Привет
privetcasual
Привет (privet) is the friendly Russian hello, used the way English speakers say "hi". It goes with friends, relatives and people your age. It is also called Здравствуйте (zdravstvuyte) and Приветик (privetik).
Meaning: casual greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Привет | privet | casual |
| Здравствуйте | zdravstvuyte | formal |
| Приветик | privetik | casual, affectionate |
You can use Привет (privet) as a greeting and sometimes as a quick goodbye in messages. It also appears in the phrase Привет, как дела? (privet, kak dela?).
Which one should you use?
Приветик (privetik) is a diminutive, a soft and cute version that appears mostly in chats between close friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Do not use Привет (privet) with a boss, a customer or someone much older. Switch to Здравствуйте (zdravstvuyte), which is the polite choice.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress is on the second syllable, so say "pree-VYET".
Did you know?
- The same word works as a noun in передай привет, literally "pass on a hello", which Russians use to send greetings to someone absent.
Examples in context
- Привет, Маша!privet, Masha!Hi, Masha!
- Привет, как дела?privet, kak dela?Hi, how are things?
- Передай привет маме.peredai privet mame.Say hi to your mom.
Example conversation
Dima runs into his classmate Katya at a bus stop in Kazan.
- DimaПривет, Катя!privet, Katya!Hi, Katya!
- KatyaПривет! Давно не виделись.privet! davno ne videlis.Hi! Long time no see.
- DimaДа, как у тебя дела?da, kak u tebya dela?Yes, how are you doing?
