Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| пожа́луйста | požálujsta | ||
| бу́дьте добры́ | búdʹte dobrý | formal | |
| плиз | pliz | [plʲis] (narrow) | slang |
| прошу́ | prošú | with infinitive | |
| бу́дь добр | búdʹ dobr | addressee masculine, informal | |
| бу́дь добра́ | búdʹ dobrá | addressee feminine, informal |
The word пожа́луйста is the most common and versatile way to say please in Russian. It can be used as an interjection to make a polite request, but it also functions as a way to say "you're welcome" when responding to "thank you".
Which one should you use?
While пожа́луйста is a general polite particle, прошу́ is a verb meaning "I beg" or "I request". Прошу́ is typically used when it is followed by an infinitive to make a formal request. In contrast, плиз is a direct phonetic loanword from the English word "please", used primarily in internet slang and among youth.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase бу́дьте добры́ is a highly polite, slightly old-fashioned way to say "please" (literally "be so kind") when asking someone to do something. You can combine it with the standard form to say Пожалуйста, будьте добры to convey an even more polite tone. In informal settings, you can use бу́дь добр or бу́дь добра́. On the other hand, плиз is slang.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the "be kind" construction informally, the form changes based on who you are addressing: бу́дь добр is the masculine singular form and бу́дь добра́ is the feminine singular form.
How do you pronounce it?
požálujsta
Did you know?
- The word пожа́луйста is historically a shortened version of a phrase meaning 'if you please' or 'by your grace'. It originally functioned as a conditional clause rather than a single word.
- Using прошу́ while gesturing toward a door or a seat is a common way to say 'after you' or 'please, come in'. In this context, it functions as a polite invitation rather than a request.
- While пожа́луйста works as 'you're welcome', using the more formal не за что (literally 'not for what') is a very common way to respond to 'thank you' without using the word 'please' at all.
Examples in context
- Не забудь, пожалуйста, вызвать таксиPlease, don't forget to call a taxi
- Пожалуйста, принесите мне менюPlease bring me the menu
- Пожалуйста, помогите мне с этой проблемойPlease help me with this issue
Example conversation
Anastasia is asking Andrey for a glass of water.
- Анастасия AnastasiaАндрей, дай мне стакан воды, пожа́луйста.Andrey, day mne stakan vody, pozhaluysta.Andrey, please give me a glass of water.
- Андрей AndreyКонечно, сейчас принесу.Konechno, seychas prinesu.Of course, I'll bring it now.
- Анастасия AnastasiaСпасибо большое!Spasibo bol'shoye!Thank you very much!
- Андрей AndreyНе за что.Ne za chto.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries плиз, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
