привет

Informal Hello

Level 1Sounds Like privet

Привет (privét) is the Russian equivalent of 'Hi' or 'Hey.' It is strictly informal and used only with people you address as ты (informal 'you').

How It Works

1. Usage and Social Context
Russian culture maintains a clear distinction between formal and informal speech. Привет is the cornerstone of informal communication. You should use it with:

  • Friends and family members
  • Peers (classmates or colleagues of similar age/rank)
  • Children

2. Grammar and Structure
Technically, привет is a masculine noun meaning 'greeting.' As a salutation, it is an interjection and does not change its form. You can use it alone or follow it with a name in the nominative case (e.g., Привет, Анна).

3. Addressing Groups
When greeting a group of friends, you can say Привет всем! (Hi to everyone!). Here, 'everyone' is in the dative case because you are literally giving a greeting to them.

4. Register Consistency
It is vital to match your greeting to your pronouns. If you start with Привет, you must continue using ты and its associated verb forms, such as second-person singular endings. Mixing Привет with the formal Вы sounds unnatural and confusing to native speakers.

Examples (4)

  1. Привет, Иван! Как дела?

    Hi, Ivan! How are things?

    Word by Word: Hi, Ivan! How (are) affairs?

    A standard informal greeting followed by a common follow-up question.

  2. Привет всем, я дома!

    Hi everyone, I'm home!

    Word by Word: Hi to-all, I (am) at-home!

    Using the dative case 'всем' to address a group informally.

  3. Она передала тебе большой привет.

    She sent you her best regards.

    Word by Word: She passed to-you a big greeting.

    Here, 'привет' functions as a noun in a common idiomatic expression for sending regards.

  4. Приветик! Что делаешь?

    Hi there! What are you doing?

    Word by Word: Hi (diminutive)! What (are you) doing?

    Uses the diminutive 'приветик,' which is even more informal and often sounds 'cutesy' or affectionate.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'привет' in formal situations.

    Привет, господин директор.
    Здравствуйте, господин директор.

    Using 'привет' with a superior or a stranger is considered disrespectful. Use the formal greeting instead.

  • Mixing «привет» with the polite «вы» for one person.

    Different MeaningПривет, как вы поживаете?
    Привет, как ты поживаешь?

    «Привет, как вы поживаете?» is correct if you speak to several people. To one friend, use «ты» all the way: «Привет, как ты поживаешь?»

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

приветLevel 1Informal Hello

Learn This First

As a foundational informal greeting, 'привет' primarily requires basic literacy in the Cyrillic alphabet and an understanding of how to address individuals by name.

Words in This Pattern

привет