Basic Phrases
@learnrussianIntroducing Yourself.
In order to introduce yourself, you may need the following phrases.
🔹 Меня зовут ... ("men-ya za-voot") - My name is ...
🔹 Как вас зовут? ("kak vas za-voot") - What is your name?
🔹 Очень приятно ("och-en pree-yat-na") - Pleased to meet you.
How are you?
The most natural way to ask someone how they are in Russian is to ask: "how are things?"
🔹 Как дела? - How are things?
🔹 Хорошо спасибо - Good/Well thank-you
🔹 Плохо - Bad
Saying Good-Bye.
There are also two words for saying good-bye.
🔹 До свидания ("da-svee-da-nee-ye") - Good-bye. (The до is pronounced as if it is part of the next word)
🔹 Пока ("pa-ka") - Bye (Informal, slang)
Asking about languages
When you are asking a yes/no question in Russian, there is no difference between the question and the statement, except for the question mark. When you are speaking Russian you should ask questions in a different tone. The tone of your voice should rise if you are asking a question. If you are making a statement your tone will naturally fall. You may find that you actually do this in English without meaning to. If all else fails, put a real questioning expression on your face.
🔹 Вы говорите по-английски? - Do you (formal) speak English?
🔹 Вы говорите по-русски? - Do you (formal) speak Russian?
🔹 Я говорю по-английски - I speak English
🔹 Я говорю по-русски - I speak Russian
🔹 Я понимаю - I understand
🔹 Я не понимаю - I don't understand