Russian for English speakers Bakery · Lesson 0

First greetings

Russian greetings and small talk — Здравствуйте! (Hello!) — with polite constructions for first meetings.

Conversation

  1. Bob Bob

    Добрый день! Как дела?

    Dobryj denʹ! Kak dela?

    Good afternoon! How are you?

  2. Meera Meera

    Здравствуйте, всё хорошо! Как у вас?

    Zdravstvujte, vsë horošo! Kak u vas?

    Hello, everything is good!How are you?

  3. Bob Bob

    У меня тоже всё отлично!Спасибо!

    U menja tože vsë otlično!Spasibo!

    I am excellent too!Thank you!

  4. Meera Meera

    Я очень рада

    Ja očenʹ rada

    I am very glad

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you greet politely in Russian?

Здравствуйте (zdravstvuyte) — formal hello, anyone. Привет (privet) — casual hi, friends only. Доброе утро / день / вечер — good morning/day/evening.

Russian polite address?

Use вы (formal you) with strangers and elders. Ты (casual) only with friends and family. When in doubt, use вы.

Common Russian small talk?

Как дела? (how are you?), Хорошо (good), Так себе (so-so), Отлично (excellent), Плохо (bad).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Russian lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Bakery Presenting oneself →