A0 · Zero Point Chapter 2

First Steps in Conversation

4 Total Rules
30 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the door to Russian culture by mastering the essential art of the first impression.

  • Distinguish between formal and informal social settings.
  • Navigate the complex but crucial 'You' vs 'You' honorific system.
  • State your name and say goodbye with confidence and respect.
From a simple 'Hello' to a lasting connection.

What You'll Learn

Essential greetings and polite phrases for daily interaction. Focus on social etiquette and common survival expressions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Greet both friends and strangers using the appropriate formal or informal terms.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Choose the correct pronoun (ты or вы) based on the age and status of the person you are addressing.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Introduce yourself using the standard 'Меня зовут' construction.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Exit a conversation politely using formal or informal farewells.

Key Examples (6)

1

Привет, как дела?

Hi, how are things?

Russian Greetings: Formal vs Informal (Привет vs Здравствуйте)
2

Здравствуйте, Иван Петрович.

Hello, Ivan Petrovich.

Russian Greetings: Formal vs Informal (Привет vs Здравствуйте)
3

Как тебя зовут?

What is your name? (informal)

Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)
4

Как вас зовут?

What is your name? (formal)

Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)
5

Привет! Меня зовут Катя.

Hi! My name is Katya.

Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)
6

Я Макс, твой новый сосед.

I'm Max, your new neighbor.

Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The Pronunciation Shortcut

If Здравствуйте is too hard, use Добрый день. It's polite, neutral, and much easier to say!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Greetings: Formal vs Informal (Привет vs Здравствуйте)
🎯

The Safety First Rule

If you are 50/50 on which one to use, always pick вы. It's better to be too formal than to accidentally offend someone.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)
🎯

The 'Me' Logic

Remember that Меня is just a special version of 'I' (Я). You are saying 'As for me, they call me...'
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)
💡

Register Check

Always ask: is this person a friend or a stranger?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Farewell Phrases

Key Vocabulary (7)

Привет Hi (informal) Здравствуйте Hello (formal/plural) Ты You (informal) Вы You (formal/plural) Меня зовут My name is (lit: They call me) Пока Bye (informal) До свидания Goodbye (formal)

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Meeting a New Colleague

Review Summary

  • Formal: Здравствуйте / Informal: Привет
  • Formal/Plural: Вы / Informal: Ты
  • Меня зовут + [Name]
  • Formal: До свидания / Informal: Пока

Common Mistakes

In Russian, you don't say 'I am called', but rather 'Me they call'. Using 'Я' (I) here is a direct translation from English that doesn't work.

Wrong: Я зовут Джон (Ya zovut John)
Correct: Меня зовут Джон (Menya zovut John)

Never use 'Привет' with superiors or people you don't know well. It can come across as disrespectful or overly familiar.

Wrong: Привет, господин директор! (Privet, Mr. Director!)
Correct: Здравствуйте, господин директор! (Zdravstvuyte, Mr. Director!)

The first 'в' (v) in 'Здравствуйте' is silent. Trying to pronounce it makes the word much harder to say than it needs to be.

Wrong: З-д-р-а-в-с-т-в-у-й-т-е (Pronouncing every letter)
Correct: Здрав-ствуйте (Zdrav-stvuyte - skipping the first 'v')

Next Steps

You've just passed a major milestone. Being able to introduce yourself is the first real step toward fluency. Keep that momentum going!

Record yourself saying 'Здравствуйте' 5 times to master the silent 'v'.

Write down the names of 3 friends and 3 teachers, and label them with 'Ты' or 'Вы'.

Continue to: The World Around You — Naming Things

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank to say 'My name is...'

____ зовут Антон.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Меня
Меня зовут is the fixed phrase for 'My name is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)

Fill in the blank.

___, до завтра!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ну
Ну is a common filler.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Farewell Phrases

Which is the most natural way to introduce yourself?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Меня зовут Мария.
Меня зовут is the standard, natural expression. Я есть is incorrect in this context.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)

Which sentence is appropriate for a boss?

Choose the most respectful option:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Вы работаете завтра?
You should use 'вы' and the '-те' verb ending for a boss.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)

Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun.

Привет, Антон! Как ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ты
Since you are calling him by his first name (Anton) and saying 'Hi', 'ты' is the correct informal choice.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)

Which is formal?

How do you say goodbye to a stranger?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: До свидания
Do svidaniya is formal.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Basic Farewell Phrases

Find and fix the mistake in the formal sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Вы знаешь, где метро?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Вы знаете, где метро?
The pronoun 'вы' must be paired with the verb ending '-те'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Polite Address: Ty vs. Vy (ты vs. вы)

Fix the mistake in this informal goodbye to a friend.

Find and fix the mistake:

До свидания, мой друг!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Пока, мой друг!
'До свидания' is too formal for a friend; 'Пока' is the natural choice.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Greetings: Formal vs Informal (Привет vs Здравствуйте)

You are entering a bank. How should you greet the teller?

Choose the most appropriate greeting:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Здравствуйте
You should use the formal 'Здравствуйте' with strangers in professional settings.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Russian Greetings: Formal vs Informal (Привет vs Здравствуйте)

Find and fix the mistake

Find and fix the mistake:

Как тебя имя?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Как тебя зовут?
To ask a name informally, you must use the verb зовут.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Introducing Yourself (Меня зовут)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Yes, with anyone you don't know well or who is older. It shows you have good manners and respect.
No, that would be considered disrespectful. Use 'До свидания' instead.
Ты is informal for friends and family. Вы is formal for strangers or plural for groups.
Only if they explicitly ask you to. Otherwise, stick to вы to show professional respect.
Меня is the accusative form of 'I'. The phrase literally means 'They call me,' so 'me' is the object being called.
Yes! It's very common on platforms like Discord or Telegram to say Меня зовут [Handle].
Previous Chapter
Hello, World! — Your Very First Words
Next Chapter
The World Around You — Naming Things
Back to Roadmap