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Russian Greetings and Introductions
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Every Russian greeting you actually need, when to use ты and вы, and how to introduce yourself — with pronunciation and examples.
The greetings that cover most situations
Russian greets by time of day: доброе утро (good morning), добрый день (good day) and добрый вечер (good evening). The formal hello is здравствуйте (literally "be healthy" — the first в is silent: zdRA-stvooy-tye); the informal one is привет. Goodbye is до свидания (formal, "until seeing") or пока (informal). Russians shake hands on meeting AND parting — but never across a threshold.
Introducing yourself
To give your name: Меня зовут… (me they-call… — "I am called") or Я… (I am…). Меня зовут Анна and Я Анна both introduce Anna. To ask: Как тебя зовут? (informal) or Как вас зовут? (formal). Origin: Я из Индии (I am from India). Russians also give their отчество (patronymic — father's name) in formal settings: Anna Petrovna.
Ты vs вы — the register choice
For "you", ты is for friends, family, children and peers; вы is for strangers, older people, officials — and always for groups. Russia switches to ты slower than southern Europe: colleagues may use вы for years. The invitation давай на ты (let's switch to ты) is a small ceremony of friendship. Students and young people use ты with each other freely.
Please, thanks and sorry
Спасибо is thanks; большое спасибо (big thanks) adds weight. Пожалуйста does triple duty: please, you're welcome, and here-you-are. Извините (formal) / извини (informal) apologises; простите begs pardon more deeply. To get attention: Извините! The reply to thanks is also пожалуйста — context tells you which meaning.
| Greeting | When to use it |
|---|---|
| здравствуйте / привет | hello — formal / informal |
| доброе утро | good morning |
| добрый день | good day — the default daytime greeting |
| добрый вечер | good evening |
| до свидания / пока | goodbye — formal / informal |
| спасибо / пожалуйста | thanks / please, you're welcome |
| Меня зовут… | I am called… — introducing yourself |