Now that you can read Cyrillic, it's time to start speaking! This lesson covers greetings, introductions, polite expressions, and essential survival phrases. You'll also learn the critical distinction between ты (informal "you") and вы (formal "you").
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Здравствуйте | Zdrastvuytye | Hello (formal) | Strangers, elders, professional settings |
| Здравствуй | Zdrastvuy | Hello (informal) | One person you know well |
| Привет! | Privyet! | Hi! | Friends, casual |
| Доброе утро | Dobroye utra | Good morning | Before noon |
| Добрый день | Dobriy dyen' | Good afternoon | Daytime, most versatile |
| Добрый вечер | Dobriy vyecher | Good evening | Evening hours |
| Спокойной ночи | Spakoynay nochi | Good night | Before bed |
| До свидания | Da svidaniya | Goodbye (formal) | Standard farewell |
| Пока! | Paka! | Bye! | Casual farewell |
This word looks terrifying but Russians actually drop the first В: it's pronounced "ZDRA-stvuy-tye", not "zdrav-stvuy-tye." The word comes from "здоровье" (zdorov'ye = health) — you're literally wishing someone good health!
Ты (ty) = informal "you" — for friends, family, children, people your age in casual settings
Вы (vy) = formal "you" — for strangers, elders, bosses, official situations, showing respect
Using ты with someone you should address as Вы is considered rude. When in doubt, always use Вы! The other person may say "Давайте на ты" (Let's use ты) to signal informality.
💡 Cultural Insight: The switch from Вы to ты is a meaningful social moment in Russian culture. In workplaces, people who have worked together for years may still use Вы. The transition to ты often comes with a toast or an explicit suggestion, and it signals a deepening of the relationship. Switching back to Вы after using ты would be a serious social signal of displeasure.
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Меня зовут... | Minya zavut... | My name is... (lit: "they call me...") |
| Как вас зовут? | Kak vas zavut? | What is your name? (formal) |
| Как тебя зовут? | Kak tibya zavut? | What is your name? (informal) |
| Очень приятно | Ochin' priyatna | Nice to meet you |
| Я из Америки | Ya iz Amyeriki | I'm from America |
| Я студент / студентка | Ya student / studentka | I'm a student (m/f) |
| А вы? | A vy? | And you? (formal) |
Russian drops "is/am/are" in the present tense. Where English says "I am a student," Russian just says:
Я студент. (Ya student.) — I [am] a student.
Это книга. (Eta kniga.) — This [is] a book.
Он врач. (On vrach.) — He [is] a doctor.
This makes simple sentences beautifully short!
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Спасибо | Spasiba | Thank you | Universal thanks |
| Большое спасибо | Bal'shoye spasiba | Thank you very much | Literally "big thanks" |
| Пожалуйста | Pazhalusta | Please / You're welcome | Does double duty! |
| Извините | Izvinitye | Excuse me / Sorry (formal) | Getting attention or apologizing |
| Извини | Izvini | Sorry (informal) | To friends |
| Простите | Prastitye | Forgive me (formal) | Deeper apology |
| Ничего | Nichivo | It's nothing / No problem | Response to apology |
| Не за что | Nye za shta | Don't mention it | Response to thanks |
| Russian | Transliteration | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Что? | Shto? | What? | Что это? (Shto eta? — What is this?) |
| Кто? | Kto? | Who? | Кто это? (Kto eta? — Who is this?) |
| Где? | Gdye? | Where? | Где банк? (Gdye bank? — Where is the bank?) |
| Когда? | Kagda? | When? | Когда? (Kagda? — When?) |
| Почему? | Pachimu? | Why? | Почему нет? (Pachimu nyet? — Why not?) |
| Как? | Kak? | How? | Как дела? (Kak dyela? — How are things?) |
| Сколько? | Skol'ka? | How much/many? | Сколько стоит? (Skol'ka stoit? — How much?) |
| Russian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| Я не понимаю | Ya nye panimayu | I don't understand |
| Повторите, пожалуйста | Pavtaritye, pazhalusta | Please repeat that |
| Говорите медленнее | Gavaritye myedlyenneye | Speak more slowly |
| Я учу русский язык | Ya uchu russkiy yazyk | I'm learning Russian |
| Вы говорите по-английски? | Vy gavaritye pa-angliyski? | Do you speak English? |
| Где туалет? | Gdye tualet? | Where is the restroom? |
| Помогите! | Pamagitye! | Help! |
| Да / Нет | Da / Nyet | Yes / No |
💡 Cultural Insight: Russians may seem reserved with strangers — don't expect big smiles from service staff. This isn't rudeness; Russians generally reserve smiling for genuine emotions. A common saying goes: "Смех без причины — признак дурачины" (Laughter without reason is a sign of foolishness). Once you become friends, however, Russian warmth and hospitality are legendary.
— Здравствуйте! Меня зовут Мария.
(Zdrastvuytye! Minya zavut Mariya.) — Hello! My name is Maria.
— Здравствуйте, Мария. Меня зовут Джон. Очень приятно.
(Zdrastvuytye, Mariya. Minya zavut Dzhon. Ochin' priyatna.) — Hello, Maria. My name is John. Nice to meet you.
— Мне тоже. Вы из Америки?
(Mnye tozhe. Vy iz Amyeriki?) — Me too. Are you from America?
— Да, я из Нью-Йорка. А вы?
(Da, ya iz N'yu-Yorka. A vy?) — Yes, I'm from New York. And you?
— Я из Москвы. Вы говорите по-русски очень хорошо!
(Ya iz Moskvy. Vy gavaritye pa-russki ochin' kharasho!) — I'm from Moscow. You speak Russian very well!
— Спасибо! Я учу русский язык.
(Spasiba! Ya uchu russkiy yazyk.) — Thank you! I'm learning Russian.
1. When should you use "Вы" instead of "ты"?
2. What does "Пожалуйста" mean?
3. How do you say "I don't understand" in Russian?
4. Why is the verb "to be" missing from "Я студент"?