Words for your next conversation
Russian for meeting your partner's family
You have heard plenty about your partner's relatives; now you are standing at their door with a small gift. A warm greeting and a thoughtful question can carry you further than perfect grammar. This page focuses on being a guest: offering help, complimenting a meal and finding a comfortable way to address someone. Ask your partner about the family's preferences beforehand. There is no single set of Russian household rules, and a curious question is better than an assumption.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| знако́мство | znakómstvo | first meeting | Э́то знако́мство мно́го для меня́ зна́чит. Meeting you means a lot to me. |
| приглаше́ние | priglashénie | invitation | Спаси́бо за приглаше́ние. Thank you for the invitation. |
| гости́нец | gostínets | small gift for a host | Я принёс небольши́й гости́нец. I brought a small gift. |
| буке́т | bukét | bouquet | Э́тот буке́т для вас. This bouquet is for you. |
| тапо́чки | tapóchki | slippers | Мне взять тапо́чки? Shall I take some slippers? |
| угоще́ние | ugoshchénie | food offered to guests | Спаси́бо за угоще́ние. Thank you for the lovely food. |
| реце́пт | retsépt | recipe | Мо́жно записа́ть реце́пт? May I write down the recipe? |
| пиро́г | piróg | pie | Пиро́г о́чень вку́сный. The pie is delicious. |
| доба́вка | dobávka | second helping | Хо́чешь доба́вки? Would you like seconds? |
| посуда́ | posudá | dishes | Где у вас посуда́? Where do you keep the dishes? |
| альбо́м | albóm | album | Мо́жно посмотре́ть альбо́м? May I look at the album? |
| де́тство | détstvo | childhood | Расскажи́те про де́тство. Tell me about your childhood. |
| увлече́ние | uvlechénie | hobby / passion | У нас о́бщее увлече́ние. We share a hobby. |
| тради́ция | tradítsiya | tradition | Э́то семе́йная тради́ция? Is this a family tradition? |
| ро́дственник | ródstvennik | relative | Э́то ваш ро́дственник? Is this your relative? |
| о́тчество | ótchestvo | patronymic | Како́е у вас о́тчество? What is your patronymic? |
| хо́зяйка | khózyayka | hostess | Хо́зяйка пригласи́ла нас к столу́. The hostess invited us to the table. |
| встре́ча | vstrécha | meeting | Э́та встре́ча мно́го для меня́ зна́чит. This meeting means a lot to me. |
| Как к вам обраща́ться? | Kak k vam obrashchátsya? | How should I address you? | Подскажи́те, как к вам обраща́ться? Could you tell me how I should address you? |
| Мо́жно помо́чь? | Mózhno pomóch? | Can I help? | Мо́жно помо́чь на ку́хне? Can I help in the kitchen? |
| Всё о́чень вку́сно. | Vsyo óchen vkúsno. | Everything is delicious. | Всё о́чень вку́сно, спаси́бо. Everything is delicious, thank you. |
| Я уже́ сыт. | Ya uzhé syt. | I'm full already. (male speaker) | Спаси́бо, я уже́ сыт. Thank you, I'm full already. |
| Пора́ собира́ться. | Porá sobirátsya. | It's time to get going. | Нам пора́ собира́ться домо́й. It's time for us to get ready to go home. |
| Ра́ды вас ви́деть. | Rády vas vídet. | We are happy to see you. | Мы ра́ды вас ви́деть у нас. We are happy to have you here. |
Try the conversation
A: Спаси́бо за приглаше́ние. Э́то вам.
Thank you for inviting me. This is for you.
B: Как прия́тно! Проходи́те.
How lovely! Come in.
A: Как к вам обраща́ться?
How should I address you?
B: Зови́те меня́ А́нна. Дава́йте пить чай.
Call me Anna. Let's have some tea.
Questions about this situation
Should I use ты or вы with my partner's parents?
Do I need to bring a gift?
How can I offer to help after dinner?
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Add your own words with AI and build a set around the conversations you want to have.