привет, мам и пап
privet, mam i pap
The phrase "hi mom and dad" in Russian is привет, мам и пап (privet, mam i pap).
This phrase is an informal greeting used when speaking to both parents at the same time.
Which one should you use?
If you wanted to use a formal greeting, you would use здравствуйте, мама и папа instead of привет, though this is rare when addressing one's own parents in a modern context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The words for 'mom' and 'dad' are in the vocative-like shortened form (nominative singular/plural used for address) common in casual speech.
How do you pronounce it?
privet, mam i pap
Did you know?
- While привет is the standard informal 'hi', it was originally used in Old East Slavic to mean a 'dictum' or a person's 'will'.
- Using the full versions мама and папа can sometimes make an adult speaker sound like a small child or express an intense, clinging affection.
- Despite the informal nature of привет, it is common for adult children to switch to the formal здравствуйте when speaking to parents in front of strangers to show public respect.
Example conversation
Maria arrives at her parents' house for a visit.
- Мария MariaПривет, мам и пап, я пришла!Privet, mam i pap, ya prishla!Hi mom and dad, I'm here!
- Дмитрий DmitryПривет, Мария! Мы тебя очень ждали.Privet, Mariya! My tebya ochen' zhdali.Hi Maria! We were waiting for you very much.
- Мария MariaЯ принесла вам немного сладостей.Ya prinesla vam nemnogo sladostey.I brought you some sweets.
- Дмитрий DmitryО, спасибо большое, дорогая!O, spasibo bol'shoye, dorogaya!Oh, thank you so much, dear!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries и, привет, CC BY-SA 4.0.
