How many words are in this list?

This page gives 100 Russian words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 53 at the easy level, 47 at the medium level and 29 at the hard level.

Which words should I start with?

With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.

How can I remember this Russian vocabulary?

By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.

Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?

Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.

Russian vocabulary: greetings and polite phrases

Hello, thank you, please, sorry, see you soon: the polite Russian phrases for greeting, thanking and starting a conversation.

Here are 100 Russian words on “Politeness and small talk”, translated into English and sorted from easiest to hardest.

Level 1: easy 42 words

Russian	English
после вас	after you
а вы	and you
входите	come in
не могли бы вы	could you
приятного аппетита	enjoy your meal
следуйте за мной	follow me
удачи	good luck
спокойной ночи	good nightWhen parting to go to sleep
с Новым годом	happy New Year
счастливого пути	have a good trip
добрый день	helloGreeting on arrival, during the day
помогите	help me
привет	hiInformal greeting
как поживаете	how are you
как сказать	how do you say
нормально	I am fine
я не знаю	I do not know
я хотел бы	I would like
чем могу помочь	may I help you
меня зовут	my name is
нет	no
без проблем	no problem
не стоит благодарности	not at all
может быть	perhaps
уважение	respect
увидимся	see you shortly
до скорого	see you soon
до завтра	see you tomorrow
тем лучше	so much the better
спасибо	thank you
большое спасибо	thank you very much
жаль	that is a pity
до следующего раза	until next time
осторожно	watch out
добро пожаловать	welcomeWelcoming phrase
молодец	well done
какая жалость	what a shame
что нового	what is new
с удовольствием	with pleasureEnthusiastic acceptance
охотно	with pleasureSimple acceptance of an offer
не за что	you are welcomeEveryday use
прошу вас	you are welcomeFormal register

Level 2: medium 36 words

Russian	English
извинение	apology
наилучшие пожелания	best wishes
разговор	conversation
обсуждение	discussion
извините	excuse me
добрый вечер	good eveningGreeting on arrival, from late afternoon onwards
до свидания	goodbye
с днём рождения	happy birthday
хорошего вечера	have a good eveningWhen leaving someone early in the evening
хороших выходных	have a good weekend
подождите	hold on
благодарю вас	I thank you
представление	introduction
приглашение	invitation
держись	keep it up
чувствуйте себя как дома	make yourself at home
помедленнее	more slowly
ну и ладно	never mind
очень приятно	nice to meet you
будьте добры подождать	please hold on
рад познакомиться	pleased to meet you
садитесь	sit down
улыбка	smile
простите	sorryBrief apology, or getting someone’s attention
извините за беспокойство	sorry to bother you
огромное спасибо	thanks a million
очень мило	that is kind
знакомиться	to get acquainted
приветствовать	to greet
представлять	to introduce
представляться	to introduce oneself
приглашать	to invite
благодарить	to thank
обращаться на ты	to use informal address
желать	to wish
приём	welcomeNoun, the act of receiving someone

Level 3: hard 22 words

Russian	English
неловкое молчание	awkward silence
комплимент	compliment
учтивость	courtesy
поощрение	encouragement
выздоравливайте	get well soon
хорошие манеры	good manners
рукопожатие	handshake
невоспитанный	ill mannered
обращение на ты	informal address
недоразумение	misunderstanding
мои соболезнования	my condolences
формула вежливости	polite formula
вежливо	politely
вежливость	politeness
упрёк	reproach
грубость	rudeness
благодарность	thanks
заговаривать с кем-то	to approach someone
поздравлять	to congratulate
беспокоить	to disturb
перебивать	to interrupt
пожимать руку	to shake hands

Mini quiz

5 words from this page, picked at random. Find their translation.

Frequently asked questions

How many words are in this list?: This page gives 100 Russian words on “Politeness and small talk”. The full topic holds 129 in the KoKo app: 53 at the easy level, 47 at the medium level and 29 at the hard level.
Which words should I start with?: With level 1: these are the easiest words of the topic. Move on to level 2 once they come to you without thinking, then to level 3.
How can I remember this Russian vocabulary?: By seeing each word again at longer and longer intervals, just before you forget it: that is spaced repetition. The KoKo app does it for you and tells you each day which words to review.
Can I print this list or save it as a PDF?: Yes. The “Print the list” button at the top of the page opens your device’s print dialog: choose to save as PDF to keep the 100 words and their translation, with nothing else around them.