How Are You? — Russian (Grade 7)

Define and explain How Are You? in your own words
Use key terms such as до свидания (do svidániya) — goodbye accurately
Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic

This lesson focuses on How Are You?: ask Как дела? (kak delá — how are you?) and answer with words like хорошо (khoroshó — good) and отлично (otlíchnо — excellent).

Definition: How Are You?

Ask Как дела? (kak delá — how are you?) and answer with words like хорошо (khoroshó — good) and отлично (otlíchnо — excellent).

Key ideas

Asking 'how are you?'

After hello, Russians often ask Как дела? (kak delá — how are things?). You can answer Хорошо, спасибо! (khoroshó, spasíbo — good, thank you!), Нормально (normál'no — okay) or Отлично! (otlíchnо — excellent!). Adding А у тебя? (a u tebyá — and how about you?) keeps the conversation going.

Formal and informal greetings

Russian has two levels of politeness. Use здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte — hello) and до свидания (do svidániya — goodbye) with adults and strangers, and привет (privét — hi) and пока (paká — bye) with friends. Choosing the right one shows respect, which matters a great deal in Russian culture.

Key term — до свидания (do svidániya) — goodbye: The polite way to say goodbye. With close friends you can use the shorter, playful пока (paká — bye).

Worked example: How Are You?

What can you answer when someone asks Как дела?

Any of Хорошо, спасибо! (khoroshó, spasíbo — good, thank you!), Нормально (normál'no — okay) or Отлично! (otlíchnо — excellent!).

Answer: Any of Хорошо, спасибо! (khoroshó, spasíbo — good, thank you!), Нормально (normál'no — okay) or Отлично! (otlíchnо — excellent!).

Common mistakes

Forgetting to answer Как дела? When someone asks Как дела? (kak delá — how are you?), always answer — Хорошо, спасибо! (khoroshó, spasíbo — good, thank you!) — and ask back with А у тебя? (a u tebyá — and you?).
Saying привет to a teacher Привет (privét — hi) is only for friends. To a teacher or a stranger, say Здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte — hello).

Practice

What does до свидания mean?

You say it when you leave.

Goodbye (do svidániya).

How do you say 'hello' formally in Russian?

It starts with З and the В is silent.

Здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte).

Translate 'thank you' into Russian.

It starts with С and the stress is on the И.

Спасибо (spasíbo).

Which greeting do you use with a friend: привет or здравствуйте?

Friends get the short, friendly one.

Привет (privét — hi).

Quick check

How Are You? — quick check

Which of these best defines "до свидания (do svidániya) — goodbye"?

The polite way to say goodbye. With close friends you can use the shorter, playful пока (paká — bye).

How do you say 'My name is Anna' in Russian?

Меня зовут Анна (menyá zovút Ánna — my name is Anna).

Key takeaways

How Are You?: ask Как дела? (kak delá — how are you?) and answer with words like хорошо (khoroshó — good) and отлично (otlíchnо — excellent).
Asking 'how are you?': After hello, Russians often ask Как дела? (kak delá — how are things?).
здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) — hello (formal): The polite way to say hello to adults, teachers and strangers.
Watch out for: forgetting to answer Как дела?

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