How to Say "Good Night" in Russian

By Daily Cyrillic · Updated

“Good Night” in Russian is спокойной ночи (spokóynoy nóchi). Use this expression as your starting point, then check the examples for tone, formality and context. Listen to the pronunciation, notice the stressed syllable and compare the common variants before choosing the wording that fits your conversation.

Reading time: about 2 min.

Russian
спокойной ночи
Transliteration
spokóynoy nóchi
Meaning
good night

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In Russian

спокойной ночи

spokóynoy nóchi - good night

Variants & registers

  • доброй ночиdóbroy nóchi

    good night - a softer, less common alternative

    neutral
  • сладких сновsládkikh snov

    sweet dreams - a warm add-on

    affectionate
  • приятных сновpriyátnykh snov

    pleasant dreams

    neutral
  • спи спокойноspi spokóyno

    sleep well - informal, to one person

    informal

Breakdown & pronunciation

Word by word

  • спокойнойspokóynoy
    peaceful / calm (genitive)
  • ночиnóchi
    night (genitive)

Pronunciation

Say spa-KOY-nay NO-chi. спокойной is stressed on the second syllable (KOY) and ночи on the first (NO). The unstressed о letters soften to an "a" sound.

Example sentences

  • Спокойной ночи! Сладких снов.

    Spokóynoy nóchi! Sládkikh snov.

    Good night! Sweet dreams.

  • Уже поздно, спокойной ночи.

    Uzhé pózdno, spokóynoy nóchi.

    It's late, good night.

  • Спокойной ночи, мама.

    Spokóynoy nóchi, máma.

    Good night, mom.

  • Спи спокойно, увидимся утром.

    Spi spokóyno, uvídimsya útrom.

    Sleep well, see you in the morning.

Usage & etiquette

спокойной ночи is in the genitive case because it is short for «желаю тебе спокойной ночи» ("I wish you a peaceful night") - the verb желать ("to wish") takes the genitive. You never need the full version; the two words are enough.

Pair it with сладких снов ("sweet dreams") for warmth. доброй ночи exists too, but спокойной ночи is by far the more common way to say good night.

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FAQ

How do you say "good night" in Russian?
"Good night" in Russian is спокойной ночи (spokóynoy nóchi), said when parting at night or before bed. Add сладких снов (sládkikh snov) for "sweet dreams".
Why is спокойной ночи in the genitive case?
It is short for «желаю спокойной ночи» ("I wish you a peaceful night"), and the verb желать takes the genitive. That is why both words carry the -ой / -и genitive endings.

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