Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| здра́вствуйте | zdrávstvujte | formal |
| приве́т | privét | informal |
| здоро́во | zdoróvo | colloquial |
| до́брый день | dóbryj denʹ | |
| здра́вствуй | zdrávstvuj | informal |
| салю́т | saljút |
здра́вствуйте is a common formal way to say hello in Russian used for strangers or higher-ranking individuals. приве́т is a common informal way to say hello among friends or acquaintances. For a more affectionate and informal tone among close friends and family, one might use приветик. до́брый день is a formal greeting meaning 'good day' used until late afternoon. салю́т is a borrowed greeting from French that is used in informal, somewhat stylish or lighthearted social settings. In certain contexts, здоро́во can also function as a colloquial way to say 'cool' or 'great'.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal greeting здра́вствуйте is literally a command or wish for the person to 'be healthy'.
Which one should you use?
While здра́вствуйте is used for strangers or superiors, приве́т is the standard, neutral informal way to say 'hi' to friends and peers. здра́вствуй is the informal singular form of Здравствуйте used when addressing someone on a first-name basis.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Formal situations call for здра́вствуйте or до́брый день. Informal settings allow for приве́т or приветик. салю́т is used in informal, somewhat stylish or lighthearted social settings. здоро́во is a very casual, masculine-coded greeting often used between close male friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In St. Petersburg, здоро́во is a colloquial informal way to say hello.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version здра́вствуй is the singular imperative form of the same verb used in the formal здра́вствуйте.
How do you pronounce it?
zdrávstvujte
Did you know?
- The greeting салю́т is a loanword from French, but in Russian it also refers to a fireworks display.
- The word день in до́брый день is a cognate of the Sanskrit word dina, showing a deep prehistoric link between Russian and ancient Indian languages.
- In very formal Russian settings, it is common to avoid a simple greeting and instead use a phrase that acknowledges the person's title and patronymic name.
Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries день, CC BY-SA 4.0.
