Words for your next conversation
Russian for dating and small talk
Good small talk leaves room for the other person to answer. Instead of rehearsing a clever line, try a simple question about a film, a weekend plan or a favourite place in town. These examples move from a first conversation to suggesting coffee, while also giving you clear ways to decline or slow things down. Informal ты appears in many phrases here; use вы with an unfamiliar adult until a more relaxed form of address feels welcome to both people.
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24 words and phrases to try
An accent marks the stressed vowel. Transliteration is a reading aid; ё carries its own stress.
| Russian | Transliteration | Meaning | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| свида́ние | svidánie | date | У меня́ свида́ние в суббо́ту. I have a date on Saturday. |
| симпа́тия | simpátiya | attraction / fondness | У нас взаи́мная симпа́тия. We are attracted to each other. |
| интере́сы | interésy | interests | Каки́е у тебя́ интере́сы? What are your interests? |
| выходны́е | vykhodnýe | weekend | Как прошли́ выходны́е? How was your weekend? |
| прогу́лка | progúlka | walk | Мо́жет, прогу́лка по па́рку? How about a walk in the park? |
| кино́ | kinó | cinema / films | Ты лю́бишь кино́? Do you like films? |
| вы́ставка | výstavka | exhibition | Здесь интере́сная вы́ставка. There is an interesting exhibition here. |
| перепи́ска | perepíska | messaging | Мне нра́вится на́ша перепи́ска. I enjoy our messages. |
| улы́бка | ulýbka | smile | У тебя́ прия́тная улы́бка. You have a lovely smile. |
| чу́вство ю́мора | chúvstvo yúmora | sense of humour | У тебя́ хоро́шее чу́вство ю́мора. You have a good sense of humour. |
| совпаде́ние | sovpadénie | coincidence | Како́е совпаде́ние! What a coincidence! |
| пригласи́ть | priglasít | to invite | Хочу́ пригласи́ть тебя́ на ко́фе. I'd like to invite you for coffee. |
| отказа́ться | otkazátsya | to decline | Мо́жно отказа́ться без объясне́ний. You can decline without giving a reason. |
| дове́рие | dovérie | trust | Для меня́ ва́жно дове́рие. Trust matters to me. |
| грани́цы | granítsy | boundaries | Я уважа́ю твои́ грани́цы. I respect your boundaries. |
| взаи́мно | vzaímno | likewise | Спаси́бо, взаи́мно. Thank you, likewise. |
| Не торопи́сь. | Ne toropís. | Take your time. | Не торопи́сь с отве́том. Take your time replying. |
| Чем увлека́ешься? | Chem uvlekáeshsya? | What are you into? | Чем увлека́ешься кро́ме му́зыки? What are you into besides music? |
| Хо́чешь встре́титься? | Khóchesh vstrétitsya? | Would you like to meet? | Хо́чешь встре́титься в суббо́ту? Would you like to meet on Saturday? |
| Мне пора́. | Mne porá. | I have to go. | Мне пора́, спаси́бо за ве́чер. I have to go, thanks for the evening. |
| Дава́й на ты. | Daváy na ty. | Let's use ты. | Дава́й на ты, е́сли ты не про́тив. Let's use ты, if that's okay with you. |
| Я не хочу́. | Ya ne khochú. | I don't want to. | Я не хочу́ продолжа́ть разгово́р. I don't want to continue the conversation. |
| Мне с тобо́й хорошо́. | Mne s tobóy khoroshó. | I enjoy being with you. | Мне с тобо́й хорошо́ и споко́йно. I feel happy and at ease with you. |
| Напиши́, когда́ дое́дешь. | Napishí, kogdá doédesh. | Text me when you arrive. | Напиши́, когда́ дое́дешь домо́й. Text me when you get home. |
Try the conversation
A: Как прошли́ выходны́е?
How was your weekend?
B: Был на вы́ставке. А ты чем увлека́ешься?
I went to an exhibition. What are you into?
A: Люблю́ кино́ и прогу́лки. Хо́чешь встре́титься в суббо́ту?
I like films and walks. Would you like to meet on Saturday?
B: Дава́й. Мо́жем вы́пить ко́фе.
Sure. We could have a coffee.
Questions about this situation
How can I suggest meeting without putting pressure on someone?
What is a clear way to decline?
Does свидание always mean a date?
Keep exploring
Make this set yours
Add your own words with AI and build a set around the conversations you want to have.