1.1. Saying "Hello!

"
There are different ways of greeting people in
Russian. The level of formality in the relationship
determines which greeting you should use.
Listen to the most common form of greeting and
practice saying it:
Здравствуйте! Hello!
This greeting can be used with anyone you meet -
strangers, acquaintances, friends.
Notes
 The first в is silent in this word. We spell
здравствуйте, but say [здраствуйте].
 Russians do not use Здравствуйте! with each
other more than once a day. Meeting the same
person a second time, they will acknowledge
him/her with a nod, ask something, or will say Ещё
раз здравствуйте! - "Hello again!" (saying only
Здравствуйте! a second time suggests you have
forgotten meeting the person already that day).
Depending on the time of the day, you may also say:
Доброе Good morning!
утро!
Добрый Good afternoon!
день!
Добрый Good evening!
вечер!
The informal way of greeting is
Привет! Hi!
It is used with family, friends, classmates - people you
know quite well. In addition to Привет! you can also
hear:
Как дела? How are you? (literally: How are
 things?)
Как How are you? (literally: How is
жизнь? life?)

In answer to informal Как дела? or Как жизнь?,

Russians usually say:
Хорошо. Everything is good.
Нормально. Everything is ok. (literally:
Everything is normal.)
Отлично! Great!
Так себе! So-so.
Notes
 Both Как дела? and Как жизнь? are informal
questions. According to Russian etiquette, you may
ask these questions if you have already know the
person, but not the first time you meet.

1.2. Saying "Goodbye!"

The most common form of saying Goodbye is
До Good bye!
свидания!
You can also hear:
До See you! (literally: Until we meet
встречи. again.)

The informal way of saying goodbye is

Пока! Bye!
It is used the same way as Привет - with family,
friends, classmates, etc.
Reading and Writing
1. Write down all the words for Greetings and
Goodbyes presented in this lesson on paper or type
 them on your computer.
2. Read them aloud at least three times each.
Memorize them.
3. Keep what you have written/typed for future
reference.
Speaking

To ask
someone'
s name
Russians
will say:
1.Как вас What is your name?
зовут?

To introduce yourself in Russian you can

say:
2. Меня зовут My name is Mike.
Майк.
3. Меня зовут My name is Christie.
Кристи.

In response to an introduction Russians will say:

4. Очень Nice to meet you! (literally:
приятно! Very preased!)
5. Рад Glad to meet you! (a man
познакомиться! will use рад for "glad")
6. Рада Glad to meet you! (a
познакомиться! woman will use рада for
"glad")

Here are some examples of how Russians are

getting acquainted. Click each dialogue to listen.
Диалог 1.
- Здравствуйте! - Hello!
- Добрый день! - Good afternoon!
- Меня зовут Таня. А - My name is Tanya.
как вас зовут? And what is you
- Меня зовут Майк. name?
- Очень приятно! - My name is Mike.
- Рад познакомиться. - Nice to meet you!
- Glad to meet you!
Диалог 2.
- Здравствуйте! - Hello!
- Здравствуйте! - Hello!
- Как вас зовут? - What is you name?
- Меня зовут Таня. А - My name is Tanya.
Вас? And what is your
- А меня Оля. name?
- Очень приятно. - Mine's Olya.
- Очень приятно. - Nice to meet you!
- Nice to meet you!
Listen to the phrases and dialogues above as
many times as you need, then read them aloud
at least three times each and memorize.