Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| бу́дьте здоро́вы | búdʹte zdoróvy | formal |
| береги́те себя́ | beregíte sebjá | formal |
| береги́ себя́ | beregí sebjá | informal |
| будь здоро́в | budʹ zdoróv | addressee masculine, informal |
| будь здоро́ва | budʹ zdoróva | addressee masculine, informal |
Russian uses different phrases for "take care" based on the intended meaning. You can use phrases that function as a parting wish for health, or phrases that literally mean to look after one's well-being. If you want to express the idea of being cautious or careful, you might use the verbs бере́чься or быть осторо́жным. If the context involves being in charge of something, the verb забо́титься is used.
What does it mean word for word?
The informal phrase береги́ себя́ is composed of the imperative береги́ (protect/guard) and the reflexive pronoun себя́ (yourself).
Which one should you use?
The phrase бу́дьте здоро́вы is used as a parting wish for health, but it is also the standard way to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. In contrast, береги́ себя́ is a more literal translation of "take care" in the sense of looking after one's well-being, whereas бу́дьте здоро́вы functions more like a blessing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, use бу́дьте здоро́вы or береги́те себя́. In informal situations, use будь здоро́в, будь здоро́ва or береги́ себя́.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form будь здоро́ва is used when addressing a female informally.
How do you pronounce it?
búdʹte zdoróvy
Did you know?
- The verb in береги́ себя́ is closely related to the concept of 'guarding' or 'protecting' something valuable, like a treasure.
- The phrase береги́ себя́ can sound unusually ominous or dramatic in Russian if used in a casual setting, suggesting that the person is in actual danger.
- The word здоро́вы shares a linguistic root with the word for 'healthy' in many Slavic languages, making the phrase a literal wish for physical vitality rather than just a social convention.
Examples in context
- Оста́вайтесь здоро́вымиStay healthy
Sources
- Wiktionary, “take care” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
