Здравствуйте, как поживаете?
Zdravstvuyte, kak pozhivayete?
The English phrase "hello and how are you" is translated into Russian as Здравствуйте, как поживаете? (Zdravstvuyte, kak pozhivayete?)
Здравствуйте, как поживаете? is a formal greeting used to say hello and ask about someone's well-being. This specific combination is highly formal and is best suited for business settings or addressing elders/superiors.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Здравствуйте is literally an imperative meaning "be healthy" or "stay well".
Which one should you use?
Здравствуйте, как поживаете? is formal. For a casual setting with friends, you would instead use the informal equivalent Привет, как дела?, which means "Hi, how are things?"
How does it change in a sentence?
Both parts of the phrase Здравствуйте, как поживаете? use the formal/plural вы conjugation (indicated by the endings –те and –ете).
How do you pronounce it?
Zdravstvuyte, kak pozhivayete?
Did you know?
- While Здравствуйте wishes you health, the casual greeting Привет is derived from a word meaning 'to run' or 'to arrive', suggesting a quick or sudden arrival.
- The formal greeting Здравствуйте is so inherently stiff that using it with a close friend can be used as a way to signal that you are angry or offended.
- In Russian culture, it is often considered impolite or overly inquisitive to ask как поживаете? unless you actually intend to listen to a detailed answer about the person's life.
Examples in context
- Здравствуйте! Как поживаете?Hello! How are you?
- Добрый день! Как ваши дела?Good day! How are you?
- Привет! Как дела?Hi! How are you?
- Я хотел сказать: Здравствуйте, как поживаете?Ya khotel skazat': Zdravstvuyte, kak pozhivayete?I wanted to say: Hello, how are you doing?
Example conversation
Olga meets Sergey, a former colleague, at a business conference.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, здравствуйте, как поживаете?Sergey, zdravstvuyte, kak pozhivayete?Sergey, hello, how are you doing?
- Сергей SergeyЗдравствуйте, Ольга! У меня всё хорошо.Zdravstvuyte, Olga! U menya vsyo khorosho.Hello, Olga! I am doing well.
- Ольга OlgaЯ рада это слышать.Ya rada eto slyshat.I am glad to hear that.
- Сергей SergeyСпасибо, а вы как?Spasibo, a vy kak?Thank you, and how about you?
