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.

Exemples de phrases

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?").

What does "kak dela" mean?

"Kak dela" is the romanization of как дела (kak delá), the everyday Russian for "how are you?". You may also see it written kak dila or kak di la - all the same phrase.

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