спасибо, хорошо
spasibo, khorosho
The Russian phrase for "I am fine, thank you" is спасибо, хорошо (spasibo, khorosho).
спасибо, хорошо is a polite response used to answer a question about how someone is doing. While the English phrase "I am fine" includes a subject and a verb, this Russian expression is often shortened to simply "thanks, good" in both casual and polite conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "thanks, well" or "thanks, good".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word хорошо functions as an adverb meaning "well" or "good" to describe your state of being, rather than the adjective хороший which would be used to describe a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
spasibo, khorosho
Did you know?
- The word спасибо originally meant 'God save (you)'. It comes from the Old East Slavic phrase 'спаси Бог', where 'спаси' means 'save' and 'Бог' means 'God'.
- The word хорошо can also be used as an interjection to mean 'okay' or 'all right' when agreeing to a plan, not just to describe how you feel.
- If you are asked how you are and you reply with the adjective хороший instead of the adverb хорошо, you are essentially calling yourself a 'good thing' rather than describing your well-being.
Examples in context
- Спасибо, хорошо.Spasibo, khorosho.I am fine, thank you.
- Спасибо, хорошо, как ваши дела?Spasibo, khorosho, kak vashi dela?I am fine, thank you, how are you?
Example conversation
Maria and Andrey meet in a hallway at work.
- Мария MariaАндрей, как дела?Andrey, kak dela?Andrey, how are you doing?
- Андрей AndreyСпасибо, хорошо, Мария. А у тебя?Spasibo, khorosho, Mariya. A u tebya?I am fine, thank you, Maria. And you?
- Мария MariaТоже хорошо, спасибо.Tozhe khorosho, spasibo.Also fine, thank you.
- Андрей AndreyРад это слышать.Rad eto slyshat'.I am glad to hear that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries спасибо, хорошо, CC BY-SA 4.0.
