привет, мой друг
privet, moy drug
The English phrase "hello, my friend" is translated into Russian as привет, мой друг (privet, moy drug).
This phrase is a friendly greeting used to welcome a person the speaker considers a friend.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of привет (hello/hi), мой (my) and друг (friend).
Which one should you use?
The phrase привет, мой друг uses the informal greeting привет. In contrast, здравствуйте, мой друг uses the formal version of hello, though combining the formal здравствуйте with "my friend" is less common in standard Russian etiquette.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
привет, мой друг is informal. Because привет is an informal greeting, this phrase is suitable for close friends rather than formal acquaintances or superiors.
How do you pronounce it?
privet, moy drug
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'my friend' frequently, Russian speakers often find the literal мой друг sounds slightly dramatic or cinematic in casual conversation.
- The masculine form друг is the standard, but if you are greeting a female friend, you must use the feminine form подруга (podruga) instead of 'moy drug'.
- The word друг (friend) shares the same ancient roots as the word for 'another' or 'different', which were once the same word in Slavic languages.
Example conversation
Andrey and Ekaterina meet in a park.
- Андрей AndreyПривет, мой друг! Давно не виделись.Privet, moy drug! Davno ne videlis'.Hello, my friend! Long time no see.
- Екатерина EkaterinaПривет, Андрей! Я тоже очень рада.Privet, Andrey! Ya tozhe ochen' rada.Hello, Andrey! I am very glad too.
- Андрей AndreyКуда ты сейчас идёшь?Kuda ty seychas idyosh'?Where are you going now?
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ иду в кафе за кофе.Ya idu v kafe za kofe.I am going to a cafe for coffee.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries друг, мой, привет, CC BY-SA 4.0.
