Greetings

1. Здравствуйте

   Zdrav-stvuy-te

   Hello (formal)

   Usage

   Formal greeting for strangers or elders

   Grammar Note

   From "be healthy". Adding "-те" makes it formal/plural. Informal equivalent is "Привет (Privet)".

2. Спасибо

   Spa-si-bo

   Thank you

   Usage

   Basic expression of gratitude

   Grammar Note

   Derived from Old Church Slavonic "Спаси Бог" (God save you). For more emphasis: "Большое спасибо" (Thank you very much).

3. Пожалуйста

   Po-zha-luy-sta

   Please / You are welcome

   Usage

   Used both as "please" when making a request and "you're welcome" in response to thanks

   Grammar Note

   One of the most versatile Russian words. It means "please" when making requests and "you're welcome" when responding to thanks.

4. До свидания

   Do svi-da-ni-ya

   Goodbye

   Usage

   General farewell greeting

   Grammar Note

   Literally "until the meeting/seeing again". Formal farewell. Informal equivalent is "Пока (Poka)".

5. Доброе утро

   Do-bro-ye ut-ro

   Good morning

   Usage

   Standard morning greeting

   Grammar Note

   "Доброе" is neuter adjective agreeing with "утро" (neuter). Same pattern: "добрый день" (good day), "добрый вечер" (good evening).

6. Рад(а) познакомиться

   Rad(-a) poz-na-ko-mit'-sya

   Pleased to meet you

   Usage

   Used when meeting someone for the first time

   Grammar Note

   "Рад" (masc) / "Рада" (fem) short-form adjectives agree with the speaker's gender. Short-form adjectives are used predicatively in Russian.

7. Как тебя зовут?

   Kak te-bya zo-vut?

   What is your name? (informal)

   Usage

   Informal way to ask someone's name

   Grammar Note

   Literally "how do they call you?" Use "тебя" (informal/ты) vs "вас" (formal/Вы). Formal version: "Как вас зовут?"

8. Я из Японии

   Ya iz Ya-po-ni-i

   I am from Japan

   Usage

   Telling someone where you are from

   Grammar Note

   "из" (from) governs the genitive case. "Япония" → "Японии" (genitive). Standard pattern for stating one's country of origin.

9. До встречи!

   Do vstre-chi!

   See you again! Until we meet!

   Usage

   Farewell when expecting to meet again

   Grammar Note

   "До встречи" is warmer than "До свидания". Can extend: "До скорой встречи" (see you soon). "до" always governs genitive case.

10. Извините

    Iz-vi-ni-te

    Excuse me / I am sorry

    Usage

    Polite expression for apologies or getting someone's attention

    Grammar Note

    Imperative of "извинить" (to excuse/forgive) with formal "-те". Versatile: used to get attention, pass through crowds, or apologize.

11. Где туалет?

    Gde tua-let?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Basic phrase to ask for the toilet/bathroom location in public places

    Grammar Note

    Russian questions use interrogative words like "где" (where) without changing word order. "Туалет" is a French loanword.

12. Я не говорю по-русски

    Ya ne go-vo-ryu po-rus-ski

    I can't speak Russian

    Usage

    Used to tell someone you don't speak Russian

    Grammar Note

    "По-русски" is the adverbial form meaning "in Russian". Combines the verb "говорить" (to speak) in first person present with negation "не".

13. Я ещё приду.

    Ya ye-shchyo pri-du.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop — a friendly way to signal you enjoyed it

14. Мне было очень весело.

    Mne by-lo o-chen' ve-se-lo.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting, to share how much you enjoyed it

15. Спасибо, увидимся!

    Spa-si-bo, u-vi-dim-sya!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual farewell for someone you've become friendly with

16. Спокойной ночи.

    Spo-koy-noy no-chi.

    Good night

    Usage

    Said just before going to sleep — not a farewell, but a bedtime greeting

17. Я ухожу.

    Ya u-kho-zhu.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving your lodging for a while; the present tense avoids gender-marked past-tense endings

18. Я дома.

    Ya do-ma.

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to your lodging; literally "I'm home" — avoids the gendered past-tense verb forms

19. Извините, мне пора.

    Iz-vi-ni-te, mne po-ra.

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    A polite phrase for excusing yourself when leaving before others

20. Не за что.

    Ne za chto.

    You're welcome

    Usage

    An alternative to "Пожалуйста" for replying to thanks

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