Russian greetings are very important for talking to others and making a good first impression. Here’s a simple guide with some common greetings and how to say them.

Common Greetings

1. Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)

   • How to say it: zdrah-stvooy-tyeh
   • When to use it: This is a formal way to say hello. Use it when you meet someone for the first time or when talking to a group.

2. Привет (Privet)

   • How to say it: pree-vyet
   • When to use it: This is a casual way to say hi to your friends and classmates.

3. Доброе утро (Dobroye utro)

   • How to say it: doh-broh-yeh oo-trah
   • When to use it: This means "Good morning" and you use it in the morning.

4. Добрый день (Dobryy den')

   • How to say it: doh-brih-y den'
   • When to use it: This means "Good afternoon" and is used during the day.

5. Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher)

   • How to say it: doh-brih-y vyye-cher
   • When to use it: This means "Good evening" and you use it in the evening.

Pronunciation Tips

• Russian has some sounds that are different from English. For example, the 'ы' sound (like in "мы," which means "we").
• The way you stress a word in Russian can change what it means. For example, “мóжно” means "it is possible," but “можнó” means "can."

Vocabulary Building

You can use a dictionary or a translation app to find different greetings and practice writing them. Making flashcards can help you remember them better. Try this simple conversation:

• A: Здравствуйте, как дела? (Zdravstvuyte, kak dela?)
  • Translation: Hello, how are you?
• B: Привет! Всё хорошо! (Privet! Vsyó khorosho!)
  • Translation: Hi! Everything is good!

Cultural Context

In Russian culture, it’s important to know when to use formal or informal greetings. Using the right greeting shows respect or friendliness. Picking the right one helps your conversations go smoothly.

Practice

Try greeting your family or friends in Russian. You can also use flashcards to remember different greetings. Practice saying them out loud to get better at pronunciation!