Greetings and introductions

What you will practice

• Choose a greeting that fits the time of day.
• Give your name with меня зовут.
• Keep здравствуйте and привет apart.

Explanation

Time of day

Доброе утро is for the morning. Добрый день is for the middle of the day. Добрый вечер is for the evening. The adjective agrees: neuter доброе with утро, masculine добрый with день and вечер. Здравствуйте is the formal hello at any hour. Привет is the informal one.

Names

Меня зовут Анна gives your name. The formal question is Как вас зовут? The informal question is Как тебя зовут? After the names, Очень приятно is the set reply. This lesson’s practice uses the formal question. The name itself stays in the dictionary form after зовут.

Formal and informal

До свидания is the formal goodbye. Пока is informal. Доброй ночи is for leaving at night, not for arriving in the evening. The evening arrival is Добрый вечер. A formal conversation that opened with Здравствуйте closes with До свидания, not with Пока.

Examples

1. Доброе утро.a morning greeting
2. Здравствуйте.a formal hello
3. Меня зовут Анна.giving your name
4. Как вас зовут?a formal question
5. До свидания.a formal goodbye

Common mistakes

• Доброй ночи is a goodbye. It does not replace Добрый вечер when you arrive.
• Привет is informal. With someone you address as вы, use Здравствуйте.