19 Ways How to say Hello in Russian

If you don’t know how to say Hello in Russian, then this article is for you! Stop using the same greeting and say «Здравствуйте (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 «Привет (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:

• Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte);
• Здравие желаю (Zdravie zhelayu);
• Привет (Privyet);
• Приветствую (Privetstvuyu);
• Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat);
• Доброе утро (Dobroe utro);
• Добрый день (Dobryy den);
• Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher);
• Доброй ночи (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 «Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)» and «Привет (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: доброе (Dobroe utro), добрый день (Dobryj den), добрый вечер (Dobryj vecher), and доброй ночи (Dobroj nochi).

Hello in Russian — Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)

Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) is the most common and official greeting in Russian. The word «Здравствуйте» 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 «Здравствуйте» in a polite tone.

How to pronounce the word «Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)»:

Example: «Здравствуйте, как Ваши дела? (Zdravstvuyte, kak vashi dela)»

How do you spell Zdravstvuyte?

How to say Hi in Russian — Привет (Privet)

Now that you know the official greeting in Russian, let’s talk about how to say Hi in Russian. Hi is «Привет» in Russian. The word «Привет (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 Привет (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 «Привет (Privet)» to him.

How to pronounce the word «Привет (Privet)»

Example: Привет, как ты? (Privet, kak ty)

How do you spell Privet?

How to say Hey in Russian — Хай (Haj)

In English, there is an informal greeting «Хай», which is used practically unchanged in Russian. Sometimes you can hear Хай, in fact, this colloquial form of the word «Привет», which is not used so often but is present in Russian.

How to pronounce the word Хай:

Example: Хай, что новенького? (Haj, chto novenkogo?)

How do you spell Haj?

An informal way to say Hello in Russian — Здрасьте (Zdraste)

An extremely lazy and uneducated way of saying «Здрасьте (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 «Здрасьте (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 «Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)». The word «Здрасьте (Zdraste)» can say to anyone, anywhere.

How to pronounce the word «Здрасьте (Zdraste)»:

Example: Здрасьте, не подскажите который час? (Zdraste, ne podskazhite kotoryj chas?)

How do you spell Zdraste?

Female way of greeting — Приветик (Privetik)

Приветик (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 «Приветик» 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 «Приветик» as a joke greeting.

Приветик (Privetik) should not be used in public places, at official events, and when talking with strangers.

How to pronounce the word «Приветик»:

Example: Приветики, Вы видели вчерашний сериал? (Privetik, Vy videli vcherashniy serial?)

How do you spell Privetik?

Phone greeting — Алло (Allo)

Алло (Allo) replaced the usual Hello when talking on the phone. You might be confused, but Алло and Алё are the same, but with a slight difference.

If you call your boss and at the beginning of the dialogue say «Алё», that may sound disrespectful. But if you say «Алло», then everything will be pretty normal.

However, do not forget that «Алло» and «Алё» 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 «Алло»

How to pronounce the word «Алё»

Example: Алло, Вам удобно сейчас говорить? (Allo, Vam udobno sejchas govorit?)

How do you spell Allo?

Male greeting — Здорово (Zdorovo)

This greeting is considered masculine and sounds like «Здорово», 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 «Здорово» when meeting strangers, those who are older than you, or at official events.

How to pronounce the word «Здорово»

Example: Здорово, как жизнь? (Zdorovo, kak zhizn?)

How do you spell Zdorovo?

Good Morning in Russian — Доброе утро (Dobroe utro)

From 6 am to 12 noon, you can safely say «Доброе утро (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 «Доброе утро (Dobroe utro)»

Example: Доброе утро, как спалось? (Dobroe utro, kak spalos?)

How do you spell Dobroe utro?

Good Afternoon in Russian — Добрый день (Dobryy den)

Добрый день (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 «Добрый день (Dobryj den)»

Example: Добрый день, а не подскажите где здесь туалет? (Dobryy den, a ne podskazhite gde zdes tualet?)

How do you spell Dobryy den?

Good Evening in Russian — Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher)

«Добрый вечер (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 «Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher)»

Example: Добрый вечер, прекрасно выглядишь! (Dobryy vecher, prekrasno vygljadite!)

How do you spell Dobryy vecher?

Good Night in Russian — Доброй ночи (Dobroy nochi)

From 22 pm and until 6 am you can safely use the expression «Доброй ночи (Dobroy nochi)». The expression is universal and applies to all people without exception.

How to pronounce the expression «Доброй ночи (Dobroy nochi)»

Example: Доброй ночи, где здесь магазин, не подскажите? (Dobroy nochi, gde zdes magazin, ne podskazhite?)

How do you spell Dobroy nochi?

Welcome in Russian — Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat)

You may hear the expression «Добро пожаловать (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 — Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat)!

The expression «Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat)» is used when entering or entering a building or territory. In other words, you cannot say «Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat)» to a passer-by on the street, he will not understand you.

How to pronounce the expression «Добро пожаловать (Dobro pozhalovat)»

Example: Добро пожаловать, будь как дома! (Dobro pozhalovat, bud kak doma!)

How do you spell Dobro pozhalovat?

Welcome 2 — С приездом (S priezdom)

The expression «С приездом (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 «С приездом (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 «С приездом (S priezdom)»

Example: С приездом, как дорога? (S priezdom, kak doroga?)

How do you spell S priezdom?

Welcome 3 — С прилётом (S prilyotom)

«С прилётом (S prilyotom)» has the same meaning as the expression «С прилётом (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 «С прилётом (S prilyotom)».

How to pronounce the expression «С прилётом (S prilyotom)»

Example: С прилётом, как все прошло? (S prilyotom, kak vse proshlo?)

How do you spell S prilyotom?

Military greetings — Здравия желаю (Zdraviya zhelayu)

The expression «Здравия желаю (Zdraviya zhelayu)» is widespread among the military. In everyday life, it is rarely used, except among the military.

The literal meaning of the expression «Здравия желаю (Zdraviya zhelayu)» — I wish you health. This greeting is used absolutely for all soldiers and officers. You can say «Здравия желаю (Zdraviya zhelayu)» at any time of the day.

How to pronounce the expression «Здравия желаю (Zdraviya zhelayu)»

Example: Здравия желаю, товарищ сержант! (Zdraviya zhelayu, tovarishh serzhant!)

How do you spell Zdraviya zhelayu?

Say Hello after a long separation — Сколько лет, сколько зим! (Skolko let skolko zim)

A popular expression for friends and acquaintances «Сколько лет, сколько зим! (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 «Сколько лет, сколько зим! (Skolko let skolko zim)»

Example: Вау, сколько лет, сколько зим, как поживаешь? (Vau, skolko let skolko zim, kak pozhivaesh?)

How do you spell skolko let skolko zim?

Приветствую Вас (Privetstvuyu Vas)

The expression «Приветствую Вас (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 «Приветствую Вас (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: «Приветствую Вас в нашем магазине  «У Ларисы».

How to pronounce the expression «Приветствую Вас (Privetstvuyu Vas)»

Example: Приветствую Вас в нашем ресторане. (Privetstvuju Vas v nashem restorane)

How do you spell Privetstvuju Vas?

Салют (Salyut)

Салют (Salyut) is an obsolete form of greeting that can be used by the adult generation in towns or villages.

How to pronounce «Салют (Salyut)»

Example: Салют, мужики! Как дела? (Salyut, muzhiki! Kak dela?)

How do you spell Salyut?

Мое почтение (Moe pochtenie)

Мое почтение (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 «Мое почтение (Moe pochtenie)» is not used by anyone.

How to pronounce the word «Мое почтение»

How do you spell Moe pochtenie?

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