How to Say “Health” in Russian

Learning how to say “health” in different languages can be helpful when traveling or communicating with people from different cultures. In Russian, there are several ways to express the concept of health, including formal and informal variations. In this guide, we will explore these variations and provide you with useful tips and examples.

Formal Ways to Say “Health” in Russian

When speaking formally, you can use the following phrases to convey the idea of “health” in Russian:

1. Здоровье (Zdorovye)
This is the most common and neutral way to say “health” in Russian. It can refer to both physical and mental well-being. For example, you could use it in sentences like:

• Я желаю вам крепкого здоровья (Ya zhelayu vam krepkogo zdorov’ya) – I wish you good health.
• Он очень бережет своё здоровье (On ochen’ berezhet svoe zdorov’ye) – He takes very good care of his health.

When discussing health in a professional or formal setting, using “здоровье” would be highly appropriate.

If you want to specify the aspect of physical health, you could also use the phrase:

2. Физическое состояние (Fizicheskoe sostoyanie)
This phrase translates to “physical condition” and can be used to refer specifically to one’s physical health. For instance:

• Моя физическое состояние улучшилось после занятий в тренажерном зале (Moya fizicheskoe sostoyanie uluchshilos’ posle zanyatiy v trenazhernom zale) – My physical health improved after working out at the gym.
• Мы отправили пациента на обследование его физического состояния (My otpravili patsienta na obsledovanie ego fizicheskogo sostoyaniya) – We sent the patient for a check-up of his physical condition.

Informal Ways to Say “Health” in Russian

When speaking in an informal or casual context, you can use the following phrases:

1. Здоровья (Zdorov’ya)
This is an abbreviated form of “здоровье” and is commonly used in everyday conversations among friends and acquaintances. It is similar to saying “health” in English. For example:

• С тобой всё в порядке? – Да, спасибо, здоровья хватает (S toboy vsyo v poryadke? – Da, spasibo, zdorov’ya khatayet) – Are you alright? – Yes, thanks, I’m in good health.
• Он заботится о своём здоровье, чтобы быть активным (On zabotitsya o svoem zdorov’e, chtoby byt’ aktivnym) – He takes care of his health in order to stay active.

Using “здоровья” instead of the full “здоровье” is a friendly and colloquial way to refer to one’s health.

Regional Variations

Russian is spoken in various regions, and some regional variations in vocabulary and pronunciation exist. However, when it comes to expressing “health,” the above-mentioned terms are used throughout Russia and understood by all speakers of the language. Therefore, there are no significant regional variations to consider in this case.

Final Tips and Examples

Here are some additional tips and examples to help you further understand and use the word “health” in Russian:

• When greeting someone or saying goodbye, you can use the phrase “будь здоров” (bud’ zdorov) which means “be healthy.” This is a common way to wish someone well.
• Inquire about someone’s well-being by asking “как здоровье?” (kak zdorov’ye) which means “How is your health?” This shows that you care about the person’s well-being.
• If someone sneezes, it is customary to say “будьте здоровы” (bud’te zdorovy) which means “be healthy” in a polite manner.
• Remember to use appropriate intonation and facial expressions when asking about someone’s health. It demonstrates genuine concern and kindness.