здравствуйте
The English phrase "hi (formal)" is translated into Russian as здравствуйте.
здравствуйте is a polite greeting used to say hello in formal or professional situations. It is the most universally accepted formal way to say hi in Russian.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is the imperative form of the verb здравствовать, which literally means "be healthy" or "to thrive".
Which one should you use?
While здравствуйте is the standard formal greeting, the informal equivalent used with peers and children is привет.
How does it change in a sentence?
здравствуйте is the second-person plural/polite imperative. Because of this, it is used when addressing a group of people or when addressing a single person in a formal context.
When do people say it?
Depending on the time of day, you might also use specific formal greetings: Доброе утро (Good morning) is appropriate until around noon, Добрый день (Good day) is suitable from noon until around 6 PM and Добрый вечер (Good evening) is the appropriate formal greeting from 6 PM onward.
Did you know?
- In modern digital communication, Russians often shorten здравствуйте to здр or здрасте in informal chats, though здрасте is considered a colloquial corruption of the word.
- If you say здравствуйте to a single person you know very well, you might accidentally sound stiff, cold or even angry.
Examples in context
- Здравствуйте, Александр! Как ваши дела?Hello, Alexander! How are you doing?
- Добрый день, господин Иванов. Рад видеть вас.Good day, Mr. Ivanov. Nice to see you.
- Здравствуйте, Иван Петрович.Zdravstvuyte, Ivan Petrovich.Hello, Ivan Petrovich.
- Здравствуйте, коллеги!Zdravstvuyte, kollegi!Hello, colleagues!
- Добрый день, здравствуйте.Dobryy den', zdravstvuyte.Good day, hello.
Example conversation
Sergey enters a meeting room where Ekaterina is waiting.
- Сергей SergeyЗдравствуйте, Екатерина.Zdravstvuyte, Ekaterina.Hello, Ekaterina.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЗдравствуйте, Сергей.Zdravstvuyte, Sergey.Hello, Sergey.
- Сергей SergeyКак ваши дела?Kak vashi dela?How are you?
- Екатерина EkaterinaВсё хорошо, спасибо.Vsyo khorosho, spasibo.Everything is good, thank you.
