How to Say "Hello, How Are You?" in Russian

Formal / Polite (to strangers, elders, groups):

Здравствуйте, как у вас дела?
Zdravstvuyte, kak u vas dela?
[ZDRAHST-vooy-teh, kak oo vahs dye-LAH?]

Informal (friends, family, peers):

Привет, как дела?
Privet, kak dela?
[pree-VYET, kak dye-LAH?]

Pronunciation Breakdown (Formal)

• Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte) — "ZDRAHST-vooy-teh" (the 'v' is barely pronounced; first 't' soft).
• как (kak) — "kahk".
• у (u) — "oo".
• вас (vas) — "vahs".
• дела? (dela?) — "dye-LAH?" (stress on last syllable).

Cultural Notes

• Russians often answer honestly ("Normal'no," "Plokho," "Ochen' khorosho") — not just "Fine."
• Use formal with anyone older, in authority, or unknown. Switch to informal only if invited ("Davay na 'ty'").
• Time-specific greetings: Dobroye utro (Good morning), Dobryy den' (Good day), Dobryy vecher (Good evening).