Key Phrases to Know When Conducting Business in Russia

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When conducting business in Russia, before you even arrive, it is important to familiarize yourself with the most important basic phrases. Learning some of the following will allow you to travel around more easily, communicate your needs to non-English speakers, and greet those you are working with in their own language.

Greetings

Hello (formal) – Zdravstvujte

Hi (informal) – Privet

Good morning – Dobroe utro

Good evening – Dobyj vecher

How are you? (formal) – Kak vy pozhivaete?

How’s it going? (informal) – Kak dela?

I’m fine – U menia vsio horosho

Fine, thanks, and you? – Horosho spasibo, a vy?

Glad to meet you – Rad vstreche c toboi

Introductions

My name is… – Menja zovut…

What’s your name? – Kak vas zovut?

Where are you from? – Otkuda vy?

I am from… – Ja iz…

Partings

Goodbye – Do svidanija

Goodnight – Spokojnoj nochi

So long – Poka

See you later – Uvidemsia pozjue

I must be going – Ja dolzhen idti (masculine) / Ja dolzhna idti (feminine).

Hope we’ll meet again – Nadejus’, my eschjo uvidimsja

Basic Phrases

Yes – Da

No – Net

Maybe – Mozhet byt’

I know – Ia znaiu

I don’t know – Ian e znaiu

Let me think – Duy mne podumat’

Not now – Ne sejchas

Please – Pojaluista

Thank you – Spasibo

Thank you very much – Bol’shoe spasibo

You’re welcome – Pozhalujsta

Excuse me – Isvini

I’m sorry – Ia sojaleiu

Sure – Konechno

I don’t speak Russian – Ja ne govorju po-russki

I only speak a little Russian – Ja nemnogo govorju po-russki

What did you say? – Shto te skasla? (masculine) / Shto te skasala? (feminine)

I understand – Ja ponimaju

I don’t understand – Ja ne ponimaju

Speak slowly – Govorite medlenno

Repeat, please – Povtorite, pozhalujsta

Help! – Pomogite!

Interrogatives

Who? – Kto?

Who is this? – Kto eto?

Who is there? – Kto tam?

What? – Chto?

What is it called? – Kak eto nazyvaetsja?

What’s the matter? – V chjom delo?

Where? – Gde?

Where from? – Otkuda?

Where are we? – Gde my?

Where is that? – Gdeeto?

When? – Kogda?

How? – Kak?

How much? – Skol’ko?

How much money? – Skol’ko deneg?

How much time? – Skol’ko vremeni?

Why? – Pochemu?

Which? – Kakoj?

Office Vocabulary

Chair – Stul

Desk – Pis’myennyj stol

Computer – Komp’yutyerom

Telephone – Tyelyefon

Pencil – Karandash

Résumé – Ryezyumye

Email – Imyeil

Email address – Adryes elektronnoj pochty

Attachment – Prikryeplyonnij fajl

Interview – Ntyerv’yu

Fax – Faks

Manager – Yenyedzhyer

Boss – Nachal’nik

Coworker – Kollyega

Client – Kliyent

Useful Work Phrases

Here is my card – Vot moia kartochka

Come to my office – Prihodi ko mne v ofice

What’s your email? – Kakoj u vas imyeil?

Do you have an email? – U vas yest’ imyeil?

I’ll email you – Ya poshlyu tyebye imejl

Call me please – Pozvonitye mnye pozhalujsta

My phone number is… – Moj nomyer tyelyefona…

To avoid having to memorizing all of the above, keep this list with you for quick reference while on your business trip. If need more than just a few phrases, we offer comprehensive translation and interpretation services in Russian.