Russian · A2 (Elementary)
Greetings in Russian: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful Russian words for greetings are Рад познакомиться (Nice to meet you (m)), Рада познакомиться (Nice to meet you (f)) and Давно не виделись (Long time no see). The full Russian greetings phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential Russian vocabulary for greetings, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning Russian to live, work, or settle abroad.
Source: Language Lab's Russian curriculum (vocabulary & example sentences). · Join the beta →
Key greetings vocabulary
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Рад познакомиться | Nice to meet you (m) |
| Рада познакомиться | Nice to meet you (f) |
| Давно не виделись | Long time no see |
| Как поживаете? | How do you do? (formal) |
| Неплохо | Not bad |
| Всё отлично | Everything is great |
| Передавай привет | Say hi (to someone) |
| Увидимся | See you |
| Удачи | Good luck |
| Поздравляю | Congratulations |
| С праздником | Happy holidays |
| Приятного аппетита | Bon appétit |
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
Practice Russian that actually sticks.
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