ρ Π² Π½Π°ΡΠ΅ΠΌ ΡΠ΅ΡΡΠΎΡΠ°Π½Π΅. (Privetstvuju Vas v nashem restorane)
How do you spell Privetstvuju Vas?
Π‘Π°Π»ΡΡ (Salyut)
Π‘Π°Π»ΡΡ (Salyut) is an obsolete form of greeting that can be used by the adult generation in towns or villages.
How to pronounce «Π‘Π°Π»ΡΡ (Salyut)»
Example: Π‘Π°Π»ΡΡ, ΠΌΡΠΆΠΈΠΊΠΈ! ΠΠ°ΠΊ Π΄Π΅Π»Π°? (Salyut, muzhiki! Kak dela?)
How do you spell Salyut?
ΠΠΎΠ΅ ΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ (Moe pochtenie)
ΠΠΎΠ΅ ΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ (Moe pochtenie) is another outdated form of greeting. Maybe 100 years ago, someone greeted each other like that, but not in our time. This expression can be found in the originals of old books by authors such as Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy or Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. But in real life, the expression «ΠΠΎΠ΅ ΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ (Moe pochtenie)» is not used by anyone.
How to pronounce the word «ΠΠΎΠ΅ ΠΏΠΎΡΡΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅»
How do you spell Moe pochtenie?
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