How to Say Thank You in Russian

In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as follows: it is “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. Giving a sincere, thankful response to someone’s actions or words is often the ‘glue’ that keeps relationships together. This is true in most societies! Doing so in a foreign country also shows your respect and appreciation for the culture. Words have great power – use these ones sincerely and often!

Table of Contents

1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Russian
2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes
3. Infographic & Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You
4. Video Lesson: ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages
5. How RussianPod101 Can Help You

So, how do you say ‘Thank you’ in Russian? You can learn easily! Below, RussianPod101 brings you perfect translations and pronunciation as you learn the most common ways Russian speakers say ‘Thanks’ in various situations.

1. 12 Ways to say ‘Thank you’ in Russian

1- Thank you.

Спасибо.

Spasibo.

The magical words that can bring a smile to any face. For one day, truly mean it whenever you say these words, and see how this lifts your spirit too!

2- That’s very kind of you.

Это очень мило с Вашей стороны.

Eta ochen’ mila s Vashey starany.

This phrase is appropriate when someone clearly goes out of their way to give good service, or to offer you a kindness.

3- Thanks for your kind words!

Спасибо за добрые слова!

Spasiba za dobryye slava!

Someone paid you a compliment and made you feel good? That is kind of him/her, so express your gratitude!

4- Thank you for coming today.

Спасибо за то, что пришли сегодня.

Spasiba za to, shto prishli sevodnya.

This welcoming phrase should be part of your arsenal if you’re conducting more formal meetings with Russian speakers. If you’re hosting a party, this is also a good phrase when you greet your Russian guests!

5- Thank you for your consideration.

Спасибо, что уделили внимание.

Spasiba, shto udelili vnimaniye.

This is a more formal, almost solemn way to thank someone for their thoughtfulness and sensitivity towards you. It is also suitable to use when a native speaker has to consider something you submit, like a job application, a project or a proposal. You are thanking them, in essence, for time and effort they are about to, or have spent on your submission.

6- Thanks a lot!

Большое спасибо!

Bal’shoye spasiba!

This means the same as ‘Thank you’, but with energy and enthusiasm added! It means almost the same as ‘thank you so much’ in Russian. Use this in an informal setting with your Russian friends or teachers.

7- Teachers like you are not easy to find.

Такого учителя, как Вы, непросто найти.

Takova uchitelya, kak Vy, neprosta nayti.

Some phrases are compliments, which express gratitude by inference. This is one of them. If you’re particularly impressed with your RussianPod101 teacher, this is an excellent phrase to memorize!

8- Thank you for spending time with us.

Спасибо, что уделили нам время.

Spasiba, shto udelili nam vremya.

Any host at a gathering with Russian speakers, such as a meeting or a party, should have this under his/her belt! Use it when you’re saying goodbye or busy closing a meeting. It could also be another lovely way to thank your Russian language teacher for her time.

9- Thank you for being patient and helping me improve.

Благодарю Вас за терпение и за то, что помогаете мне становиться лучше.

Blagadaryu Vas za terpeniye i za to, shto pamagayete mne stanavitsa luchshe.

This phrase is another sure way to melt any formal or informal Russian teacher’s heart! Teaching is not easy, and often a lot of patience is required from the teacher. Thank him/her for it! It’s also a good phrase to use if you work in Russia, and want to thank your trainer or employer. You will go a long way towards making yourself a popular employee – gratitude is the most attractive trait in any person!

10- You’re the best teacher ever!

Вы самый лучший учитель!

Vy samyy luchshyy uchitel’!

This is also an enthusiastic way to thank your teacher by means of a compliment. It could just make their day!

11- Thank you for the gift.

Спасибо за подарок.

Spasiba za padarak.

This is a good phrase to remember when you’re the lucky recipient of a gift. Show your respect and gratitude with these words.

12- I have learned so much thanks to you.

Я так много узнал благодаря Вам.

Ya tak mnoga uznal blagadarya Vam.

What a wonderful compliment to give a good teacher! It means they have succeeded in their goal, and you’re thankful for it.

2. Video Lesson: Learn to Say ‘Thank You’ in 3 Minutes

Wherever your destination maybe, manners are a must! And in this respect, Russia is no different.

1- спасибо. Spasiba
In Russian “Thank you” is spasiba. Now in Russian there are other ways to express one’s gratitude. There are more formal and more casual ways to do this.

2- Большое спасибо. Bol’shoye spasibo
You can emphasize spasiba by adding bol’shoy which means “big”. Bol’shoy spasibo literally means “Big thank you” and is the equivalent of “Thank you very much” in English.

3- Благодарю Вас. Blagadaryu vas
For very special occasions when someone goes above and beyond the call of being kind, when someone is extremely generous, or for any other time you’re extremely grateful, we have the following phrase to express extreme gratitude: Blagadaryu vas. The first word blagadaryu means “(I am) thankful.” It is followed by the polite “you” which in Russian is vy but in this sentence we use vas. So in English it would be something like “I am grateful (thankful) to you”.

To reproduce the Russian consonant “r” in blagadaryu you should roll your “r”‘s. The Russian “r” resembles the Italian or Spanish ones, but even if you don’t roll it properly you will be easily understood anyway.

Cultural Insights

Please do know that in Russian there are two ways of referring to people: formal and informal.

So let’s start first with the polite form. The polite equivalent of the English “you” is vy in Russian. This polite word contains a sound that does not exist in English and is transcribed by the letter “y” but please don’t worry; I will teach you how to produce this sound. Open your mouth as if you were preparing to pronounce the sound “a” in the word “able” and holding the same open position of your mouth try to reproduce the sound “ee” like in the word “if”. Doing it this way you will achieve the desired sound “y” which is present in vy. Please note the same letter “y” will be also used to show the short “ee” sound and after some consonants in order to soften them.

We use vy when we want to show respect to the other person or when the context requires formality. For instance, when meeting someone for the first time, at a shop, at work, with a professor, or with an older person. However, vy is not always required when you meet someone for the first time if the setting is casual, say at a party with people of your own age.

Younger people, especially, are using vy less and less.They often speak directly inty with each other and even their grandparents. So ty is the informal equivalent of “you”.The sound “y” here is the same as vy. We use ty in contexts where we know the person personally and the environment is casual. People of one’s own age, classmates, family, and friends are such people. At home, at school, friendly social settings are such contexts. Ty is the most common form of “you” that you will hear, so don’t feel nervous about using it.

Not many Russians know that the origin of the word spasiba came from two words, spasi which means “save” and Bog which means “God”. So the meaning of it is “May God keep you safe!” which was an old way of expressing gratitude. So surprise your Russian friends by asking them the origin of the word spasiba!

On the run to Russia? Wait! You can’t go without some basic language phrases under your belt! Especially if you’re heading to meet your prospective employer! Either in person or online, knowing how to say ‘Thank you’ in the Russian language will only improve their impression of you! RussianPod101 saves you time with this short lesson that nevertheless packs a punch. Learn to say ‘Thank you’ in Russian in no time!

3. Audio Lesson: Survival Phrases – Thank You

Perhaps you think it’s unimportant that you don’t know what ‘Thank you’ is in Russian, or that it’s too difficult a language to learn. Yet, as a traveler or visitor, you will be surprised at how far you can go using a little bit of Russian in Russia!

Click Here to Listen to the Free Audio Lesson!

At RussianPod101, we offer you a few ways of saying ‘Thank you’ in Russian that you have no excuse not knowing, as they’re so simple and easy to learn. The lesson is geared to aid your ‘survival’ in formal and informal situations in Russia, so don’t wait! You will never have to google ‘How do you say thanks in Russian’ again…!

4. ‘Thank You’ in 31 Languages

For the global traveler in a hurry, here are 31 ways to say ‘Thank you’! These are the first words you need to learn in any foreign language – it is sure to smooth your way with native speakers by showing your gratitude for services rendered, and your respect for their culture! Learn and know how to correctly say ‘Thank you’ in 31 different languages in this short video.

5. Why would RussianPod101 be the perfect choice to learn Russian?

However, you need not stop at ‘Thank you’ in Russian – why not learn to speak the language?! You have absolutely nothing to lose. Research has shown that learning a new language increases intelligence and combats brain-aging. Also, the ability to communicate with native speakers in their own language is an instant way to make friends and win respect! Or imagine you know how to write ‘Thank you’ to that special Russian friend after a date…he/she will be so impressed!

RussianPod101 Has Special Lessons, Tools and Resources to Teach You How to Say Thank You and Other Key Phrases

With more than a decade of experience behind us, we have taught thousands of satisfied users to speak foreign languages. How do we do this? First, we take the pain out of learning! At RussianPod101, students are assisted as they master vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation through state-of-the-art and fun online learning methods. A library replete with learning resources allows for you to learn at your own pace and in your own space! Resources include thousands of video and audio recordings, downloadable PDF lessons and plenty of learning apps for your mobile devices. Each month, we add benefits with FREE bonuses and gifts to improve your experience.

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