The Politics of Language: The Best Interpreters Facilitate Diplomacy
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.
Related posts
