Here are TOP 10 polite words and phrases in Russian that everyone must know

1. Спасибо (SPASIBA) – Thank you
2. Пожалуйста (POZHALUSTA) – Welcome / Please
3. Извините (IZVINITIE) / простите (PROSTITIE) – Excuse me / I'm sorry
4. Ничего (NICHEVO) – That's OK (That's NOTHING)
5. Будьте добры (BUD'TIE DOBRY) – Would you be so kind
6. Извините, можно (мне)…? (IZVINITIE, MOZHNA MNIE) – Excuse me, can (I) have…
7. Извините, вы мне не поможете? (IZVINITIE, VY MNIE NIE POMOZHETIE) – Excuse me, could you help me?
8. Не могли бы вы мне помочь / показать… / дать… / принести… (NIE MOGLI BY VY MNIE POMOCH / POKAZAT' / DAT' / PRINIESTI) – Could you help me / show me… / give me… / bring me…
9. Дайте, пожалуйста, … (DAITIE POZHALUSTA) – Give me, please
10. Покажите, пожалуйста, … (POKAZHITIE POZHALUSTA) – Show me, please

Here is a bit of explanation of how to use some of these Russian words and expressions

Пожалуйста (POZHALUSTA) has two meanings: Welcome / Please. You might use it as an answer to "Спасибо" (Thank you) or when you ask for something: Дайте, пожалуйста, … (DAITIE POZHALUSTA) – Give me, please

Извините (IZVINITIE) and простите (PROSTITIE) have absolutely the same meaning. They are synonyms, which means you can use any whenever you want to say "Excuse me" or "I'm sorry" in Russian.

Ничего (NICHEVO) is a frequently used word that literally means "NOTHING". But we also use it as a reaction to Извините (IZVINITIE) / простите (PROSTITIE) in the meaning of "I'm sorry".

Будьте добры (BUD'TIE DOBRY) is a good phrase to start a request: Будьте добры, покажите этот магнит, пожалуйста – Would you be so kind and show me that magnet please


And one more tip of how to make your speech more polite in Russian

If you noticed, most of the Russian polite phrases, especially requests and proposals are negative. They all have НЕ in them. And we usually prefer to say "Don't you want an apple?" (Вы не хотите яблоко?) than to say "Do you want an apple?" (Вы хотите яблоко?)

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