Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'Hello'

English Word: Hello

Key Russian Translations:

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

Frequency: High (all translations are commonly used)

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

Pronunciation (Russian):

Привет: [prʲɪˈvʲet]

Note on Привет: Stress falls on the second syllable; the 'r' is rolled slightly.

Здравствуйте: [zdrɐˈstvujtʲe]

Note on Здравствуйте: A challenging word for beginners due to the cluster of consonants at the beginning; practice breaking it into "zdrav-stvuj-te".

Алло: [ɐˈlo]

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. General Greeting

Translation(s) & Context:

• Привет - Used informally among friends, family, or peers.
• Здравствуйте - Used formally or when addressing strangers, elders, or in professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Привет, как дела?

  Hello, how are you?

• Здравствуйте, можно войти?

  Hello, may I come in?

• Привет, давно не виделись!

  Hey, long time no see!

• Здравствуйте, я новый сотрудник.

  Hello, I am the new employee.

2. Answering the Phone

Translation(s) & Context:

• Алло - Exclusively used when answering or making phone calls.

Usage Examples:

• Алло, кто это?

  Hello, who is this?

• Алло, вы меня слышите?

  Hello, can you hear me?

• Алло, это Иван?

  Hello, is this Ivan?

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Привет: An interjection; does not inflect or change form regardless of context or speaker.

Здравствуйте: A verb in the imperative mood, second person plural form (polite). It changes to "Здравствуй" [zdrɐˈstvuj] when addressing a single person informally.

Алло: An interjection; does not inflect or change form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for Привет:

• Салют (Informal, less common)
• Хай (Slang, very informal)

Synonyms for Здравствуйте:

• Добрый день (Formal, means "Good day")
• Доброе утро (Formal, means "Good morning")

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

Related Phrases:

• Привет, как дела? - "Hello, how are you?" (Common informal greeting)
• Здравствуйте, рад вас видеть! - "Hello, nice to see you!" (Formal expression of pleasure in meeting)
• Алло, это кто говорит? - "Hello, who’s speaking?" (Common phone greeting)

Usage Notes:

• "Привет" is the go-to informal greeting, equivalent to "Hi" or "Hey" in English, but should not be used with strangers or in formal settings.
• "Здравствуйте" is a safe choice for formal or respectful greetings, akin to "Hello" in polite English; always use it when unsure of the relationship or context.
• "Алло" is strictly for telephone conversations and would sound odd if used face-to-face.
• Russian greetings often depend on the time of day; for example, "Добрый день" (Good afternoon) might replace "Здравствуйте" in the afternoon.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "Привет" in formal situations.
  Incorrect: Привет, профессор!
  Correct: Здравствуйте, профессор!
  Explanation: "Привет" is too casual for addressing a teacher or superior; always use "Здравствуйте" in such contexts.
• Error: Using "Алло" in person.
  Incorrect: Алло, как дела? (face-to-face)
  Correct: Привет, как дела?
  Explanation: "Алло" is exclusively for phone calls; using it in person is unnatural.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, greetings are tied to formality and respect. Using "Здравствуйте" shows politeness and acknowledgment of hierarchy or unfamiliarity, while "Привет" indicates closeness or equality. Russians often accompany greetings with a handshake (for men) or a nod, and direct eye contact is important to show sincerity.

Related Concepts:

• До свидания (Goodbye)
• Добрый день (Good afternoon)
• Как дела? (How are you?)