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Russian Lesson 2

Meetings and Greetings

When you meet someone or join a group, the most frequently used greetings are:

Здравствуйте!	—	Formal “Hello!”
Привет!	—	Informal “Hi!”

 

“Здравствуйте!” is a formal greeting used with strangers, older people, your superiors, or groups. “Привет!” is informal and used with friends, family, peers, and children.

You can add polite words to your greeting:

Доброе утро!	—	Good morning!
Добрый день!	—	Good afternoon!
Добрый вечер!	—	Good evening!

 

When meeting someone for the first time or in a formal situation, shake hands and use “Здравствуйте!” Add a title and last name if appropriate.

 

Dialogue examples

— Здравствуйте! — Здравствуйте! — Добрый день! — Добрый день! — Добрый вечер! — Добрый вечер!

— Привет! — Привет! — Привет, как дела? — Нормально. А у тебя?

 

Notes

• “Здравствуйте” literally derives from “to be healthy/well.”
• “Привет” is casual; don’t use it with people you don’t know well in formal contexts.

 

Continue learning

	Vocabulary	Lesson vocabulary
	Grammar	Personal pronouns in greetings
	Grammar	Verb “to be” and greetings
	Grammar	Usage of KTO, ЧТО, ЭTO in questions
	Grammar	Polite forms of addressing people
	Grammar	Subject pronouns
	Vocabulary	Lesson vocabulary

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