Greetings and Introducing Yourself
The essential phrases to start a conversation in Russian
⚡Key points
Saying hello: formal vs informal
Russian clearly distinguishes formal and informal greetings. Здра́вствуйте (lit. "be in good health") is for a stranger, a superior, or a group. Приве́т is reserved for friends and family.
Greetings and farewells
| Hello (formal, neutral) | Здра́вствуйте | With stranger, superior, group |
| Hi (informal) | Приве́т | With friends, family |
| Good morning | До́брое у́тро | Until around noon |
| Good day | До́брый день | From noon to evening |
| Good evening | До́брый ве́чер | From evening onwards |
| Goodbye (formal) | До свида́ния | Lit. "until we meet" |
| Bye (informal) | Пока | With friends, casual |
Choosing the right greeting
With a stranger or in a formal context
Здра́вствуйте, я хоте́л бы заказать… (Hello, I would like to order…)
До́брый день ! Как ва́ши дела ?
До свида́ния, спаси́бо !
With friends, family, peers
Приве́т ! Как дела ?
Пока ! До завтра !
Здоро́во ! (even more casual, among young people or close male friends)
Dialogue: entering a shop
Customer: Hello! — Salesperson: Good day! How can I help? — Customer: I am looking for a gift for a friend. — Salesperson: Good. What in particular would you like to see?
Introducing yourself: "Меня́ зову́т…"
To say your name, Russian uses a passive construction: « Меня́ зову́т Андре́й » literally means "they call me Andrey". No verb "to be" — the phrase is fixed. To ask, you flip it: Как тебя́ зову́т ? (informal) or Как Вас зову́т ? (formal).
The "Меня́ зову́т…" construction
| My name is… | Меня́ зову́т Андре́й | Lit. "they call me Andrey" |
| What is your name? | Как тебя́ зову́т ? | Informal |
| What is your name? | Как Вас зову́т ? | Formal or plural |
| His name is… | Его́ зову́т Ива́н | Lit. "they call him Ivan" |
| Her name is… | Её зову́т Ма́ша | Lit. "they call her Masha" |
The Russian introduction ritual
Step 1 — greet
Formal: "Здра́вствуйте !"
Informal: "Приве́т !"
Step 2 — give your name
"Меня́ зову́т Поль." (My name is Paul)
"Я Поль." (I am Paul — shorter variant)
Step 3 — ask their name
"А Вас как зову́т ?" (And what is your name?)
"А тебя́ ?" (And you? — informal, after giving your own name)
Step 4 — answer "nice to meet you"
"О́чень прия́тно !" (Nice to meet you — standard response)
"Прия́тно познакомиться !" (Pleased to make your acquaintance — more formal)
Dialogue: first formal meeting
Sergey: Hello! My name is Sergey. And yours? — John: Hello! My name is John. Nice to meet you. — Sergey: Pleased to make your acquaintance. Where are you from? — John: I am from America. And you? — Sergey: I am from Moscow. Welcome to Russia!
Asking how things are
After greeting, you typically ask « Как дела ? » (How are things?) or « Как у Вас дела ? » (formal). The standard answer is « Хорошо́, спаси́бо » or « Норма́льно ».
Replying to "Как дела ?"
Positive answers
Хорошо́ ! (Good!)
Отли́чно ! (Great!)
О́чень хорошо́, спаси́бо.
Neutral answers
Норма́льно. (Not bad — the most common answer)
Ничего ! (Eh, OK — literally "nothing")
Так себе́. (So-so)
Bouncing the question back
… А у Вас ? (And you?)
… А у тебя́ ? (And you? — informal)
Dialogue: between friends
Masha: Hi! How are you? — Lyosha: Hi! Not bad, thanks. And you? — Masha: Good! I’m learning French. — Lyosha: Great! Bye! — Masha: Bye! See you tomorrow!