Thread Academy

Saying My Name

Introduce yourself with Меня зовут… (menyá zovút — my name is…) and ask someone's name in return.

  • Define and explain Saying My Name in your own words
  • Use key terms such as здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) — hello (formal) accurately
  • Apply what you have learned to new examples and questions
  • Avoid the common mistakes learners make with this topic

This lesson focuses on Saying My Name: introduce yourself with Меня зовут… (menyá zovút — my name is…) and ask someone's name in return.

Definition: Saying My Name

Introduce yourself with Меня зовут… (menyá zovút — my name is…) and ask someone's name in return.

Key ideas

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.

The disappearing В in здравствуйте

Здравствуйте looks frightening, but Russians say it as 'zdrastvooytye' — the В after the С is silent. This happens in a few Russian words where СТВ is pronounced СТ. Practise it slowly — здрав-ствуй-те — then blend it together.

Key term — здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) — hello (formal): The polite way to say hello to adults, teachers and strangers. The first В is silent, so it sounds like 'zdrA-stvooy-tye'.

Worked example: Saying My Name

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

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

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

Common mistakes
  • Saying привет to a teacher Привет (privét — hi) is only for friends. To a teacher or a stranger, say Здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte — hello).
  • 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?).

Practice

What can you answer when someone asks Как дела?
Pick one: Хорошо, Нормально or Отлично.

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

How do you say 'hello' formally in Russian?
It starts with З and the В is silent.

Здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte).

What does до свидания mean?
You say it when you leave.

Goodbye (do svidániya).

Translate 'thank you' into Russian.
It starts with С and the stress is on the И.

Спасибо (spasíbo).

Quick check

Saying My Name — quick check

Which of these best defines "здравствуйте (zdrávstvuyte) — hello (formal)"?

The polite way to say hello to adults, teachers and strangers. The first В is silent, so it sounds like 'zdrA-stvooy-tye'.

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

Привет (privét — hi).
Key takeaways
  • Saying My Name: introduce yourself with Меня зовут… (menyá zovút — my name is…) and ask someone's name in return.
  • Formal and informal greetings: Russian has two levels of politeness.
  • привет (privét) — hi: The friendly, informal hello for friends and family.
  • Watch out for: saying привет to a teacher
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