What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the informal greeting привет (hi) and the plural noun друзья (friends).
Which one should you use?
While привет, друзья is casual, здравствуйте, друзья is a more formal way to address a group of friends or acquaintances.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
привет, друзья is informal and should only be used with people you know well or in casual settings. For formal situations, you can use Здравствуйте, друзья! or Приветствую вас, друзья! to say "Hi friends". If you are greeting a group during the daytime, you can also use the formal Добрый день, друзья!, which means "Good day, friends". Additionally, the informal greeting Привет, ребята! can be used among friends or when addressing young friends.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, друзья is the nominative plural form of the noun друг (friend).
How do you pronounce it?
privet, druz'ya
Did you know?
- The word друг for 'friend' is a cognate of the English word 'druid'. Both originate from an ancient root meaning 'one who knows' or 'companion'.
- The word привет shares an ancient root with words meaning a 'command' or 'will'. In its earliest forms, it was less a friendly hello and more an expression of one's intent or a dictated word.
- If you use привет with a stranger or a superior, it can actually be perceived as a slight lack of respect rather than just being 'informal'.
Examples in context
- Здравствуйте, друзья! Как поживаете?Hello, friends! How are you?
- Привет, ребята! Что нового?Hi, guys! What's new?
- Привет, друзья, как дела?Privet, druz'ya, kak dela?Hi friends, how are you?
- Привет, друзья, рад вас видеть!Privet, druz'ya, rad vas videt'!Hi friends, glad to see you!
- Привет, друзья, пойдёмте гулять.Privet, druz'ya, poydyomte gulyat'.Hi friends, let's go for a walk.
Example conversation
Maria arrives at a park to meet Andrey and their group.
- Мария MariaПривет, друзья!Privet, druz'ya!Hi friends!
- Андрей AndreyПривет, Мария! Мы тебя ждали.Privet, Mariya! My tebya zhdali.Hi, Maria! We were waiting for you.
- Мария MariaИзвините за опоздание.Izvinite za opozdaniye.Sorry for being late.
- Андрей AndreyНичего страшного, пойдёмте пить кофе.Nichego strashnogo, poydyomte pit' kofe.No problem, let's go drink coffee.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries друзья, привет, CC BY-SA 4.0.
