
However, this is a singular form and can only be addressed to one person. Putin, the President of Russia.īack to being realistic, when meeting your friend in Russia you can also say Здравствуй (Zdrastvui), which is a shorter and informal version for Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte). It’s safe to say that you shouldn’t use Привет (Privyet) when meeting – let’s say – Mr. This is a little more informal than Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) and Russians use it to greet their friends. The root of the word goes back to the expression or phrase “to be healthy and well” so this is also a wish of good health. It’s a universal greeting formula and it can be used safely every time regardless of the person you are addressing. But, like any other language, Russian also has its formal and informal rules. The same as our “hello”, the Russian hello can be used safely in all kinds of situations.

The most common Russian greeting is used the same way we use “hello” in English. Next time you go on an expedition to Siberia (do that – it’s a must), try the following Russian greetings and watch the magic happen! 1. Just some of the basics like “hello”, “good morning”, “please”, “thank you” or “yes” in Russian. You don’t need to know the language to perfection.

As a matter of fact, all foreigners regard your attempt to speak their language as a sign of respect towards their culture. The Russians are very warm people and a simple “hello” in Russian (from your end) may win their hearts forever.
