Lesson 01 - Как дела? / How are you?

Как дела? / How are you?

Lesson Audio

Transcript

Как дела?

  1. Здравствуй!
  2. Привет!
  3. Как дела?
  4. Отлично, спасибо.
  5. У тебя есть планы на сегодня?
  6. Да. Я собираюсь встретиться с друзьями.
  7. Можно я тоже приду?
  8. Это было бы прекрасно!

Grammar Notes

  • In Russian, there is a formal and informal way to greet someone. In English, this would be like "hello" vs. "hi." In Russian, the formal "hello" is actually "здрáвствуйте." In the dialogue, "здрáвствуй" is used, which is semi-formal.
  • This is the informal way of greeting someone, and similar to "hi."
  • The expression "Как дела́?" literally translates to "how things?" or "how are things?" (See the note below for more detail.) This expression is commonly used to ask how someone is doing.
  • In Russian, the verb "быть" ("to be") never appears in the present tense. When answering the question "How are you?" "I" is often skipped in Russian. "Thank you" is one word in Russian — "спаси́бо."
  • Russian does not make extensive use of helping verbs as English does.
  • In this sentence, the Russian preposition "с" means "with." It is used to refer to other people, friends. The word for friends in Russian is "друзья́." The suffix "–ми" is added due to the Russian instrumental case.
  • The Russian word "то́же" means "too" or "also." It may also be used to mean "at the same time" but only if two people are doing something together. If one person is doing two things at the same time, the word "та́кже" is used.
  • "Бы́ло бы" is the conditional form. To construct a conditional sentence, use the verb in past tense and "бы." This form is used to express the condition in the past as well as in the future.

Lesson Vocabulary

  • Здра́вствуй! = hello (formal)
  • Привéт! = hi (informal)
  • как = how
  • как делá = how are you
  • отли́чно = excellent
  • спаси́бо = thank you
  • есть = have
  • у тебя́ есть = do you have
  • плáны = plans
  • cегóдня = today
  • встрéчусь = meet
  • друзья́ми = friends
  • с друзья́ми = with some friends
  • встрéчусь с друзья́ми = meet some friends
  • мóжно = can
  • приду́ = come
  • тóже = too
  • бы́ло = would
  • бы́ло бы = would be
  • прекрáсно = great

Translation

How are you?

  1. Hello!
  2. Hi!
  3. How are you?
  4. I'm fine, thank you.
  5. Do you have plans today?
  6. Yes. I'm going to meet some friends.
  7. Can I come, too?
  8. That would be great!

Translation (Literal)

How are you?

  1. Hello!
  2. Hi!
  3. How [are] things? (How are you?)
  4. [I am] Excellent, thank you.
  5. [Do] You have plans on [for] today?
  6. Yes. I [am] going [to] meet with [some] friends.
  7. Can I too сome? (Can I also come?)
  8. That would be great!

Cultural Notes

01 – Greetings with a Host

The host will be happy to have you visit and will most certainly initiate some form of non-verbal greeting, such as a handshake. Just beware that greeting across the threshold is taboo as well as giving something through it. There are many explanations to that, from the existence of the mythical “домовой” who protects the home and dwells at the threshold and therefore shouldn’t be disturbed, to the belief in the precepts of forefathers and the idea that the threshold is the border between two worlds. However, most of Russians won’t be able to explain the reason why but everyone knows about this taboo and believes that breaking it will bring a bad luck incident. Once you're inside, be sure to remove your gloves before shaking hands. However, handshakes are not compulsory. Your host or hostess may initiate a hug or maybe just a nod. Follow their lead and avoid embarrassment.

If you're a man and don't know your host's wife well, greeting with words or a handshake will suffice, but keep in mind that in Russia handshakes are not that common between a man and a woman. Don't give her a hug or a kiss unless she's a close friend of yours. In addition, avoid kissing women and children on the forehead, as this act is reserved for funerals.

As you enter the home, be sure to remove your shoes. Your host may or may not offer you a pair of slippers, so feel free to bring slippers, suitable indoor shoes or presentable socks.

Always bring a gift, but nothing too expensive on the first meeting; it's important to give gifts that can be reciprocated. If there are children, be sure to bring sweets. Wine or whiskey are suitable gifts for the host, cake and chocolates are very common gifts to bring or even some good quality tea or coffee. It's not typical to bring Russian vodka. If you are visiting as a foreigner, bring something exotic, common in the country you are coming from, gifts from duty free are always welcomed.

Complete and Continue  
Discussion

3 comments