---
title: "How to Say \"Hello\" in Russian: Привет & Здравствуйте"
description: "How to say \"hello\" in Russian: привет (privét) informally, здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) formally. Pronunciation, when to use each, examples and audio."
canonical: "https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/how-to-say/hello"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-06-13T18:41:48.000Z"
modified: "2026-11-02T10:04:45.000Z"
author: "Daily Cyrillic"
---

# How to Say "Hello" in Russian

By [Daily Cyrillic](/about) · Updated 2 Nov 2026

“Hello” in Russian is здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte). 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

здравствуйте

Transliteration

zdrávstvuyte

Meaning

hello (formal)

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

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.

## Practice

### Practice deck

1 / 5

## 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).

## Turn this guide into words you can use

Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.

[All Russian phrases](/learn/russian-phrases)

## More phrases to say

-   [
    
    How to Say "Yes"
    
    да (da)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/yes)
-   [
    
    How to Say "No"
    
    нет (net)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/no)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Please"
    
    пожалуйста (pozháluysta)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/please)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Sorry"
    
    извините (izviníte)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/sorry)
-   [
    
    How to Say "I Love You"
    
    я тебя люблю (ya tebyá lyublyú)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/i-love-you)
-   [
    
    How to Say "Goodbye"
    
    до свидания (do svidániya)
    
    ](/learn/how-to-say/goodbye)
-   [
    
    Common Russian Phrases
    
    The phrases hub: greetings, courtesy, questions and more.
    
    ](/learn/russian-phrases)
-   [
    
    Russian Greetings
    
    Hello, times of day, goodbye and how are you - with audio.
    
    ](/learn/russian-greetings)

Source: https://dailycyrillic.com/learn/how-to-say/hello