Greetings & Introductions — I can greet others, introduce myself, and exchange basic personal information in common adult social contexts.

Russian greetings and introductions are far more than simple pleasantries — they reflect centuries of cultural evolution, social hierarchy, and the deep value Russians place on personal relationships. In Russian culture, the way you greet someone immediately signals your level of respect, familiarity, and social awareness. Understanding this cultural backdrop is essential before you learn even a single phrase, because choosing the wrong register (formal vs. informal) can create an awkward first impression.

The Russian language has always maintained a clear distinction between formal and informal speech, a feature rooted in the feudal social structures of early Slavic societies. Over time, these distinctions became embedded in the grammar itself — specifically through the use of ты (ty) for informal "you" and вы (vy) for formal "you." This distinction shapes every greeting and introduction you will learn.

So the central question this lesson addresses is: How do you greet, introduce yourself, and exchange basic personal information in Russian while navigating the formal/informal distinction that is so central to Russian social interaction?

Before diving into specific phrases, you need to understand the foundational principles that govern how Russians greet each other and share personal information. These principles will help you choose the right words in any social situation, rather than just memorizing phrases without context.

One of the biggest challenges for beginners is knowing which greeting to use in which context. The following decision flowchart maps out the thought process a Russian speaker goes through (almost unconsciously) when meeting someone. Study this diagram and notice how the formality level and time of day together determine which greeting phrase is most appropriate.

As you can see in the diagram, the first question is always about your relationship with the person. If you know them well — a close friend, a classmate, a sibling — you go left to the informal branch with Привет (Privet). If the person is a stranger, an elder, a teacher, or someone in a professional setting, you go right to the formal branch. In the formal branch, you can either use the all-purpose Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) or pick a time-specific greeting like Доброе утро (Good morning), Добрый день (Good afternoon), or Добрый вечер (Good evening).

The Introduction Formula

Russian self-introductions follow a predictable pattern. Once you learn the structure, you can plug in your own information and introduce yourself confidently. Think of it as a fill-in-the-blank template that native speakers use automatically. The core components are: greeting, stating your name, asking the other person's name, and asking how they are doing.

Exchanging Personal Information

After the initial greeting and name exchange, Russians commonly ask about occupation, origin, and how the other person is doing. Here are the key phrase structures you need.

Now let's organize the essential vocabulary into clear categories. The following table and diagram present the most important phrases you need to master, organized by function. Pay close attention to the formal/informal pairs — this pattern runs through everything in Russian conversation.

Notice how the conversation follows a predictable pattern: greet → give your name → ask their name → express pleasure → ask how they are → respond and reciprocate. Russian conversations are very reciprocal. When someone asks you a question, it's polite to answer and then ask the same question back using "А у вас?" (And you?) or "А вы?" (And you?).

Let's walk through a realistic scenario step by step. Imagine you are an American exchange student named Alex meeting your Russian host family's neighbor, Ирина Петровна (Irina Petrovna), for the first time. She is an older woman, so you should use formal register (вы) throughout.

Knowing the right register is perhaps the most important social skill in Russian conversation. Using the wrong level of formality can range from mildly awkward to genuinely offensive. The table below breaks down the key differences and provides clear guidelines for when to use each register.

The greeting and introduction phrases you've learned in this lesson are your foundation, but Russian conversation goes much deeper. As you advance, you'll encounter grammatical cases that change word endings, verb conjugations that affect how you express yourself, and a rich system of diminutives and nicknames. The table below shows how the concepts from this lesson connect to intermediate and advanced topics.

Don't feel overwhelmed by the grammar ahead — every Russian speaker started exactly where you are now. The phrases you've memorized in this lesson are real, usable language that will serve you well in countless situations. As you progress, the patterns you've noticed (like the ты/вы swap in questions) will repeat in more complex structures, making each new topic a little easier to grasp.

Test your understanding of Russian greetings and introductions with these five problems. They increase in difficulty, so work through them in order. Try to answer each one before reading the answer.