How to Say "Hello" in Russian

Russian has two main words for "hello": привет (privét) with friends, and здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) with anyone you should address politely. Picking the right one is the single most important courtesy in a first conversation.

In Russian

здравствуйте

zdrávstvuyte - hello (formal)

Variants & registers

приветprivét
hi - with friends, family, peers and children
informal
здравствуйzdrávstvuy
hello - to one person you are on familiar terms with
semi-formal
здо́ровоzdoróvo
hey / what's up - very casual, mostly among men
slang
аллоalló
hello? - only when answering the phone
phone

Breakdown & pronunciation

Pronunciation

здравствуйте looks frightening but the first в is silent: say ZDRA-stvuy-tye. Stress falls on the first syllable. привет is easy: pri-VYET, stress on the second syllable.

Example sentences

Привет! Как дела?
Privét! Kak delá?
Hi! How are you?
Здравствуйте, меня зовут Анна.
Zdrávstvuyte, menyá zovút Ánna.
Hello, my name is Anna.
Привет, рад тебя видеть!
Privét, rad tebyá vídet!
Hi, glad to see you!
Здравствуйте, я могу вам помочь?
Zdrávstvuyte, ya mogú vam pomóch?
Hello, may I help you?

Usage & etiquette

Use здравствуйте with strangers, older people, officials, shopkeepers and anyone you address as вы (the formal "you"). It is never wrong to be polite, so when in doubt, default to здравствуйте.

привет is for people you address as ты - friends, classmates, close colleagues and children. Saying привет to a stranger much older than you can come across as too familiar.

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FAQ

How do you say "hello" in Russian?

Informally, "hello" is привет (privét). Formally - and with anyone you should be polite to - it is здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte).

How do you pronounce здравствуйте?

Say ZDRA-stvuy-tye - the first в is silent, and the stress is on the first syllable. It is easier than it looks once you drop that hidden в.

When should I use привет vs здравствуйте?

Use привет with friends, family and peers (people you call ты). Use здравствуйте with strangers, elders and in any formal or professional setting (people you call вы).

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