здорово
zdorovo
здорово (zdorovo) is the Russian way to say "sup".
здорово is used as a very casual greeting to ask someone how they are doing.
Which one should you use?
While здорово can function as an adverb meaning "great", when it is used as a greeting, it functions specifically as a casual "sup" or "hey".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
здорово is an informal greeting used among friends. Other ways to greet people include the common and casual Привет (hi or hey), the slang term Здарова used among friends and people of the same age group and the diminutive Приветик used when greeting close friends or family members.
How do you pronounce it?
zdorovo
Did you know?
- The greeting здорово is derived from the adjective meaning 'healthy', making the literal subtext of the greeting 'be healthy'.
- In Russian, the word здорово can mean both 'sup' and 'great', but the meaning is distinguished by the stress on the syllables.
- In certain regional street subcultures, здорово can sound more like a 'tough' or 'macho' greeting than a friendly one.
Examples in context
- Здорово, как сам?Zdorovo, kak sam?Sup, how are you doing?
- Здорово, что нового?Zdorovo, chto novogo?Sup, what's new?
- Эй, здорово!Ey, zdorovo!Hey, sup!
Example conversation
Two old friends meet unexpectedly on a city street.
- Андрей AndreyЗдорово, Ольга!Zdorovo, Olga!Sup, Olga!
- Ольга OlgaПривет, Андрей! Всё отлично.Privet, Andrey! Vsyo otlichno.Hi, Andrey! Everything is great.
- Андрей AndreyРад тебя видеть.Rad tebya videt'.Glad to see you.
- Ольга OlgaИ я тебя!I tebya!Me too!
