Start with вы
Use вы with any adult you don't know. Ты comes later, by agreement: Дава́йте на ты?
Знако́мство Meeting people
Unit 1 of 12 · A1. How to do it, ask and answer, listen first, speak, write, checkpoint: about 40 minutes.
By the end of this unit you can
- introduce myself and ask someone's name
- ask and answer where someone is from and what they do
- keep a first conversation going with one question back
How to do it
Four habits of a good conversation in this situation. Read them first; they come back in every part below.
The 1-2-3 answer
Answer, add one detail, ask back: Я из Торо́нто. Э́то большо́й го́род. А вы отку́да? A one-word answer ends a conversation; a question back keeps it alive.
Say the name back
Russians say О́чень прия́тно with the name: О́чень прия́тно, А́нна. It also helps you remember it.
If you missed it
Извини́те, как вас зову́т? Повтори́те, пожа́луйста. Asking twice is normal; guessing is not.
Ask and answer
Questions you will hear or ask, with a natural answer. Read each pair aloud; the listen button says it with your device's Russian voice.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
Как вас зову́т? What's your name? | Меня́ зову́т Марк. А вас? My name is Mark. And you? |
О́чень прия́тно! Nice to meet you! | Мне то́же о́чень прия́тно. Nice to meet you too. |
Отку́да вы? Where are you from? | Я из Торо́нто. А вы? I'm from Toronto. And you? |
Где вы живёте? Where do you live? | Я живу́ в Москве́, в це́нтре. I live in Moscow, in the centre. |
Кто вы по профе́ссии? What do you do? | Я инжене́р. Я рабо́таю в большо́й компа́нии. I'm an engineer. I work in a big company. |
Вы говори́те по-ру́сски? Do you speak Russian? | Немно́го. Я учу́ ру́сский уже́ год. A little. I've been learning Russian for a year. |
Как дела́? How are you? | Хорошо́, спаси́бо. А у вас? Fine, thanks. And you? |
Дава́йте на ты? Shall we use ты? | Дава́й! Let's! |
Повтори́те, пожа́луйста. Please repeat. | Коне́чно. Меня́ зову́т А́нна. Of course. My name is Anna. |
Вы здесь впервы́е? Is this your first time here? | Да, я то́лько прие́хал. Yes, I've just arrived. |
Listen first
Hide the text, play the lines with the listen buttons and answer the questions. Then show the text and read the dialogue aloud.
| Марк | Здра́вствуйте! Меня́ зову́т Марк. |
| А́нна | О́чень прия́тно, Марк. Я А́нна. |
| Марк | О́чень прия́тно, А́нна. Отку́да вы? |
| А́нна | Я из Каза́ни, но живу́ в Москве́. А вы? |
| Марк | Я из Торо́нто. Я инжене́р. А вы кто по профе́ссии? |
| А́нна | Я учи́тельница. Вы хорошо́ говори́те по-ру́сски! |
| Марк | Спаси́бо! Я учу́ ру́сский то́лько год. |
| А́нна | Дава́йте на ты? — Дава́й! |
Did you understand?
Speak
Shadow it: play one line, pause, say it back at the same speed; then take the other part. Role-play: say your three moves aloud, in Russian, before you read any model.
At a party, a friend introduces you to someone new.
- Greet, give your name and ask theirs.
- Ask where they are from and what they do.
- React to the answer and say what you do.
Your first day at a new office. A colleague comes over.
- Introduce yourself with вы.
- Ask what they do in the company.
- Suggest switching to ты, if it feels right.
Record and compare. Record yourself saying your part, listen back, and compare with the model lines above.
Nothing is uploaded: the recording stays on this device until you leave the page.
Write
Write a first conversation of six lines between you and a new neighbour: names, where you are both from, what you do.
A model dialogue
— Здра́вствуйте! Я ваш но́вый сосе́д. Меня́ зову́т Марк.
— О́чень прия́тно, Марк. Я О́льга. Отку́да вы?
— Я из Торо́нто. А вы здесь давно́ живёте?
— Да, уже́ де́сять лет. Кто вы по профе́ссии?
— Я инжене́р. А вы?
— Я врач. Е́сли что, обраща́йтесь!
Checkpoint
Be honest: Almost and Not yet send you back to the right part, and the unit counts as done only when you say so.
I can introduce myself and ask someone's name.
I can ask and answer where someone is from and what they do.
I can keep a first conversation going with one question back.