- Define and explain Magic Polite Words in your own words
- Use key terms such as спасибо (spasíbo) — thank you accurately
- Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
- Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic
This lesson focuses on Magic Polite Words: say спасибо (spasíbo — thank you), пожалуйста (pozháluysta — please) and извините (izviníte — excuse me) to sound kind and polite.
Say спасибо (spasíbo — thank you), пожалуйста (pozháluysta — please) and извините (izviníte — excuse me) to sound kind and polite.
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 — спасибо (spasíbo) — thank you: The word for 'thank you', used just as often as in English. Pair it with пожалуйста (pozháluysta — please / you're welcome) to sound extra polite.
Translate 'thank you' into Russian.
Спасибо (spasíbo).
Answer: Спасибо (spasíbo).
- 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
Any of Хорошо, спасибо! (khoroshó, spasíbo — good, thank you!), Нормально (normál'no — okay) or Отлично! (otlíchnо — excellent!).
Здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte).
Goodbye (do svidániya).
Привет (privét — hi).
Quick check
Which of these best defines "спасибо (spasíbo) — thank you"?
How do you say 'My name is Anna' in Russian?
- Magic Polite Words: say спасибо (spasíbo — thank you), пожалуйста (pozháluysta — please) and извините (izviníte — excuse me) to sound kind and polite.
- 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?