Language/Russian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-Introductions

◀️ Pronunciation Rules — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Everyday Phrases ▶️

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.

Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Shopping & Verbs related to speaking.

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

• Russian Greetings and Basic Phrases | Lingvist
• Russian phrasebook: Introductions
• Russian Vocabulary → Everyday Life in Russia → Greetings and ...

Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Farm & Transportation.

Other Lessons

• School
• Food
• Learning the Cyrillic Alphabet
• Animal
• Sports
• Colors
• Count to 10
• Plants
• Family and Relationships
• Music

Table of Contents - Russian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Cyrillic Alphabet
• Pronunciation Rules

  ---

Basic Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Everyday Phrases

  ---

Nouns and Gender

• Noun Gender
• Plurals

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Cases and Prepositions

• Nominative Case
• Prepositional Case

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships and Marital Status

  ---

Verbs and Conjugation

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Dining Out

  ---

Russian Traditions and Holidays

• National Holidays
• Traditional Celebrations

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Hobbies
• Entertainment

  ---

Russian Literature and Arts

• Famous Writers
• Russian Art and Music

◀️ Pronunciation Rules — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Everyday Phrases ▶️