When you’re just starting to learn Russian, some of the first and most common conversations you’ll have in Russian will require you to introduce yourself. This is a useful skill for making Russian friends, travelling to Russia or taking classes in Russian.
Become a master at introducing yourself in Russian with a few common questions and sentence starters. These simple phrases will give you confidence in your early Russian conversations.
Russian Greetings
A greeting is the first thing we do when we approach someone. In Russian, you need to decide whether this person should be addressed formally or informally.
Formal Russian Greeting
Здравствуйте Hello; How do you do
zdrAst-vooy-tye
Use this Russian greeting to formally say hello (or how do you do? ) if you’re addressing someone you don’t know, especially if they are older than you. Using an informal greeting at the wrong time is often viewed as very inappropriate.
Informal Russian Greeting
Привет Hi
privYEt
Use this common Russian greeting to informally say hi amongst friends and family or colleagues of similar age and status.
Saying Your Name in Russian
Learning how to say your name is an essential aspect of Russian introductions. There are a couple of ways to say your name in Russian.
1/ Меня зовут … My name’s … (lit. They call me …)
minYA zavOOt
Меня зовут Анна
My name’s Anna
Saying меня зовут is the most common way to introduce yourself in Russian. It is suitable for both formal and informal situations.
2/ Я … I’m … (your name)
ya
Another common way to say "my name is" in Russian: я followed by your name. It’s great for everyday situations.
Я Анна
I’m Anna
3/ Давайте познакомимся Let's introduce ourselves
davAI-tye paznakOmimsya
Use this useful Russian phrase as a friendly way to suggest making introductions. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings.
Здравствуйте! Давайте познакомимся. Меня зовут Анна, а вас?
Hello! Let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Anna, and you are?
When used in an informal setting, change it to:
Давай познакомимся Let's introduce ourselves
daVAI paznakOmimsya
Привет! Давай познакомимся. Меня зовут Анна, а тебя? Hi! Let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Анна, and you are?
Saying Where You’re From in Russian
As you continue introducing yourself in Russian, it’s common to say where you’re from. You may hear a question:
Откуда вы? Where are you from?
atkUda vy
To answer, use these examples:
1/ Я из … I’m from … (country/city)
ya iz
Use this phrase to share what country/city you’re from.
Я из Британии
I’m from Britain
Я из Рима
I’m from Rome
Я из will be followed by nouns in the Genitive Case.
2/ Я … I’m (nationality)
ya
You can also state your nationality instead of the country you’re from.
Я британец (m.)
I’m British
Я британка (f.)
I’m British
Choose your Nominative Case endings wisely as they are gender-related.
3/ Я живу в … I live in … (country/city)
ya zhivOO v
You can also mention where you're residing now.
Сейчас я живу в Британии
I’m now living in Britain
Я живу в … will be followed by nouns in the Prepositional Case.
Mentioning Your Education in Russian
As you keep chatting, you may hear this question:
Вы учитесь или работаете? Do you study or work?
vy Uchites' ili rabOtayete
If you're still a student, these Russian phrases will be useful to describe where and what you’re studying.
1/ Я студент I’m a student
ya studYEnt
2/ Я учусь в … I study at …
ya uchUs' v
Some Russian words related to where you study:
В школе at school
В колледже at college
В университете at university
Я учусь в … will be followed by nouns in the Prepositional Case.
3/ Я изучаю … I'm studying
ya izuchAyu
Some Russian words related to what you study:
Экономику Economics
Финансы Finance
Бизнес-менеджмент Business Management
Международные отношения International Relations
Журналистику Journalism
Юриспруденцию Law
Медицину Medicine
Биологию Biology
Психологию Psychology
Информационные технологии Information Technology
Историю History
Философию Philosophy
Искусство Art
Лингвистику Linguistics
Иностранные языки Foreign Languages
Я изучаю will be followed by nouns in the Accusative Case.
Я учусь в университете и изучаю иностранные языки
I'm studying at university and learning foreign languages
If you're no longer a student, but you want to mention your educational background, use the Russian verb изучать in the past tense:
Изучал (m) or изучала (f) studied
Я изучала иностранные языки в университете
I studied foreign languages at a university
Stating Your Profession in Russian
1/ Я … I’m … (your profession)
Put a Russian word for your profession/occupation after the pronoun я.
Some Russian words related to profession/occupation:
Доктор Doctor
Медсестра Nurse
Учитель Teacher - m.
Учительница Teacher- f.
Бухгалтер Accountant
Парикмахер Hairdresser
Инженер Engineer
Программист Programmer
Водитель Driver
Писатель Writer - m.
Писательница Writer - f.
Переводчик Translator - m.
Переводчица Translator - f.
Журналист Journalist - m.
Журналистка Journalist - f.
Художник Artist/Painter - m.
Художница Artist/Painter - f.
Дизайнер Designer
Иллюстратор Illustrator
Фотограф Photographer
Пилот Pilot
Космонавт Astronaut
Повар Chef
Актёр Actor
Актриса Actress
Музыкант Musician
Певец Singer - m.
Певица Singer - f.
Кассир Cashier
Учёный Scientist
Танцор Dancer - m.
Танцовщица Dancer - f.
Фитнес-инструктор Fitness Instructor
Менеджер по продажам Sales Manager
Менеджер по закупкам Purchasing Manager
Менеджер по маркетингу Marketing Manager
Ассистент по маркетингу Marketing Assistant
Директор по логистике Logistics Director
2/ Я работаю в … I work in …
ya rabOtayu v
Some Russian words related to where you work:
В больнице in/ at a hospital
В ресторане in/ at a restaurant
В школе in/ at a school
В банке in/ at a bank
В международной компании in/ at an international company
В рекламном агентстве in/ at an advertising agency
В дизайнерском агентстве in/ at a design agency
В магазине одежды in/ at a clothing store
В магазине продуктов in/ at a grocery shop
В торговом центре in/ at a shopping centre
Я работаю в will be followed by nouns in the Prepositional Case.
Я менеджер по маркетингу и работаю в международной компании
I'm a marketing manager and working at an international company
Describing Interests & Hobbies in Russian
It’s always nice to introduce what you like to do in your свободное время free time to let people know more about you. It’s common to share information about your hobbies and interests in Russia.
You may hear this question:
Чем вы увлекаетесь в свободное время? What do you like to do in your free time?
chem vy uvlyekAyetes' v svabOdnaye vrYEmya
To answer use:
Мне нравится … I like …
mnye nrAvitsa
Я люблю … I love ...
ya lyublYU
Use Мне нравится or Я люблю with these Russian verbs related to hobbies & interests:
Путешествовать Travelling
Ходить в походы Hiking
Готовить Cooking
Заниматься садоводством Gardening
Танцевать Dancing
Ходить в кино Going to the cinema
Ходить в театр Going to the theatre
Проводить время с друзьями Hanging out with friends
Играть в шахматы Playing chess
Заниматься спортом Doing sports
Смотреть Netflix Watching Netflix
Слушать музыку Listening to music
Играть в музыкальной группе Playing in a band
Играть на гитаре Playing the guitar
Играть на скрипке Playing the violin
Играть на пианино Playing the piano
Рисовать Drawing
Читать Reading
Играть в компьютерные игры Playing computer games
Ходить на прогулки Go walking
Фотографировать Taking photographs
В свободное время мне нравится путешествовать
In my free time, I like travelling
Here are some Russian nouns related to hobbies & interests:
Астрономия Astronomy
Веб-дизайн Website design
Рисование Drawing
Йога Yoga
Балет Ballet
Футбол Football
Японский язык Japanese language
Японская кухня Japanese cuisine
Русская кухня Russian cuisine
Французская кухня French cuisine
Итальянская кухня Italian cuisine
Use these nouns in the Nominative Case after the verb мне нравится:
Мне нравится русская кухня
I like Russian cuisine
The verb мне нравится can be used in the plural form:
Мне нравятся русская и японская кухни
I like Russian and Japanese cuisines
Use these nouns in the Accusative Case after the verb я люблю:
Я люблю астрономию
I love astronomy
Я люблю русскую и японскую кухню
I love Russian and Japanese cuisines
Use these nouns in the Instrumental Case after the verb
я увлекаюсь I’m into
ya uvlyekAyus'
Я увлекаюсь балетом
I'm into ballet
Я увлекаюсь йогой
I'm into yoga
At this point in your conversation why not suggest:
Давайте на ты? Shall we address each other informally
Да, конечно Yes, sure
This is how you can make the question about hobbies/ interests sound informal:
Чем ты увлекаешься в свободное время? What do you like to do in your free time?
chem ty uvlyekAyeshsya v svabOdnaye vrYEmya
In this Russian lesson, you’ve learned how to introduce yourself in Russian, from greeting to talking about your job and interests.
Do you feel ready to introduce yourself to your new Russian friends, colleagues or business partners? What would you ask?
A good exercise is to write down your introduction and tell as much as you want about yourself. Following the tips from this Russian lesson, you already have everything you need to write a great introduction.
But if you want to go further - you can always practise introducing yourself to me, your private tutor and get personalised feedback and advice! Sign up for a free Russian lesson today.
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