Useful Russian phrases for greetings and farewells, with audio, IPA, stress marks and an English-friendly pronunciation hint.
How to open and close an encounter. Russian keeps a formal and an informal greeting strictly apart, so each entry here says which one it is.
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Приве́т!
Hi!
IPA /prʲɪˈvʲet/
Say it prih-VYET!
Informal, and only for people you already know: friends, family, children, people your own age in a relaxed setting. Never use it with an official, a doctor or a stranger.
Здра́вствуйте!
Hello!
IPA /ˈzdrastvʲɪtʲə/
Say it ZDRAH-stvuy-tyuh!
The safe default with any adult you do not know. The first в is silent, so the word is shorter than it looks: [ˈzdrastvʲɪtʲə].
До́брое у́тро!
Good morning!
IPA /ˈdobrəjə ˈutrə/
Say it DOH-bruh-yuh OO-truh!
До́брый день!
Good afternoon!
IPA /ˈdobrɨj ˈdʲenʲ/
Say it DOH-briy DYEN!
Also the standard greeting in shops and offices at any time after midday — it is not restricted to the afternoon.
До́брый ве́чер!
Good evening!
IPA /ˈdobrɨj ˈvʲetɕɪr/
Say it DOH-briy VYEH-chihr!
До свида́ния!
Goodbye!
IPA /də svʲɪˈdanʲɪjə/
Say it duh svih-DAH-nih-yuh!
Literally "until the meeting". Neutral and always correct; a stranger would not expect Пока from you.
Пока́!
Bye!
IPA /pɐˈka/
Say it puh-KAH!
Informal only, like Привет. With someone you address as вы, say До свидания.
До за́втра!
See you tomorrow!
IPA /də ˈzaftrə/
Say it duh ZAHF-truh!
Споко́йной но́чи!
Good night!
IPA /spɐˈkojnəj ˈnotɕɪ/
Say it spuh-KOY-nuy NOH-chih!
Как дела́?
How are things?
IPA /ˈkak dʲɪˈla/
Say it KAHK dih-LAH?
Informal, because it uses no вы form at all. The formal equivalent is Как ваши дела? — and either way Russians expect a short answer, not a full report.
Как ва́ши дела́?
How are you?
IPA /ˈkak ˈvaʂɨ dʲɪˈla/
Say it KAHK VAH-shih dih-LAH?
The polite version of Как дела? Use it with anyone you address as вы.
Хорошо́, спа́сибо. А у вас?
Fine, thanks. And you?
IPA /xərɐˈʂo ˈspasʲɪbə ˈa ʊ ˈvas/
Say it khuh-ruh-SHOH, SPAH-sih-buh. AH oo VAHS?
Literally "and at you?" — Russian asks after someone's state with у + genitive, not with a repeated Как вы?
Рад вас ви́деть!
Good to see you!
IPA /ˈrat ˈvas ˈvʲidʲɪtʲ/
Say it RAHT VAHS VEE-dit!
A man says рад; a woman says рада. The word for "glad" agrees with the speaker, never with the person being greeted.
Давно́ не ви́делись!
Long time no see!
IPA /dɐvˈno ˈnʲe ˈvʲidʲɪlʲɪsʲ/
Say it duv-NOH NYEH VEE-dih-lis!
Literally "we have not seen each other for a long time". The reflexive -сь is what makes it mutual; видеть alone would mean you failed to see something.
Добро́ пожа́ловать!
Welcome!
IPA /dɐˈbro pɐˈʐaləvətʲ/
Say it duh-BROH puh-ZHAH-luh-vyut!
A fixed greeting to a guest or an arrival. It is not the answer to спасибо — that is Пожалуйста or Не за что.
