It is important to learn to say "hello" and to introduce yourself in Russian if you are planning to travel to a country where that language is spoken. Even if you're not planning a trip to Russia, you may still want to learn Russian. A good way to get started is to learn the words to hold a simple conversation. You can learn to greet people and have a short dialogue without knowing the particularities of Russian grammar and without knowing how to read Cyrillic.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Greet People
Step 1. Use zdravstvujtye (zdra-stvuy-ti) with people you don't know
Zdravstvujtye is the formal greeting of the Russian language. If you are greeting someone for the first time, start with this formal expression, especially if they are older than you or in a position of authority.
- If you don't know how to pronounce "R" correctly, practice. Place your tongue against your upper teeth and vibrate it while making the R sound.
- Zdravstvujtye is used to greet groups of people, even when talking to children, friends and relatives.
- Shorten the greeting with zdravstvuj (zdra-stvuy) if you are greeting friends, relatives or children.
Step 2. Use privyet (pri-vyet) to greet someone informally
This word is the equivalent of the Italian "hello", but is only used in informal situations where you know the other person well enough. You can use it with relatives and friends, but it is not appropriate with strangers, especially if they are older than you or in a position of authority.
Privetik (pri-vyet-ik) is an even less formal, almost affectionate way of saying "hello" typically used by young girls
Step 3. Change the greeting based on the time
In addition to saying "hello", it may be more appropriate to say hello with "good morning" or "good evening". These sentences have no formal and informal versions. If you are not sure which register you should use with a person, these expressions can be helpful to you.
- Dobroye utro! (dob-ra-i u-tra) means "Good morning!". Use it around noon.
- After noon, go to dobryj dyen '! (dob-riy dyen). This expression means "good afternoon", but it can be used throughout the day, except early in the morning or late in the evening.
- Later in the evening, use dobryj vyechyer! (dob – riy vye-chir) to say "good evening".
Step 4. Ask "How are you?
" saying Kak dyela? (kak di-la).
This is the most common way to ask 'how's it going' in Russian. It is usually used in informal settings, but no one is likely to be offended by this question.
In more formal contexts, you ask Kak vy pozhivayetye? (kak vi pa-zhi-va-i-ti). This question is more appropriate when you are talking to someone you have just met, especially if they are older than you or if they are in a position of authority
Step 5. Reply to kak dyela? with confidentiality
When someone asks you "How are you doing?" in Italian, you could answer "Alla grande!". On the contrary, the Russians are more reserved. The most common answers are khorosho (kha-ra-sho), which means "good", or nyeplokho (ni-plo-kha), which means "not bad".
If the other person asks you how it goes first, after your answer continues with A u vas? (a u vas; formal) or A u tyebya? (a u ti-bya; informal), two expressions meaning "And you?"
Method 2 of 3: Introduce yourself
Step 1. Use the phrase menya zavut (mi-nya za-vut) to tell someone your name
This phrase literally means "I am called" and is used to introduce itself in Russian. Usually, it is followed by the full name.
Use the phrase mózhno prósto (mozh-ne pro-ste) to let your interlocutor know what you prefer to be called. The translation of this expression is similar to "you can call me". For example, you can say "Menya zavut Alessandro Rossi. Mózhno prósto Alex"
Step 2. Tell a person where you come from with the phrase ya iz (ya iz)
This expression means "I come from". Continue with the name of the state or city you come from. Don't worry about translating the country or city name into Russian; native speakers will probably recognize it anyway.
To ask where the other person is from, use the question otkuda vy if you are in a formal context, or otkuda ty if you are speaking informally
Step 3. Let your interlocutor know that you are not fluent in Russian
When someone asks you if you speak Russian, you can answer with da, nemnogo, "yes, a little". You can also say ya ne govoryu po-russki khorosho (ya ni ga-va-ryu pa ru-ski kha-ra-sho), which means "I don't speak Russian well".
- Vy ne mogli by govorit 'pomedlennee? it's the formal way of asking someone if they can speak slower. You can also say povtorite, požalujsta, which means "Could you please repeat?".
- If you can't understand the same, you can ask "Vy govorite po-angliyski?" which means "Do you speak English?" or "Vy govorite po-italyanski?" for "Do you speak Italian?".
Step 4. Interact politely with native speakers
Good manners are important, especially when you use a language you don't know well. If you add polite words and expressions in your conversations, native speakers will be more patient with you.
- Pozhaluysta (pa-zha-lu-sta) means "please".
- Spasibo (spa-si-ba) means "thank you". The answer to "thank you" is ne za chto (nye-za-shto), which literally means "of nothing".
- Izvinite (izz-vi-nit-ye) means "excuse me".
- Prostite (pra-stit-ye) means "I'm sorry". As in English, you can use this expression in place of "excuse me" when asking someone's permission.
Method 3 of 3: End a Conversation
Step 1. Use do svidaniya (from svida-ni-ye) to say "goodbye"
This is the most common way to say "goodbye" in Russian. You can use it in all situations, formal or informal. Its literal meaning is similar to "until our next meeting" or "until we meet again".
In an informal context, you can also say do vstretchi (from vstrie-chi). It basically means the same thing, but is only appropriate when greeting friends or family
Step 2. Use poka (pa-ka) when greeting friends and family
This expression is similar to "ciao" in Italian, but is only used before leaving. It's too conversational for formal settings or when you are talking to people older than you or in a position of authority.
If you are on the phone, you can say dovay (da-vaj). The literal translation is similar to "let's go", but this expression is often used to end telephone conversations as an informal "hello"
Step 3. Also try a time-related greeting
The Russian expressions for "good morning", "good afternoon" and "good evening" are also used at the end of a meeting.
- Dobroy nochi (dob-raj no-chi) means "goodnight". However, unlike other time-related greetings, it is not used when you meet, but only before you leave. This expression does not necessarily mean that you are going to bed, it is simply used late in the evening.
- Spokojnoj nochi (spa-koy-nay no-chi) also means "good night". This phrase is appropriate when you retire for the night or go to bed. As with other time-related greetings, you can use it in both informal and formal settings.
