Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Hello'

English Word: Hello

Key Russian Translations:

• Привет [prʲɪˈvʲet] - [Informal]
• Здравствуйте [zdrɐˈstvujtʲɪ] - [Formal, Polite]
• Алло [ɐˈlo] - [Informal, Used when answering the phone]

Frequency: High (commonly used in daily interactions)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner) for "Привет" and "Алло"; A2 (Elementary) for "Здравствуйте" due to pronunciation

Pronunciation (Russian):

Привет: [prʲɪˈvʲet]

Note on Привет: The stress is on the second syllable. The 'р' is rolled slightly, typical in Russian.

Здравствуйте: [zdrɐˈstvujtʲɪ]

Note on Здравствуйте: This word can be challenging due to the cluster of consonants at the beginning. The stress is on the second syllable.

Алло: [ɐˈlo]

Note on Алло: Stress on the second syllable, used almost exclusively in telephone conversations.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Greeting (Casual)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Привет - Used among friends, family, or in informal settings.

Usage Examples:

• Привет, как дела?

  Hello, how are you?

• Привет, давно не виделись!

  Hey, long time no see!

• Привет всем!

  Hi everyone!

2. Formal Greeting

Translation(s) & Context:

• Здравствуйте - Used in formal situations, with strangers, or to show respect.

Usage Examples:

• Здравствуйте, как я могу вам помочь?

  Hello, how can I help you?

• Здравствуйте, добро пожаловать!

  Hello, welcome!

• Здравствуйте, я рад вас видеть.

  Hello, I’m glad to see you.

3. Telephone Greeting

Translation(s) & Context:

• Алло - Used specifically when answering or calling someone on the phone.

Usage Examples:

• Алло, это Иван?

  Hello, is this Ivan?

• Алло, вы меня слышите?

  Hello, can you hear me?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Привет: This is an interjection and does not change form. It remains the same regardless of context or number of people addressed.

Здравствуйте: This is a verb in the imperative form, used for formal address to one or more people. For informal singular address, it changes to "Здравствуй" [zdrɐˈstvuj].

Form	Usage	Pronunciation
Здравствуй	Informal, singular	[zdrɐˈstvuj]
Здравствуйте	Formal or plural	[zdrɐˈstvujtʲɪ]

Алло: This is an interjection specific to telephone use and does not inflect.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for Привет:

• Салют (Informal, less common)
• Хай (Slang, borrowed from English "Hi")

Synonyms for Здравствуйте:

• Добрый день (Literally "Good day", formal)
• Доброе утро (Literally "Good morning", formal)

Antonyms: None, as greetings typically do not have direct opposites. However, "До свидания" (Goodbye) could be considered a contextual opposite.

Related Phrases:

• Привет, как дела? - "Hello, how are you?" (Common informal greeting)
• Здравствуйте, чем могу помочь? - "Hello, how can I help?" (Polite, often in service contexts)
• Алло, кто говорит? - "Hello, who’s speaking?" (Used on the phone)

Usage Notes:

• "Привет" is strictly informal and should not be used with strangers, elders, or in professional settings unless familiarity is established.
• "Здравствуйте" is the safest choice for formal or unfamiliar situations. It shows respect and politeness.
• "Алло" is exclusively for telephone conversations and would sound odd if used in person.
• Russian greetings often depend on the time of day, so alternatives like "Добрый день" (Good afternoon) may be used alongside "Здравствуйте."

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Привет" in formal settings.
  Incorrect: Привет, профессор!
  Correct: Здравствуйте, профессор!
  Explanation: "Привет" is too casual for addressing a professor or authority figure.
• Error: Using "Алло" in face-to-face conversations.
  Incorrect: Алло, как дела? (in person)
  Correct: Привет, как дела?
  Explanation: "Алло" is reserved for phone calls.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, greetings are often accompanied by a handshake (among men) or a nod. Using the appropriate level of formality is crucial to avoid offending someone. "Здравствуйте" is derived from "здоровье" (health), historically wishing good health to the person greeted.

Related Concepts:

• До свидания (Goodbye)
• Добрый день (Good afternoon)
• Доброе утро (Good morning)