Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'hello'

English Word: hello

Key Russian Translations:

• привет [prʲɪˈvʲet] - [Informal, Greeting]
• здравствуйте [zdrɐsʲtʊjᵊtʲɪ] - [Formal, Greeting, Used when answering the phone or in professional settings]

Frequency: High (Commonly used in everyday conversations)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner for informal; B1 for formal due to pronunciation challenges)

Pronunciation (Russian):

привет: [prʲɪˈvʲet]

Note on привет: The 'р' is rolled, and the stress is on the second syllable. It's straightforward for beginners but requires practice for the soft 'в' sound.

здравствуйте: [zdrɐsʲtʊjᵊtʲɪ]

Note on здравствуйте: This word has a complex consonant cluster at the beginning, which can be tricky for non-native speakers. The stress is on the third syllable.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Greeting in casual contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• привет - Used in informal settings with friends or peers, equivalent to "hi" in English.

Usage Examples:

• Привет, как дела? (Preevet, kak dela?)

  Hello, how are you? (Casual inquiry about someone's well-being)

• Привет, давай встретимся сегодня! (Preevet, davai vstretimsya segodnya!)

  Hello, let's meet today! (Informal invitation)

• Привет из Москвы! (Preevet iz Moskvy!)

  Hello from Moscow! (Greeting in a message or postcard)

• Привет, что нового? (Preevet, chto novogo?)

  Hello, what's new? (Casual check-in conversation)

Greeting in formal contexts

Translation(s) & Context:

• здравствуйте - Used in formal or polite situations, such as meeting strangers, in business, or on the phone.

Usage Examples:

• Здравствуйте, меня зовут Анна. (Zdravstvuyte, menya zovut Anna.)

  Hello, my name is Anna. (Formal introduction)

• Здравствуйте, чем могу помочь? (Zdravstvuyte, chem mogu pomoch?)

  Hello, how can I help you? (Polite customer service response)

• Здравствуйте, это компания XYZ? (Zdravstvuyte, eto kompaniya XYZ?)

  Hello, is this company XYZ? (Formal phone inquiry)

• Здравствуйте, рад вас видеть. (Zdravstvuyte, rad vas videt.)

  Hello, nice to see you. (Formal meeting greeting)

• Здравствуйте, добро пожаловать! (Zdravstvuyte, dobro pozhelovat!)

  Hello, welcome! (Formal welcome in a professional setting)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "привет" and "здравствуйте" are interjections and do not inflect like nouns or verbs. They remain unchanged in most contexts:

• привет: Invariable; used as is in sentences.
• здравствуйте: Also invariable; no changes for gender, number, or case.

For completeness, if used in phrases, they might appear in different syntactic positions, but the words themselves do not change.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Приветствие (Preevetstvie) - A more general term for greeting, but less common as a direct synonym.
  • Добрый день (Dobryy den') - Literal: Good day; used formally, especially during the day.
• Antonyms:
  • Прощай (Proshchay) - Goodbye (informal farewell).
  • До свидания (Do svidaniya) - Goodbye (formal farewell).

Related Phrases:

• Привет, как дела? (Preevet, kak dela?) - Hello, how are you? (Informal inquiry about well-being)
• Здравствуйте, рад познакомиться. (Zdravstvuyte, rad poznakomitsya.) - Hello, nice to meet you. (Formal introduction)
• Привет из России! (Preevet iz Rossii!) - Hello from Russia! (Casual greeting in messages)

Usage Notes:

In Russian, choosing between "привет" and "здравствуйте" depends on the level of formality. "Привет" is for friends and casual encounters, while "здравствуйте" is essential in professional or initial meetings to show respect. Unlike English "hello," Russian greetings can vary by time of day (e.g., "добрый вечер" for evening). Always consider the context to avoid sounding rude.

• Use "привет" with peers or in informal texts.
• Use "здравствуйте" when meeting someone for the first time or in business settings.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse formality levels. For example, using "привет" in a formal setting might seem impolite. Incorrect: Saying "Привет" to a boss. Correct: "Здравствуйте" to a boss. Another error is mispronouncing the consonant clusters in "здравствуйте," which can make it sound unclear—practice the "zd" sound separately.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, greetings like "здравствуйте" emphasize respect and politeness, reflecting the importance of hierarchy and formality in social interactions. "Привет" is more relaxed and common among younger people or in urban settings, symbolizing friendliness in everyday life.

Related Concepts:

• Добрый день (Dobryy den') - Good day
• Добрый вечер (Dobryy vecher) - Good evening
• До свидания (Do svidaniya) - Goodbye