Common Phrases and Greetings
| привет (pree-VYET) – hello (informal) | “Hello!” the prey told the vet. | |
| здравствуйте (ZDRAST-vooy-tye) – hello (formal) | Mnemonic key: | Hello, come up to this drastic wooden table for some tea. |
| пока (pa-KA) – bye (informal) | Mnemonic key: | He said, “Bye,” and put on his parka. |
| до свидания (da svee-DA-nee-ya) – goodbye (formal) | Mnemonic key: | “Goodbye,” said the dove, as it swept down near you. |
| доброе утро (DO-bra-ye OO-tra) – good morning | Mnemonic key: | It’s such a good morning: my dough rolls, my brayer works and my shoes are ultra cozy. |
| добрый день (DO-briy DYEN’) – good afternoon | Mnemonic key: | It’s such a good afternoon: I baked dough with brie to enjoy in my cozy den. |
| добрый вечер (DO-briy VYE-cher) – good evening | Mnemonic key: | It’s such a good evening: after enjoying my dough with brie, I sat very happily in my chair. |
| спокойной ночи (spa-KOY-nay NO-chee) – good night | Mnemonic key: | After saying good night, I went to the spa that needed coins, but they had no cheap towels. |
| пожалуйста (pa-ZHA-lus-ta) – please / you’re welcome | Mnemonic key: | Please take one fruit – you are welcome to one per jar, though some jars are loose near the star display. |
| спасибо (spa-SEE-ba) – thank you | Mnemonic key: | Thank you for this spa in the sea, Beau. |
| извини (eez-vee-NEE) – excuse me / sorry (informal) | Mnemonic key: | Sorry, but it’s easy: my name starts with V, and I hurt my knee. |
| извините (eez-vee-NEE-tye) – excuse me / sorry (formal) | Mnemonic key: | Sorry, but it’s easy: my name starts with V, I hurt my knee, and I want some tea. |
| как дела? (kak dee-LA) – how are you? | Mnemonic key: | How are you? – I bought a Cadillac. |
| хорошо (kha-ra-SHO) – well / fine | Mnemonic key: | Well, I’ll hire you for a show. |
| плохо (PLO-kha) – badly | Mnemonic key: | He worked badly, so the plow broke and the field looked ridiculous, ha-ha! |
| неплохо (nye-PLO-kha) – not bad | Mnemonic key: | Not bad for the first day, but then came the loud neigh, and the plow broke, ha-ha! |
| нормально (nar-MAL’-na) – okay / fine | Mnemonic key: | Okay, it’s normal now. |
| отлично (at-LEECH-na) – great / excellent | Mnemonic key: | Excellent work at the leech farm in the north! |
| так себе (TAK see-bye) – so-so | Mnemonic key: | The weather was so-so, and she tucked the blanket under her at the sea bay. |
| как вас зовут? (kak vas za-VOOT) – what is your name? (formal) | Mnemonic key: | What is your name? Kirk, and I was in the vote. |
| как тебя зовут? (kak tee-BYA za-VOOT) – what is your name? (informal) | Mnemonic key: | What is your name? Kirk, and I came from a Tibetian zoo on foot. |
| меня зовут… (men-YA za-VOOT…) – my name is … | Mnemonic key: | My name is in the menu, isn’t it funny? I’m a wood-fired pizza! |
| сочувствую (sa-CHOO-stvoo-yoo) – I’m sorry / I sympathise | Mnemonic key: | I’m sorry, such a stew you’ve spilled all over you! |
| очень приятно! (O-chen’ pree-YAT-na) – nice to meet you! | Mnemonic key: | Nice to meet you! Your chin is pretty yet nasty. |
| взаимно. (vza-EEM-na) – likewise | Mnemonic key: | Likewise, my visa aim naturally aligns with yours. |