How to say "thank you" in Russian: 11 common phrases (2023)

My first trip to Russia in 2016 was a complete success. I didn't know many Russian words at the time. But I'm glad I took the time to learn some ways to say "thank you" in Russian.

Why?

Being able to express gratitude correctly is an elementary part of human communication.

Once you get to know them, Russians can be very hospitable. And so it's absolutely vital that you can thank them for the good food, drinks and help they can provide.

Before we get started, I want you to understand that you don't have to know all the ways to say thank you.

Some are informal.

Some are formal.

Some are commonly used.

Some are rarely used.

And some are even a little funny or dramatic.

In addition to the translation below each word, I also added how and where to use it. That's because you don't want to say the super-informal "спасибочки" to the customs officer when you land in Moscow.

How do you say "thank you" in Russian?

Below are 11 common ways to say thank you in Russian.

I recommend you pick one or two to practice with. Being able to say it correctly sometimes is much better than trying to stutter and pick the "perfect" one for every situation.

Watch this video where I tell you in Russian (with English subtitles) 9 reasons why Russian is really easy to learn.

Thank you in Russian - thank you (thank you)

So that's what you decidedI want to learn Russian🇧🇷 majoritycommon phrasethanking someone and showing gratitude is:

Thanks.

The good thing about this word is that you can pronounce it literally in almost any situation. Official state? You can thank the police officer when checking your driver's license. Or thank the doctor who just gave you the medical checkup.

Informal situation? You can say спасибо to close friends when they pass you salt at the table. Or someone much younger than you who said "Cheers" when you had to sneeze.

It also doesn't matter whether you want to thank a specific person or a group of people. This will work perfectly.

Verdict:If you want to maximize the results of your efforts, this is the best way to say thank you in Russian. It's easy to learn, easy to pronounce, and you can use it in literally any situation.

Thanks in Russian - thank you / you (thanks vam / tebye)

If you want to add a modifier to спасибо and specifically direct your gratitude to someone, you can say:

  • thanks -gracias
  • thanks -thank you (informal)
  • thanks -gracias
  • thanks to him/her/themthank him/her/them

This way of saying thank you in Russian adds a personal touch. You don't just randomly say thank you, you explicitly say thank you to that person.

Adding this personal modifier makes it stronger.

Verdict:In all cases where you would say this sentence, you can add a modifier and thank that person (or group of people) specifically. This makes it more personal and strengthens the power of your appreciation.

Vielen Dank / vielen Dank - vielen Dank / vielen Dank (spasibo bolshoye / bolshoye spasibo)

If you want the expression "thank you" in Russian to be stronger and express more gratitude, you can add the word "big". It doesn't matter if you add it before or after спасибо большое and большое спасибо is correct.

This translates to "thank you" or "thank you very much". Just like a regular thank you, you can address it to the person you want to thank to make it more specific.

Verdict:say большое спасибо when you're really grateful and want to show someone.

Thank you - thank you / thank you (ogromnoe thank you)

Огромное literally means "huge". But this phrase means "thank you very much". So if you say that, you're really grateful. Where the previous form can still be used in formal situations, it is best not to use it in overly formal situations. Ogromnoe спасибо is like большое спасибо, but stronger.

Sou grato - sou grato (ya blagodaren)

Literally translated, this phrase means “I am grateful”. It has a more authentic and formal connotation, so you probably wouldn't tell close friends and family about it. This is what you would say if someone really did something really nice for you.

It's important to know that grateful is said for men and grateful for women.

You can add a lot modifier if you want to increase the gratitude aspect: I am very grateful.

I am very grateful to you, thank you (ya blagodaryu bas)

Thank you comes from 2 oldest words of the Russian language:

  • blago - blessing
  • give - give (as a gift)

So when you put each word together, it's a way of saying thank you in the form of a blessing.

Благодарю is the first person conjugation of the verb, so this word literally means "I give you a blessing". You can also use this to thank a close friend or group of people:

  • gracias:this is the formal form.
  • gracias:Tell that to a group of people.
  • gracias:tell that to a friend.

While it has lost some of that meaning over time, it is still considered a very formal way of thanking someone and expressing appreciation.

Verdict:You probably don't need this way of saying thank you in Russian. But it's good to know when someone tells you.

Thank you thank you

Coming to a super informal thank you, you can use the word спасибочки. It's a normal thank you, but in a small way. It's something you only tell very close friends or family.

I appreciate your help - I appreciate your help (ya tsenyu Vashu pomoshch')

If someone specifically offered you help and you want to express your gratitude, say the phrase я ценю Вашу помощь. It's a formal way of saying thank you for someone's help.

You are very kind - You are very kind (Vy ochen 'dobry

If you want to say that someone is very kind to help you, say the phrase "Вы очень добры". And since adjectives in the Russian language change depending on the noun of the person they are describing, here are some other ways:

  • you are very nice (informal masculine)
  • you are very nice (informal feminine)

Thank you for helping - Thank you for your help (Thanks za pomoshch')

If you want to thank someone for their help, but in a slightly less formal way than the previous sentence, you can say this sentence.

If you add "за помощь", it means "for your help". So now you can also use this to say thank you for other things like:

  • thanks for the car
  • thanks for the meal - thanks for the meal

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you from the bottom of my heart (blagodaryu ot vsey dushi)

If you have a reason to be super grateful and want to thank someone from the bottom of your heart/soul, say this sentence.

For example, if you had visa problems and threatened to be deported and someone sorted it out. In this case, a "благодарю от всей души".

Because of this, it is not used as often. And as a foreigner who has just started learning Russian, people probably don't expect that from you. If you're more in the middle, you can also jokingly say that when someone does something small for you. But make sure you have a smile on your face and make it clear that you're kidding.

3 Easy Ways to Say "You're Welcome" in Russian

You're not the only person who says thank you in a two-way conversation. If you arecommunicate with russians, there will often be people saying one of the above phrases to you.

In such cases, it's good to be able to react appropriately. Below are 3 phrases you can respond withhappily in Russian.

"You're welcome" in Russian - please (pozhaluysta)

This is the easiest way to answer. When someone says "thank you" in Russian, reply with a simple пожалуйста. This is the simplest and most common way to respond.

"Un placer" - por nada (nya za chto)

Literally translated, this phrase means “not for what”. A better way to feel the meaning of this phrase would be "oh, it's nothing".

You can say this phrase when you feel that someone is saying "thank you very much". When they're super grateful but what you did wasn't an effort for you.

I recommend you avoid this as it has a somewhat snobbish connotation. Like you don't accept the person's gratitude and want to tone it down.

“glad to help” (rad pomoch’)

You can also respond by saying you're happy to help. "Glad to help" is the literal translation of рад помочь. And you can use it as long as you're really happy to help someone.

happy to help is the male version. So if you're a woman, say the phrase "I'm happy to help."

What is the next step?

Now you know how to say thank you in Russian. I recommend that you first focus on saying спасибо. It's the simplest way to say thank you. And it can be used in virtually any situation.

After that, you can learn to use some modifiers like огромное, большое, Вам or тебе. And if you want, you can leave it here if you're just learning some Russian for fun.

If you are serious about learning the Russian language and want to speak it well (not just with friends and family), then you can work on learning more manners. You can learn shapes like "я очень благодарен" or "спасибо за помощь".

After all, there are many ways to say thank you in Russian. The most important part is that you can spot them when someone tells you. And that you can answer yourself with one of them.

What should you do next?

Learning Russian DOESN'T have to be difficult. All you need is a solid plan to help you improve on the following daily:

  • vocabulary
  • grammar
  • listening skills
  • language skills

That's all you need. If you manage to do this for a few weeks, you will already make great strides in your Russian language skills.

And the best? As you improve a little each day, these practices will soon become daily habits.

And then you start moving forward on autopilot.

This means that learning Russian is now part of your everyday life. So you don't even need more discipline to practice.

If you like the idea but don't know where to start,Here you will find more information.

FAQs

What are common Russian phrases? ›

Top 10 Russian phrases and sentences you need to know
  • Доброе утро. = Good morning. ...
  • Добрый день. = Good afternoon. ...
  • Меня зовут Мандли. = My name is Mondly. ...
  • Рад познакомиться с тобой. = I'm pleased to meet you. ...
  • Как дела? = How are you? ...
  • Хорошо, спасибо. А у вас? ...
  • Я хотел бы пива. = I'd like a beer. ...
  • Прошу прощения.

How do you say simple phrases in Russian? ›

1. Greetings and other useful Russian words
  1. Good morning! – Доброе утро! – Dobroye utro!
  2. Good afternoon! – Добрый день! – Dobryy den!
  3. Good evening! – Добрый вечер! ...
  4. Good night! – спокойной ночи! ...
  5. Hello! – Здравствуйте! ...
  6. How are you? – Как дела? ...
  7. Very good. Thank you – Хорошо. ...
  8. What is your name? – Как тебя зовут?
Jul 8, 2018

How do you say thank you in Russian Cyrillic alphabet? ›

The most commonly used Russian word for “thank you” is “cпасибо” (spasibo).

What is the Russian phrase every knows that? ›

Contextual examples of "everybody knows that" in Russian

Everybody knows that. Все это знают.

What is the most common Russian greeting? ›

Привет (privet)—“Hi” in Russian. If you ask a local: “How do you say 'Hi' in Russian?” he'll most definitely tell you this greeting. This is the most common Russian informal greeting. It's great to use in every informal situation.

How many ways can you say thank you in Russian? ›

Thank YOU in Russian – спасибо Вам/тебе (spasibo vam/tebye)

If you want to add a modifier to спасибо, and specifically direct your gratitude at someone, you can say the following: спасибо Вам –thank you (formal) спасибо тебе – thank you (informal) спасибо вам – thank you (plural)

What does tak tak tak mean in Russian? ›

"Tak" is a word used to buy time or give the impression you are thinking deeply. A Russian will often pause and say "tak, tak, tak" and then respond. It is the equivalent of hmmm in the English language. You can use it to sound intellectual or during negotiations over a purchase.

How do you flirt Russian phrases? ›

Start by taking an online Russian course to learn more.
...
16 Top Phrases Used When Flirting In Russian.
RussianEnglishPronunciation
Я обожаю тебяI adore youYa obozhaju tebya
Я тебя люблюI love youYa tebya lyublyu
Я хотел бы узнать тебя получшеI want to know you betterYa hotel by uznat' tebya po lutsche
11 more rows
Jan 16, 2021

What is OK in Russian? ›

o.k. {adverb}

все в порядке {adv.}

What does ))) mean in Russian? ›

))) means “LOL.” That's the first thing that you should know about Russian text messaging. Typically, instead of “normal” emoticons, Russians use brackets.

What does Z mean on Russian? ›

Since mid-March 2022, the "Z" began to be used by the Russian government as a pro-war propaganda motif, and has been appropriated by pro-Putin civilians as a symbol of support for Russia's invasion.

What letter is F in Russian? ›

Ef or Fe (Ф ф; italics: Ф ф) is a Cyrillic letter, commonly representing the voiceless labiodental fricative /f/, like the pronunciation of ⟨f⟩ in "fill, flee, or fall". The Cyrillic letter Ef is romanized as ⟨f⟩.

What is the biggest Russian word? ›

Most likely one of the longest Russian words is a chemical term, тетрагидропиранилциклопентилтетрагидропиридопиридиновая (tetragidropiranilciklopentiltetragidropiridopiridinovaya), which contains 55 letters. It was used in Russian patent RU2285004C2 (granted and published in 2006).

What does Tocka mean in Russian? ›

Tocka: A Russian word to describe that painful feeling of great anguish with no specific cause. Most of us get this in the middle of the night.

What does Dobre mean Russian? ›

Interjection. добре́ • (dobré) OK, all right.

What are classic Russian greetings? ›

Common Greetings in Russian
  • “Здравствуйте” (Zdravstvuite): “Hello” ...
  • “Привет” (Privet): “Hi” ...
  • “Доброе утро” (Dobroe utro): “Good morning” ...
  • “Добрый день” (Dobryi den'): “Good afternoon” ...
  • “Добрый вечер” (Dobryi vecher): “Good evening” ...
  • “Здарова” (Zdarova): “Hey” ...
  • “Алло” (Allo): “Hello”

How can I speak Russian fast? ›

Contents
  1. Use Authentic Media.
  2. Immerse Yourself with a Good Program.
  3. Take the Time to Learn Cyrillic.
  4. Learn Common Words First.
  5. Learn Cognates and Loanwords.
  6. Immerse Yourself in Russian, at Home or Abroad.
  7. Practice Your Skills Daily.
  8. Microlearning sessions. Language sprints.
Jan 25, 2023

What's your name in Russia? ›

What's your name? Как Вас зовут? (Kak Vas zovut?)

How many types of thank you? ›

For these everyday, informal experiences, we can use a variety of expression to say thanks. Thank you. / Thanks so much. / Thanks a lot. / Thanks a bunch. / Thanks a ton. / Thanks!

What are all the ways to say thank you? ›

Personal thank you
  1. I appreciate you!
  2. You are the best.
  3. I appreciate your help so much.
  4. I wanted to thank you for your help.
  5. I value the help you've given me.
  6. I am so thankful for you in my life.
  7. Thanks for the support.
  8. Thanks for all you do.
Aug 3, 2022

How do you show respect in Russian? ›

Etiquette
  1. Always show heightened respect to those who are older than you. ...
  2. Offer your seat to an elderly person, pregnant woman or woman with a small child if they do not have one.
  3. Men are expected to open doors for women, pay for their food, help them carry items, etc.
  4. People do not always wait in line.

Does пожалуйста mean you're welcome? ›

The most common way to say "you're welcome" in Russian is Пожалуйста (paZHAlusta), which originally meant "be merciful" or "be kind" and can also be used to mean "please" in modern Russian.

Is it Spasibo or Spasiba? ›

Thank you: Spasibo (Спасибо)

If you can only learn one word in Russian, let it be “Spasibo” or thank you. Spasibo is pronounced as spa-see-bah.

What does Opa mean Russia? ›

In Romanian (hopa) and Russian culture (опа) it is used during the short phase of concentration on an action (similar to "come on" in English), the expectation of successful process during the action and the subsequent completion of it, for example, when throwing a basketball into the basket, getting off the bike or ...

What does Paka Paka mean in Russian? ›

Пока (Paka) - “Bye” in Russian.

Why do Russians say oi? ›

In Russian, oy (ой) is often used as an expression of various degrees of surprise. In the Scandinavian languages, Oi! or the Swedish variant, Oj!, is commonly used as an exclamation of surprise, like "Oh" or "Whoops".

How many kisses do Russians give? ›

Women generally kiss people three times on alternating cheeks starting on the left. Male friends may hug one another or give each other a pat on the back. An old superstition advises that you should never greet someone by shaking hands or kissing them whilst on the threshold of the doorstep.

How do Russians express love? ›

Я тебя люблю (I love you)

This is the clearest and most direct way to express it. You can choose to change the word order and say “Я люблю тебя,” but there's no significant difference in the meaning. Some Russians prefer to emphasize the last word in a sentence, thus “Я тебя люблю” may be preferred.

How do you say pretty girl in Russia? ›

The Russian word красивый can be used to describe both men and women: красивая женщина beautiful woman. красивая девушка beautiful girl.

Can Russian smile? ›

Russians are stereotyped have a reputation for being stern and unsmiling people, but actually, Russians do smile often, and their smiles mean different things in 10 different situations.

Should you smile in Russian? ›

Russians do not smile at strangers

If you smile at a stranger in Russia, he/she can smile back, but it can already mean an invitation to come and talk. Russians take smiling as a sign that the person cares about them.

What are Russian slangs? ›

The Kinds of Slang Words in Russian
  • Класс! - Great! ...
  • Крутой - Cool. ...
  • Кайф - pleasure, fun, enjoyment, a high. ...
  • Кайфовать - to have fun, to enjoy. ...
  • Здорово - great, awesome. ...
  • Тусить - to hang out throw a party. ...
  • Хавать - to eat (more or less) ...
  • Чёрт - shoot, dang it.
Feb 21, 2020

What is Moi in Russian? ›

Bozhe moi or боже мой means my god! Other English equivalents might be- oh my! oh my goodness! oh my god! It's an interjection to indicate surprise or emotion.

How is no in Russian? ›

How do you say “No!” in Russian? No! = Нет! The word "нет" is pronounced like "nyet" in English or /njet/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

What does G mean in Russian? ›

Ge or Ghe (Г г; italics: Г г) is a letter of the Cyrillic script. It is also known in some languages as He. It commonly represents the voiced velar plosive /ɡ/, like ⟨g⟩ in "gift".

What does little girl mean in Russian? ›

a little girl - маленькая девочка

Why is it called the Ukraine? ›

The name of Ukraine likely comes from the old Slavic term for "borderland", as does the word krajina. In the English-speaking world during most of the 20th century, Ukraine (whether independent or not) was referred to as "the Ukraine".

What flag is Russian? ›

Flag - White, Blue, Red

The flag of the Russian Federation is a rectangular cloth of three equal horizontal stripes: upper - white, middle - blue and lower - red. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3.

What are the national symbols of Russia? ›

The coat of arms of Russia depicts a golden two-headed eagle on a red background. Above its heads, there are three crowns, symbolizing the sovereignty of the Russian Federation and its regions. The scepter and orb, which the eagle holds in its claws, personify state power and a unified state.

Is ß Russian? ›

The German letter ß is a ligature and is also called a “scharfes s” (sharp s). But it's simpler than it sounds–it actually just means “ss”. The best thing about this letter? It sounds exactly like the “s” sound in English!

Is there no z in the Russian alphabet? ›

As a letter, Z does not exist in the Cyrillic Russian alphabet; rather, a letter resembling the figure 3 represents the “z” sound.

What do Russian say before drinking? ›

The Russian equivalent for Cheers! is За здоровье! [za zda-ró-vye]. Literally it means: "To your health!". The Russian word for'health' is 'здоровье' [zda-ró-vye].

How do Russians flirt phrases? ›

The romantic and flirtatious phrases provided above will help you win the heart of your love interest.
...
16 Top Phrases Used When Flirting In Russian.
RussianEnglishPronunciation
Я обожаю тебяI adore youYa obozhaju tebya
Я тебя люблюI love youYa tebya lyublyu
12 more rows
Jan 16, 2021

What is the Russian drinking age? ›

In Russia, the legal drinking age is usually eighteen. Usually, because there are some exceptions to that case. Technically, stronger alcohol such as cognac and vodka is sold only to those over 21.

What is Russian Opa? ›

In Romanian (hopa) and Russian culture (опа) it is used during the short phase of concentration on an action (similar to "come on" in English), the expectation of successful process during the action and the subsequent completion of it, for example, when throwing a basketball into the basket, getting off the bike or ...

What does Dobra outra mean? ›

добро утро • (dobro utro) good morning (used as a greeting before noon)

What is Russian slang for hi? ›

1. An Informal “Hello” in Russian – Привет (Privyet) The easiest way to say hello in Russian is Привет (privyet). Officially it is considered an informal way of saying hello.

What does da da mean in Russian? ›

dada {noun}

volume_up. папа {m} dada (also: dad, daddy, father, pa, papa, da)

How do Russian show affection? ›

Friends may hug or kiss on the cheek to greet, but Russians are generally limited in their physical contact. Strong physical affection is generally only seen between couples of opposite genders.

How to pronounce я тебя люблю? ›

Standard "I Love You"
  1. In Russian script, this expression is written as, Я тебя люблю
  2. Pronounce this expression as, ya tee-BYAH lyoo-BLYOO.
  3. Ya means "I" in Russian.
  4. Tebya means "you."
  5. Lyublyu means "love."

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