до встречи
do vstrechi
The Russian phrase for "see you again" is до встречи (do vstrechi).
The phrase до встречи is used to say goodbye when you expect to meet the person again in the future, expressing the sentiment of "until we meet again".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the preposition до, meaning "until" or "up to" and the noun встречи, which means "meeting" or "encounter".
Which one should you use?
While до встречи implies a specific future encounter, the standard formal way to say goodbye is до свидания, which literally means "until we see each other" but is used more generally.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word встречи is the genitive singular form of the noun встреча (meeting).
How do you pronounce it?
do vstrechi
Did you know?
- The preposition до in this phrase is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'to', as both descend from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root.
- Russian has a distinct word for a meeting that is romantic or a first date, свидание, which is used in the formal goodbye до свидания but not in до встречи.
- Russian speakers sometimes add скорее to the phrase, creating до скорой встречи, which translates to 'until a speedy meeting'.
Examples in context
- До встречи на следующей конференцииUntil we meet at the next conference.
- Пока, увидимся вечером у кафеSee you later in the evening at the cafe.
- До скорого, успешных проектов!See you soon, and successful projects!
- До встречи на уроке!Do vstrechi na uroke!See you again at the lesson!
- До встречи завтра.Do vstrechi zavtra.See you again tomorrow.
- Ну, до встречи!Nu, do vstrechi!Well, see you again!
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office for the day.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ ухожу, Александр. До встречи!Ya ukhozhu, Aleksandr. Do vstrechi!I'm leaving, Aleksandr. See you again!
- Александр AleksandrИ тебе до встречи, Екатерина.I tebe do vstrechi, Ekaterina.See you again, Ekaterina.
- Екатерина EkaterinaХорошего вечера!Khoroshego vechera!Have a nice evening!
- Александр AleksandrСпасибо, и тебе!Spasibo, i tebe!Thanks, you too!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries до, до встречи, CC BY-SA 4.0.
