Saying Hello in Russian
Russian has two words for "hello": a formal one and a casual one. Use Здравствуйте (zdrastvuyte) with strangers, older people, and in shops or offices. It looks long, but the first "в" is silent. With friends and children, use the short Привет (privet), which means "hi".
Russians also greet by time of day: Доброе утро (dobroye utro) for "good morning", Добрый день (dobryy den) for "good afternoon", and Добрый вечер (dobryy vecher) for "good evening". These are polite and work in any situation.
Saying Goodbye
The all-purpose goodbye is До свидания (do svidaniya), literally "until we meet again". It fits every formal and neutral situation. Among friends you can say Пока (poka), meaning "bye". At night, wish someone Спокойной ночи (spokoynoy nochi), "good night".
Key words
Здравствуйте (zdrastvuyte) — hello (formal)
Привет (privet) — hi (casual)
Доброе утро (dobroye utro) — good morning
Добрый вечер (dobryy vecher) — good evening
До свидания (do svidaniya) — goodbye (formal)
Пока (poka) — bye (casual)
Examples
Привет! Как дела? (privet! kak dela?) — Hi! How are you?
Здравствуйте, доброе утро. (zdrastvuyte, dobroye utro.) — Hello, good morning.
До свидания! (do svidaniya!) — Goodbye!
Пока, спокойной ночи! (poka, spokoynoy nochi!) — Bye, good night!