Zdravstvuyte

“Zdravstvuyte” (Здравствуйте) is a Russian greeting, and its literal translation is something along the lines of 'be healthy' or 'may you be well.' It's a formal greeting used when addressing someone you don’t know well, an elder, or someone in a position of authority. The informal equivalent is “Privet” (Привет), which is used with friends and family. It indicates respect and formality, similar to 'hello' or 'good day' in English. While considered polite, it can also be neutral, a simple acknowledgment of another person's presence. It is pronounced “zdrah-stvooy-teh.”

Zdravstvuyte meaning with examples

• Upon entering the office, Maria greeted her colleagues with a warm 'Zdravstvuyte', followed by an explanation about her morning commute. Her boss, Mr. Petrov, responded with 'Zdravstvuyte' and asked about the progress on the project. Everyone in the office used the greeting to be respectful of one another. It established a polite working environment.
• The tourist, unsure of the language, cautiously approached the information desk, offering a hesitant 'Zdravstvuyte' to the attendant. The attendant smiled and replied in kind, then provided assistance. Even though the tourist wasn't fluent in Russian, they could still get their point across by respecting Russian customs and greeting others properly.
• The elderly woman, having returned from the store, nodded to the young man holding the door and said 'Zdravstvuyte'. He replied politely with the same greeting. Then the woman went on to explain that the market ran out of her favorite vegetables, and the two started to chat about what would substitute them.
• At the beginning of the conference, the speaker addressed the audience with a clear 'Zdravstvuyte, ladies and gentlemen' before launching into his presentation. The formality of the greeting set the tone for the professional event. All of the attendees would feel comfortable communicating in a setting where politeness and formality are key.
• When meeting the president of the company in the hallway, the employees always replied with 'Zdravstvuyte', showing respect and acknowledging their position. The president would then exchange a few words of goodwill before moving along. This interaction demonstrated the respect the workers showed the president.