How to Say "How Are You" in Russian

The everyday "how are you?" in Russian is как дела? (kak delá). Unlike in English it is a genuine question, not just a greeting - so it helps to know a few natural replies too.

In Russian

как дела?

kak delá? - how are you? (informal)

Variants & registers

как вы?kak vy?
how are you? - formal / to more than one person
formal
как ты?kak ty?
how are you? - informal, to one friend
informal
как у тебя дела?kak u tebyá delá?
how are things with you? - a fuller, warm version
informal
как поживаете?kak pozhiváyete?
how are you doing? - polite and slightly old-fashioned
formal

Breakdown & pronunciation

Word by word

какkak
how
делаdelá
things / affairs (plural of дело)

Pronunciation

как дела is kak de-LA, with the stress on the last syllable of дела. как ты and как вы are just two short words each. Keep как crisp - it is a single clean syllable.

Example sentences

Привет! Как дела?
Privét! Kak delá?
Hi! How are you?
Как дела? - Хорошо, спасибо!
Kak delá? - Khoroshó, spasíbo!
How are you? - Good, thanks!
Как ты? - Нормально.
Kak ty? - Normálno.
How are you? - I'm okay.
Как вы? - Всё хорошо.
Kak vy? - Vsyo khoroshó.
How are you? - Everything's fine.

Usage & etiquette

Typical replies, from best to neutral: отлично ("great"), хорошо ("good"), нормально ("okay / fine"), так себе ("so-so"), плохо ("bad"). A common full answer is хорошо, спасибо, а у тебя? ("good, thanks, and you?").

Match the pronoun to the relationship: как ты? and как дела? for friends; как вы? for someone you address formally. как поживаете? is polite and a touch formal or old-fashioned, but always safe.

Practice

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FAQ

How do you say "how are you" in Russian?

The everyday "how are you?" is как дела? (kak delá). Informally to one friend you can say как ты?; formally, как вы?

How do you reply to "как дела"?

Common replies are хорошо (good), нормально (okay), отлично (great) or так себе (so-so), usually with спасибо. A natural full reply is хорошо, спасибо, а у тебя? ("good, thanks, and you?").

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