How to Use Essential Social Expressions

Learn how to use essential social expressions

Dialogue

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do Russian by RussianPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use essential social expressions in Russian.

For example, "Excuse me" is

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Marina Maslova is on the train. A fellow passenger drops his wallet as he exits the train. Marina picks up the wallet and chases after the man.

Before you listen to the dialogue, let's preview some of its key components.

Извините (Izvinite)

"Excuse me" or "sorry" depending on the context

Извините

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

"You're welcome."

Пожалуйста.

Спасибо. (Spasibo.)

"Thank you."

Спасибо.

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

"It's no problem."

Ничего страшного.

Listen to the following three short dialogues between Marina and the man.

Ready?

Marina is chasing the man on the platform with the wallet in her hand.

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Да? (Da?)

Marina hands the wallet to the man.

Спасибо! (Spasibo!)

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

Marina turns to board the train, but the doors shut.

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

Once more with the English translation.

Извините. (Izvinite.)

"Excuse me."

Да? (Da?)

"Yes?"

Спасибо! (Spasibo!)

"Thank you!"

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

"You're welcome."

Извините (Izvinite).

"I'm sorry…"

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

"No problem."

Let's break down the conversation.

First, do you remember how Marina Maslova says,

"Excuse me."

Извините. (Izvinite.)

In this context, извините (izvinite) is used to get someone's attention, and translates as "Excuse me." Извините .

Извините. (Izvinite.)

This is a formal expression. Marina uses it because she’s speaking with someone she doesn’t know.

Note: This expression can also be used as a mild apology, but here Marina uses it to get the attention of the person she’s chasing after.

Do you remember how the passenger acknowledges Marina by saying,

"Yes?"

Да? (Da?)

"Yes?" Да? .

Да? (Da?)

The second part of the conversation takes place after Marina returns the passenger’s wallet.

Do you remember how the passenger says,

"Thank you."

Спасибо! (Spasibo!)

"Thank you!" Спасибо!

Спасибо! (Spasibo!)

To add more emphasis to your appreciation, you could say, спасибо большое (spasibo bol'shoye), literally, "thanks big," but translates as "Thank you very much." Спасибо большое. This expression is used throughout Russia.

Do you remember how Marina says,

"You’re welcome."

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

"You're welcome."

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.) .

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

"You’re welcome" is one of the most common translations, but this is a versatile phrase that can be used in multiple situations with many translations. So you will come into contact with it a lot.

After the train doors shut and Marina misses her train, do you remember how the passenger apologies to Marina by saying,

"I’m sorry…"

Извините… (Izvinite...)

In this context, Извините… (Izvinite...), means "I’m sorry…"

Извините… (Izvinite...)

The passenger feels responsible for Marina missing her train and is apologizing.

The meaning of Извините (Izvinite) depends on context.

Do you remember how Marina replies,

"It’s no problem."

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

This starts with Ничего (nichego), meaning "nothing." Ничего . Ничего.

Next is страшного (strashnogo), which means "terrible." Страшного . Страшного.

Страшного (Strashnogo) is from страшный (strashnyy), meaning "terrible." Страшный (Strashnyy).

Together, ничего страшного (nichego strashnogo) literally means "Nothing terrible," but it translates as "It’s no problem," or "No problem."

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

This is a common phrase used to express that things are alright.

Извини (izvini) is the informal form of извините (izvinite).

Извини (Izvini). "Excuse me." Извини . Извини.

Извини (Izvini) is used in informal situations, such as when speaking with people of similar age and social status.

Both Извини (izvini) and извините (izvinite) are from the verb извинить (izvinit’), which means "to excuse," or "to forgive." Извинить (Izvinit’).

Instead of извините (izvinite) you may also hear Russians say прошу прощения (proshu proshcheniya), "Sorry," and простите (prostite), "Sorry." All three phrases mean the same thing, and can be used as a mild apology.

Additionally, Russians use мне очень жаль (mne ochen’ zhal’), "I'm sorry." Мне очень жаль.

Let’s look at the expressions once more. Listen and repeat, or speak along.

Извините. (Izvinite.)

"Excuse me."

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Да? (Da?)

"Yes?"

Да? (Da?)

Спасибо. (Spasibo.)

"Thank you."

Спасибо. (Spasibo.)

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

"You're welcome."

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

Извините. (Izvinite.)

"I'm sorry…"

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

"No problem."

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember how Marina Maslova says,

"Excuse me."

Извините. (Izvinite.)

And how the passenger says,

"Yes?"

Да? (Da?)

Do you remember how to say

"Thank you."

Спасибо! (Spasibo!)

And how to say

"You’re welcome."

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

Do you remember how the passenger says,

"I'm sorry."

Извините... (Izvinite…)

And how Marina says,

"It’s no problem."

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Milena Maslova , and you receive a popular Russian candy from your Russian teacher.

Say, "Thank you."

Ready?

Спасибо. (Spasibo.)

Пожалуйста. (Pozhaluysta.)

Listen again and repeat.

Спасибо. (Spasibo.)

Let's try another.

Imagine you're Miroslav Maslov , and a passenger bumps into you.

Respond by saying, "It's no problem."

Ready?

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

Listen again and repeat.

Ничего страшного. (Nichego strashnogo.)

Let's try one more.

Imagine you're Miroslav Maslov , and you see a man drop his wallet.

Get his attention.

Ready?

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Да? (Da?)

Listen again and repeat.

Извините. (Izvinite.)

Well done! This is the end of the lesson and the Can Use Essential Social Expressions unit of this course.

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