How to Say You're Welcome in Russian: Pronunciation and Examples

The most common way to say "you're welcome" in Russian is Пожалуйста (paZHAlusta), which originally meant "be merciful" or "be kind" and can also be used to mean "please" in modern Russian.

However, there are several other ways of saying "you're welcome" in Russian.

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Пожалуйста

Pronunciation: paZHAlusta / pZHAlstuh

Translation: you're welcome

Meaning: you're welcome, please

Пожалуйста is the easiest way to respond to a thank you in Russian. The word in its current form appeared in the middle of the 19th century, but its origins go much further back in Russian history. Пожалуй, a command form of the verb пожаловать, originally meant "give," "grant," or "have mercy." It was used when the speaker asked for a favor or a service.

It is thought that the current form, пожалуйста, appeared by combining the verb пожалуй and the particle ста, which could be an old Russian form of the verb стать - to become, or, in another version, a shortened form of the word сударь - Sir.

- Спасибо за помощь. - Пожалуйста
- spaSEEba za POmash. - paZHAlusta
- Thanks for your help. - You're welcome

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Пустяки

Pronunciation: pustiKEE

Translation: trifle

Meaning: not at all

This easy-going way of saying you're welcome can be used in any conversation, including formal and very informal. It can also be used in conjunction with Да (DAH), which adds a more informal tone to the expression:

Да пустяки - it's nothing, don't worry about it.

- Я так вам благодарен - Да пустяки!
- Ya TAK vam blagaDAryn - da pustyKEE!
- I'm so grateful - Not at all, it's nothing!

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Не за что

Pronunciation: NYE za shtuh

Translation: nothing (to thank) for

Meaning: Not at all

A very common way to say you're welcome, не за что has a neutral tone and can be used in most social settings. However, the expression has been experiencing a backlash in recent years, with fans of positive language declaring it to be too negative.

- Спасибо за гостеприимство - Не за что, приходите еще!
- spaSEEbuh za gastypriEEMstvuh - NYE za shtuh, prihaDEEty yeSHOH!
- Thank you for having us - Not at all, please come again!

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Не стоит благодарности

Pronunciation: ny STOeet blagaDARnasti

Translation: not worth any gratitude

Meaning: don't mention it, not at all

This is a polite way of saying you are welcome and can be used in more formal situations such as speaking to someone you don't know or in official settings.

- Огромное Вам спасибо за книгу - Не стоит благодарности
- agROMnaye VAM spaSEEbuh za KNEEgu - ny STOHeet blagaDARnasti
- Thank you so much for the book - Don't mention it

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Ерунда

Pronunciation: yeroonDAH

Translation: nonsense, nothing

Meaning: it's nothing, not at all

The word ерунда has a similar meaning as пустяки and is used in the same way when saying you're welcome in Russian. Although it is suitable for use in any occasion, the word is more popular with the well-spoken part of the Russian population.

- Спасибо, что помогли - Ерунда
- spaSEEbuh shto pamagLEE - yeroonDAH
- Thank you for your help - Not at all

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На здоровье

Pronunciation: na zdaROvye

Translation: to your health

Meaning: you are very welcome

While many non-Russian speakers mistakenly believe this expression to be a toast, на здоровье actually means you're welcome. It is used in a familiar and relaxed context, in conversations with friends or family, or when wishing to convey a particularly jovial mood.

- Спасибо! Да на здоровье!
- spaSEEbuh! da na zdaROvye!
- Thanks! You're very welcome!

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Рад / рада помочь

Pronunciation: RAD / RAda paMOCH

Translation: happy to help

Meaning: happy to help

Рад / рада помочь is a polite way to say you're welcome. It can be used in any context, formal or informal, and is a good way to let someone know that you genuinely enjoyed helping them.

- Я очень Вам благодарен - Рад помочь
- ya Ochen vam blagaDAren - RAD paMOCH
- I am so grateful - Happy to help

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Не проблема

Pronunciation: ny prabLYEma

Translation: not a problem

Meaning: no problem

This is a very informal expression, and although it is used very widely, the usage is limited to friends, family, or relaxed environment.

- Спасибо за звонок. - Да не проблема, все нормально
- spaSEEbuh za zvaNOK - da ny prabLYEma, vsyo narMAL'na
- Thank you for calling - No problem, it's fine

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Не вопрос

Pronunciation: ny vapROS

Translation: no question

Meaning: no problem, it's absolutely fine

Another informal expression, не вопрос is used interchangeably with не проблема, and is suitable for interacting with friends and family.

- Спасибо, что согласился помочь - Не вопрос
- Thank you for agreeing to help - No problem

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Было приятно Вам помочь

Pronunciation: Byla priYATna VAM paMOCH

Translation: it was nice / pleasant to help you

Meaning: happy to help

A very courteous way to say you're welcome, this expression is used in more formal situations.

- Благодарю - Было приятно Вам помочь
- BlagadaRYU - BYla priYATna vam paMOCH
- I'm grateful - Happy to help

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Nikitina, Maia. "How to Say You're Welcome in Russian: Pronunciation and Examples." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/how-to-say-you-re-welcome-in-russian-4691054. Nikitina, Maia. (2020, August 29). How to Say You're Welcome in Russian: Pronunciation and Examples. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-say-you-re-welcome-in-russian-4691054 Nikitina, Maia. "How to Say You're Welcome in Russian: Pronunciation and Examples." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-say-you-re-welcome-in-russian-4691054 (accessed April 20, 2021).