Greetings

I'm Sarah, and I've been learning Russian myself — so I'm right here with you on this journey. Now, I'm not going to be the one teaching you the Russian — for that, we have someone who actually grew up speaking it. Please meet Ка́тя. — Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т Ка́тя. О́чень прия́тно. Ка́тя just said *Hello, my name is Ка́тя. Very nice to meet you.* Don't worry about catching every word — we'll come back to those phrases in later lessons. For now, just know that Ка́тя is going to be the Russian voice you hear throughout Unit Two. Here's how this works. Ка́тя speaks Russian — every word, every phrase. I'll be in English, explaining what she's saying, when to use it, and how it fits together. That way you always hear the language from a native speaker, not from me trying to fake it. Alright. Let's begin with the most important phrase in any language — how to say hello. In Russian, the formal hello is what Ка́тя already said when she greeted you. Ка́тя, can you give it to us on its own? — Да, коне́чно. Здра́вствуйте. " — Да, коне́чно. " — "yes, of course." And there's our word: — Здра́вствуйте. That's the formal greeting — used with strangers, with people older than you, in professional settings, anytime you want to be polite and respectful. It's a long word, and honestly, when I first heard it, I thought there was no way I'd remember it. Let's break it down. Ка́тя, slowly this time? — Здра́вствуйте. The stress falls in the middle. — Здра́вствуйте. Don't worry about getting every consonant perfectly. Russians are used to learners stumbling through this one. The effort itself is appreciated. And once more, at a natural pace. — Здра́вствуйте. Now you try. Listen and say it along with Ка́тя. — Здра́вствуйте. Good. Here's a small cultural note worth knowing. In English, we say *hello* pretty much regardless of context. Russian makes a clearer distinction between formal and informal. — Здра́вствуйте. is formal. There's also an informal version — Приве́т. — but we'll save that for the next lesson. For now, when in doubt, use — Здра́вствуйте. It's never wrong to be polite. Let's hear it one more time in context. Ка́тя, imagine you're walking into a doctor's office and greeting the receptionist. — Здра́вствуйте! До́брое у́тро. She layered in " — До́брое у́тро. " — "good morning." You'll often hear Russians stack greetings like that. That's exactly how it sounds in real life — warm, polite, respectful. One last time — say it along with Ка́тя. — Здра́вствуйте. Beautifully done. — Молоде́ц! Ка́тя says "molodets" — *well done!* You've just learned your first Russian greeting from a real Russian speaker. We'll see you in the next lesson, where Ка́тя will teach you the informal version.

A small cultural note about formality in Russian — the formal/informal distinction is more meaningful in Russian than in modern English. Russians take their cues about register from multiple signals: age, social context, professional setting, length of acquaintance. The rough rule for English speakers learning Russian: use formal Russian until invited to use informal. Russians will often explicitly suggest 'Можно на ты?' — meaning 'can we use the informal you?' — to mark the moment when a relationship has become familiar enough for informal speech. Until that invitation, default to formal. Здравствуйте is also commonly used in greetings on the phone, in emails, in any business correspondence, and in any public-facing interaction. You'll see it everywhere in Russian professional contexts. One linguistic curiosity: Здравствуйте contains a complex consonant cluster — the 'здр' sequence at the start — that doesn't naturally exist in English. English-speaking learners sometimes insert a small vowel between consonants, saying 'ze-drastvuyte.' Russians don't; the consonants stack directly. Your mouth learns this with practice.

Hello

Zdra-STVUY-tye (4 syllables, stress on second)

Say it back.

Good. A four-syllable word — try once more if you'd like. The 'здр' cluster takes practice for English speakers.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready. Even getting the first syllable right is a beginning.

Hello

Meeting someone in a shop

Notice how both speakers use Здравствуйте — it works for both the customer entering and the shopkeeper greeting them. Formal Russian greetings are typically mutual.

Hello!

Ка́тя

Hello!

Макси́м

Welcome back. Last time we learned the formal hello — the long, respectful one. Today we learn its easygoing cousin: the way you greet a friend. Ка́тя's here with us again to give you the real Russian. Let's hear today's word. — Приве́т! Приве́т. That's *hi* — informal Russian. Just two syllables, with the stress on the second. — Приве́т. Hear how much lighter it feels than the formal greeting we learned last time? Where the formal hello carries weight, this one is warm and friendly — it's what you say to people you already know. Let's slow it down. Can you give it to us slowly? — Приве́т. Pri... VYET. Nice and short. And once more, at a natural pace. — Приве́т. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — Приве́т. So when do you use it? With friends, family, classmates, anyone close to you or much younger. What you would not do is use it with a stranger, someone older, or in a professional setting — there, you'd reach for the formal greeting from last time. Friends get the friendly one; everyone else gets the formal one. Here's how it sounds when two friends bump into each other on the street. — Приве́т! Как дела́? That means *Hi! How are you?* — you'll often hear those two together. We'll learn that second part properly in a later lesson; for now, just enjoy how natural it sounds. One quick culture note: in texting, Russians often shorten it, and you'll even see the English *hi* borrowed directly. But when you're speaking, use the full word. Last time — say it with Ка́тя. — Приве́т. Lovely. — Молоде́ц! Ка́тя says "molodets" — well done. You've now got both Russian hellos: the formal one for politeness, and this friendly one for people you know. Next, we'll learn how to say your name.

A note on when relationships shift from formal to informal in Russian — this transition is socially meaningful and often explicit. In many Russian-speaking contexts, the move from formal 'вы' speech to informal 'ты' speech is marked by a specific moment of mutual agreement. Someone might say 'Давай на ты' — 'let's switch to informal' — and the speakers shift register together from that point forward. The shift typically happens when people have known each other for a while, when no clear age or status difference exists, when a friendship has developed beyond initial politeness, or when one person explicitly invites the informal mode. Once you've moved to informal with someone, you can use Привет with them. Until then, even if you know them, formality may still be expected. This differs from English-speaking culture, where the formal/informal distinction has largely collapsed into a single set of greetings. One practical tip: when you're not sure, observe what the Russian speaker uses with you. If they greet you with Здравствуйте, mirror that. If they use Привет first, you can use Привет back. Letting them set the register is usually safe.

Hi

pri-VYET (2 syllables, stress on second)

Say it back.

Good. Friendly two-syllable greeting. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Hi

Friends meeting on the street

The 'Как дела?' that often follows Привет means '*how are you?*' — you'll meet this phrase in a later lesson.

Hi!

Ка́тя

Hi! How are you?

Макси́м

Welcome back. You can already say hello two ways — now let's make it personal. Today you'll learn to introduce yourself by name. Ка́тя's here with us again, and she'll show you exactly how. Listen — she's going to tell you her name. — Меня́ зову́т Ка́тя. That phrase — Меня́ зову́т — is how Russians say *my name is.* She added her own name on the end, so the whole thing meant *My name is Ка́тя.* Here's a lovely quirk: literally, that phrase means *they call me.* Russian says *they call me Ка́тя* where English says *my name is Ка́тя.* Same meaning, just a different angle. Let's hear just the phrase, slowly. — Меня́ зову́т. Two words, with the stress on the second part of each. And once more, at a natural pace. — Меня́ зову́т. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя, and then add your own name right after. — Меня́ зову́т. Whatever your name is, it stays exactly as it is — Russian doesn't translate names. If you're John, you're John; if you're Sarah, you're Sarah. You just put your name where Ка́тя puts hers. It works in any situation, formal or casual, and you'll usually hear it right after a greeting. Here's how someone introduces themselves when meeting for the first time. — Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т А́нна. *Hello! My name is Anna.* Greeting first, then the name — that's the natural order. Try yours the same way. — Меня́ зову́т. Beautifully done. — Молоде́ц! "Molodets" — well done. You can now introduce yourself in Russian. Next, we'll learn how to ask someone else their name.

A small grammatical note — 'Меня зовут' is in the accusative case for the first word ('меня' is the accusative form of 'I'). Russian uses cases extensively, and you'll start meeting them as you learn more phrases. For now, don't worry about the grammar; just memorize the phrase as a unit. A practical note about Russian introductions — they're often more abbreviated than English ones. Where English speakers might say 'Hi, I'm John, nice to meet you,' Russians often just say 'Меня зовут Иван' and let the brevity speak for itself. There's also a Russian tradition of using full first names plus patronymics (a middle name derived from the father's name) in formal contexts. 'Иван Сергеевич' — Ivan, son of Sergey — would be a formal way to address Ivan in a business setting. Foreign learners rarely need to use patronymics, but you'll hear them. Your introduction stays simple: Меня зовут plus your name. Russian children learn early on that introducing yourself is a moment of respect — making yourself known to another person. Take it slow, say your name clearly, and let the other person do the same.

My name is [name]

mi-NIA za-VOOT [your name]

Say it back — and add your own name at the end.

Good. Меня зовут plus your name — that's a complete Russian introduction. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready. Even just saying Меня зовут is a start.

My name is Ка́тя

When you speak, you'd use your own name in place of Анна — writing names in Cyrillic is a later lesson.

Meeting someone for the first time

'Очень приятно' means '*nice to meet you*' — you'll learn this phrase in a future lesson. For now, notice how both speakers use the same structure to introduce themselves.

Hello! My name is Ка́тя.

Ка́тя

Nice to meet you! My name is Макси́м.

Макси́м

Welcome back. You can greet someone and tell them your name — now let's learn to ask how they're doing. Ка́тя's here to give you the real Russian. Here's the everyday way friends ask it. — Как дела́? That's *how are you?* with the stress right at the end. Literally it's closer to *how are things?* — you're asking how life is going. This is the informal version, the one you'd use with friends, the same people you greet informally. Let's hear it slowly. — Как дела́? Two short words. And once more, at a natural pace. — Как дела́? Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — Как дела́? There's also a formal version, for anyone you'd address formally — someone older, someone you've just met, a professional. Listen — it's a little longer. — Как у вас дела́? That extra middle part means *with you,* so it's like asking *how are things with you?* — the polite form. Same question, just more formal. Try the formal one along with Ка́тя. — Как у вас дела́? So: the short one for friends, the longer one for everyone else — exactly the same split as your two hellos. One thing worth knowing — Russians often mean it as a real question, and may actually tell you how they are, good or bad. It's sincerity over small talk. Here's how it sounds when you walk into a doctor's office. — Здра́вствуйте! Как у вас дела́? *Hello! How are you?* — the doctor uses the formal version. We'll learn how to answer — how to say you're doing well — in the very next lesson. — Молоде́ц! "Molodets" — well done. You can now ask how someone's doing, formally or informally. Next: how to answer.

A note on how Russians actually answer Как дела? — because it shapes how the question feels. In English, 'how are you?' is often just part of the greeting; the expected reply is 'good, you?' no matter how you actually are. Russian culture leans the other way. Как дела? can be a genuine question, and a Russian might give you an honest answer — including 'не очень,' meaning 'not great' — without it being a big deal. This isn't negativity; it's a cultural preference for sincerity over automatic cheerfulness. Among close friends especially, a real answer is normal and welcome. That said, in passing or semi-formal situations, a short positive reply is perfectly fine — you don't owe a stranger your life story. You'll learn the standard friendly answer, 'Хорошо, спасибо' — 'fine, thanks' — in the next lesson. And one small grammar note you don't need to memorize: 'дела' is the plural of 'дело' (a matter or affair), and the 'у вас' in the formal version is Russian's way of saying 'with you' or 'you have.' You'll meet this 'у' plus a person pattern often as you go. For now, just hold Как дела? and Как у вас дела? as whole phrases.

How are you? (informal)

Kak di-LA (stress on the last syllable)

How are you? (formal)

Kak oo VAS di-LA (stress on VAS and LA)

Say it back.

Good. Two short words — Как дела? Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

How are you?

At the doctor's office

The doctor uses the formal Как у вас дела? With a friend, you'd simply ask Как дела? How to answer — saying you're doing well — comes in the next lesson.

Hello!

Макси́м

Hello! How are you?

Ка́тя

Two friends in the street

With a friend, the greeting relaxes to Привет, and you ask simply Как дела? — no formal у вас. Same warmth, less distance.

Hi! How are you?

Ка́тя

Hi! Good.

Макси́м

Welcome back. Last time you learned to ask how someone is. Now you'll learn to answer — and to ask right back, so you can hold a whole little exchange. Ка́тя's here with the real Russian. When someone asks how you are, here's the go-to reply. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. That's *fine, thank you.* The first word means *good* or *well* — it's your safe, universal answer in any situation. And the second is *thank you,* a word you'll use constantly. Let's hear the reply slowly. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. And once more, at a natural pace. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. Most of the time, you'll also turn the question around. The polite way to ask back is this. — А у вас? *And you?* — the formal version. — А у вас? With a friend, you'd say it a little differently. — А у тебя́? The informal *and you?* Same idea, just for someone you're close to. Now here's the whole reply, start to finish. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. А у вас? *Fine, thank you. And you?* That's a complete answer. Try the whole thing along with Ка́тя. — Хорошо́, спаси́бо. А у вас? One culture note: Russians take the question a bit more genuinely than we do, so you might also hear someone say they're just *okay,* and that's perfectly polite. But Хорошо́ works everywhere, so start there. — Молоде́ц! "Molodets" — well done. You can now answer and ask back — a whole greeting exchange in Russian. Next, we'll learn how to say *nice to meet you.*

A little more on how Russians answer Как дела? — because it's one of the small places Russian and English part ways. In English, 'how are you?' is mostly a ritual, and 'fine, thanks' is almost automatic. In Russian the question can be taken more at face value, especially among people who know each other. So a perfectly normal answer might be Нормально — *okay*, *so-so* — or even Не очень, *not great*. None of these are heavy or impolite; they're just honest. A Russian friend giving you a real answer is treating you as someone worth being sincere with. That said, you don't need to overthink it. With strangers and in passing, a quick Хорошо, спасибо is exactly right, and nobody expects your life story. As you go you'll pick up the fuller range — but for now, Хорошо is your reliable answer in every situation. One small thing you'll hear in the dialogue: Тоже хорошо — 'тоже' means 'also' or 'too,' so it's 'also well.' You don't need to learn it as a separate word yet; just notice how the second person uses it to say 'me too.' We'll come back to тоже properly later.

Fine, thank you. And you? (formal)

kha-ra-SHO, spa-SI-ba. A oo VAS?

Fine, thank you. And you? (informal)

kha-ra-SHO, spa-SI-ba. A oo ti-BYA?

Say it back.

Good. Хорошо, спасибо — and then ask back. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready. Even just Хорошо is a fine start.

Fine, thank you

At the doctor's office — the full exchange

This completes the exchange you started in the last lesson. Notice Тоже хорошо — 'тоже' means '*also,*' so the doctor is saying 'well too.' You'll learn тоже properly later; for now just hear how a full greeting flows from hello to how-are-you and back.

Hello!

Макси́м

Hello! How are you?

Ка́тя

Fine, thank you. And you?

Макси́м

Also well, thank you.

Ка́тя

Two friends in the street — the full exchange

The full informal exchange — Привет both ways, Как дела? without formal у вас, and А у тебя? in place of А у вас?. This is how friends greet.

Hi! How are you?

Ка́тя

Hi! Fine, thanks. And you?

Макси́м

Also good!

Ка́тя

Welcome back. You can greet someone, introduce yourself, and ask how they're doing. Today we add the warm little phrase you say the moment you meet someone new. Ка́тя's here with the real Russian. Here's *nice to meet you.* — О́чень прия́тно. That's *nice to meet you.* Literally it means *very pleasant,* so you're saying the meeting itself is a pleasure. Let's hear it slowly. — О́чень прия́тно. The stress is on the first part of the first word and the middle of the second. And once more, at a natural pace. — О́чень прия́тно. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — О́чень прия́тно. You say it right when you're introduced — and a lovely thing about it is that it works in any situation, formal or casual. Often both people say it as they trade names. Listen to how it fits with what you already know — a name, and then this phrase. — О́чень прия́тно! Меня́ зову́т Ка́тя. *Nice to meet you! My name is Ка́тя.* Hear how naturally it joins onto the introduction you learned earlier? Try the phrase once more with Ка́тя. — О́чень прия́тно. Beautifully done. — Молоде́ц! "Molodets" — well done. You can now greet, give your name, ask how someone is, and meet them warmly — that's a whole first conversation. Next, we'll learn how to say goodbye.

A little more about meeting people in Russian. If the other person says Очень приятно first and you want to reply, you have a couple of easy options. You can simply say Очень приятно back. You can also say Взаимно — which means 'likewise' or 'mutually.' Both are common and polite. You don't need to memorize Взаимно yet; just know that if you hear it, it means 'same to you.' Russian introductions tend to be a touch more formal than American ones, even among younger people. A handshake is common between men; the phrase Очень приятно does the social work of acknowledging a new acquaintance. It's brief by design — Russians often value sincerity and economy over effusive small talk, so a simple Очень приятно is plenty. And notice the building blocks you already have: Здравствуйте or Привет to greet, Меня зовут to give your name, and now Очень приятно to round out a first meeting. Put together, you can already handle the opening moments of meeting someone in Russian.

Nice to meet you

O-chin' pri-YAT-na (stress: O-chin', pri-YAT-na)

Say it back.

Good. Очень приятно — a warm thing to say on meeting someone. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Nice to meet you

Meeting someone for the first time

Both speakers say Очень приятно — whoever is introduced says it, and the other can simply say it back (or Взаимно, '*likewise*'). You've now seen a whole first meeting: hello, names, and 'nice to meet you.'

Hello! My name is Ка́тя.

Ка́тя

Nice to meet you! My name is Макси́м.

Макси́м

Nice to meet you too.

Ка́тя

Welcome back. You can now open a conversation in Russian — greet someone, give your name, ask how they are. Today let's learn how to close one: how to say goodbye. Ка́тя's here with the real Russian. Here's the polite goodbye. — До свида́ния. That's *goodbye.* Here's something lovely about it: literally, it means *until we meet again.* It's not a final farewell — you're saying you'll see each other another time. Let's hear it slowly. — До свида́ния. The stress is in the middle, on the second word. A few syllables, but it flows once you've said it a couple of times. And once more, at a natural pace. — До свида́ния. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — До свида́ния. This is the polite, formal goodbye — the partner to the formal hello you learned first. Use it almost anywhere: leaving a shop, ending a meeting, parting from someone you've just met. Here's how it sounds leaving a shop — the same shop you walked into back in your very first lesson. — Спаси́бо. До свида́ния! *Thank you. Goodbye!* And the shopkeeper might send you off with a little extra warmth. — До свида́ния! Всего́ до́брого. *Goodbye! All the best.* That phrase, *all the best,* is a kind way to part — nice to recognize, though you don't need it yet. Say the goodbye once more with Ка́тя. — До свида́ния. Beautifully done. — Молоде́ц! "Molodets" — well done. You can now say goodbye politely in Russian. Next — the last lesson of the unit — the easy, friendly goodbye you'd use with a friend.

A little more on parting in Russian. До свидания is the goodbye you can never go wrong with — it's to 'goodbye' what Здравствуйте is to 'hello': formal, polite, and always safe. You'll hear a few relatives built on the same до — *until* — pattern: До встречи, *until we meet*, and До завтра, *until tomorrow*, said when you know roughly when you'll see the person again. You don't need to learn these yet; just notice the shared до. One practical note: Russians don't usually pile on the long, drawn-out goodbyes that English speakers sometimes do. A clear До свидания, perhaps with Спасибо or Всего доброго, is complete. The brevity reads as sincerity, not coldness. Next lesson you'll meet Пока — the easy, friendly goodbye you use with people you'd greet with Привет. Between До свидания and Пока you'll have both registers of goodbye covered, the same way you learned both hellos at the start of this unit.

Goodbye

da svi-DA-ni-ya (stress in the middle: -DAH-)

Say it back.

Good. До свидания — your polite goodbye. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Goodbye

Leaving a shop

This is the same shop you walked into in the very first lesson — now you're leaving it politely. Всего доброго ('*all the best*') is a warm thing to add, though До свидания alone is plenty. With a friend you'd say Пока, which is next.

Thank you. Goodbye!

Ка́тя

Goodbye! All the best.

Макси́м

Welcome to the final lesson of the unit. Today we learn the easy, friendly goodbye — and then we put everything you've learned together into a real conversation. Ка́тя's here, and she's brought a friend — a second native speaker who'll be joining us from here on. Say hello to Макси́м. — Приве́т! Меня́ зову́т Макси́м. That's Макси́м saying *Hi! My name is Макси́м* — phrases you already know. In a moment, he and Ка́тя will show you a whole conversation between two friends. But first, today's word. Here's the casual goodbye. — Пока́. Пока́ — with the stress on the second syllable. It's the relaxed, friendly *bye* you use with friends and family — the same people you greet with the informal hello. Where the formal goodbye is polite and careful, this one is light and warm. Let's hear it slowly. — Пока́. And once more, at a natural pace. — Пока́. Now you try — say it along with Ка́тя. — Пока́. You'll very often hear it doubled, too — a cheerful *bye-bye,* especially on the phone. — Пока́-пока! *Bye-bye!* — warm and a little playful. So: the formal goodbye for polite settings, and this friendly one for people you know — the same split you learned with the two hellos. Now for the moment we've been building toward. Here are Ка́тя and Макси́м as two friends, meeting and parting — listen for every phrase you've learned in this unit. — Приве́т! Как дела́? — Приве́т! Хорошо́, спаси́бо. А у тебя́? — То́же хорошо́. Пока́! — Пока́-пока! Did you catch it all? *Hi! How are you?* — *Hi! Fine, thanks. And you?* — *Good too. Bye!* — *Bye-bye!* Two friends, a whole exchange, and every piece of it something you now know. That's the end of the Greetings unit. You can greet someone, introduce yourself, ask how they are and answer, and say goodbye — formally or informally. A real foundation. — Молоде́ц! — До свида́ния! Ка́тя says *well done,* and Макси́м sends you off with the polite goodbye. You've earned it — see you in the next unit.

A few friendly notes to close the unit. Пока is informal, so it pairs naturally with Привет: greet a friend with Привет, part with Пока. You'll also hear other casual sign-offs — Увидимся, 'see you,' and Давай, which literally means 'let's' but is used like a breezy 'okay, bye' as people head off or hang up. You don't need these yet; just recognize them as friendly goodbyes. Take a moment to notice what you can do now. At the start of this unit you couldn't say a word; now you can walk through a complete simple exchange — hello, how are you, fine thanks and you, introducing yourself, nice to meet you, and goodbye — and choose formal or informal as the moment calls for. That's a real, usable foundation, and everything ahead builds on it. When you're ready, the conversation below puts the whole exchange together between two friends. Listen for every phrase you've learned.

Bye (informal)

pa-KA (stress on the second syllable) — often doubled: Пока-пока!

Say it back.

Good. Пока — the friendly goodbye. Listen and shadow it once more if you'd like.

I didn't hear anything — give it a try when you're ready.

Bye

Two friends meeting and parting — the whole exchange

There's your whole exchange between two friends — Привет, Как дела?, Хорошо, спасибо. А у тебя?, and Пока. Notice Пока-пока, the cheerful doubled goodbye. You've completed the Greetings unit.

Hi! How are you?

Ка́тя

Hi! Fine, thanks. And you?

Макси́м

Good too. Bye!

Ка́тя

Bye-bye!

Макси́м