How Do You Say Thank You in Russian?

Have you ever wondered how to say thank you in Russian? Well, you've come to the right place! The Russian language is a beautiful and intricate one, and saying thank you is just the tip of the iceberg. While "Спасибо" is the most common way to express your gratitude, there's a whole world of other options waiting to be explored. Here, we'll not only explore the different ways to say thank you in Russian, but we'll also provide you with responses to those heartfelt expressions of gratitude. So, whether you're looking to master the art of saying thank you in Russian or simply want to broaden your linguistic horizons, you're in for a treat.

How Do You Say Thanks in Russian?

If you’ve ever looked up how to say thank you in Russian, you’ve probably been met with the most common response— Спасибо. While this is one way to say thank you in Russia, it’s far from your only option. For some variety, consider the following 17 different options to say thank you in Russian.

1. Спасибо — Thanks/Thank you

As we mentioned, Спасибо is the most common way to say thanks in Russian. It’s a shortened version of Спаси Бог, which actually translates to “God save you.” Regardless, even with its simplicity, this can be used in both very formal settings and very informal ones.

2. Спасибки — Cheers

If you’re looking for something a little more informal, you can say Спасибки. This is often reserved for those conversations among close friends but is still considered an affectionate way of saying thank you in Russian. Just avoid it in formal settings or with your waitress, as it’s kind of like the equivalent of baby talk.

3. Спасибочки — Thank you very much

If you want to say thank you very much in Russian, you’d simply say Спасибочки. However, its direct translation technically means “little thank yous,” which makes it similar to baby-talk in a way. Therefore, reserve this for your close friends and family and avoid it in more professional situations.

4. Большое спасибо — Thank you very much

This is another option to say thank you very much in Russian. However, this option directly translates to “a big thank you” and is more appropriate to use in most situations. It can be used both formally and informally and is considered an extremely common way to give thanks in Russian.

5. Огромное спасибо — Thank you so much

Directly translated as “a massive thank you,” this Russian phrase is used to say, “Thank you so much.” It shows more gratitude than basic options to say thank you in Russia and can be used in almost any social setting. The only time to forego this instead of something more formal would be on official occasions.

6. Спасибо за помощь — Thanks for your help

After someone helps you with something, you can say Спасибо за помощь. This is an informal way of saying, “Thanks for your help,” and can be used after someone does you a favor or helps you with something you were struggling with.

7. Благодарю Bac— I thank you

This directly translates to, “I offer you blessings,” but it’s often used as a way to say, “I thank you” or “I am grateful.” Although it’s not as common among younger generations, you’ll hear it quite frequently from those who are a bit older. If you hear it from someone a bit younger, be wary, as they might be using it ironically!

8. Благодарствую — I thank you

Another way to say “I thank you” is with Благодарствую. This also translates to, “I offer you blessings,” but it’s not heard too often. It sounds a bit older and a little archaic, but some Russian native speakers still use it ironically.

9. Благодарю от всей души — I am very grateful/thank you so much

Want to express a bit more gratitude while being more expressive? Use this phrase. It directly translates to “I thank you with my whole soul,” but can be used to say, “I am very grateful” or “Thank you so much.” Although it’s not often used, it’s still one way to say thanks in Russian formal and informal situations.

10. Спасибо от всего сердца и души — Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul

When you want to truly express your gratitude, you can use this phrase. It’s a way to say thank you in Russian that translates to, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul.” It can be used both formally and informally.

11. Я очень обязан Вам — I am in your debt

In situations where you want to let people know that you will return the favor of helping them when in need, you can use this phrase. It’s translated to, “I am in your debt” or “I owe you!”

12. Это очень мило —That’s very kind of you

Although this directly translates to, “That’s very nice,” it’s a way to say, “That’s very kind of you” or “You’re very kind.” It’s often reserved for situations when you want to thank someone for doing something nice for you or for providing you with a service.

13. Вы очень добры — You are very kind

This one literally translates to the same thing it means—you are very kind. Although it’s practically the same expression as Это очень мило, this is more of a way to say thank you in formal Russian. You can use it in settings where you don’t know the person well or if you want to address someone respectfully.

14. Я ценю вашу помощь — I appreciate your help

When you want to tell someone that you appreciate their help, use this phrase. It both literally and directly translates to, “I appreciate your help” and is used in the same way English speakers say it.

15. Я очень благодарен — I am very grateful

This is a great option if you want to say thank you in formal Russian situations. It shows that you are extremely grateful for their help with a personal touch without being too informal.

16. Моё почтение — My regards

Another formal option is to say, Моё почтение. It’s similar to saying “My respects” in English, but is considered one of the more outdated ways to say thank you in Russian.

17. Я этого никогда не забуду — I will never forget this

Finally, if someone does something that you can’t even begin to thank them enough, this is the phrase for you. It basically translates to, “I will never forget this” and is a way to say thank you in Russian after someone has done something so incredibly kind for you.

Responding to Thank You in Russia

Of course, if you’re on the receiving end of Спасибо, you’ll want to be able to respond appropriately by saying you’re welcome. To help you practice saying thank you very much in Russian and then answering warmly, download Tandem and match with a native speaker today. In the meantime, practice your pronunciation with the following responses to various Russian thank yous.

пожалуйста — You’re welcome

This is the basic way to respond to someone saying thank you in Russia. It simply means, “You’re welcome.” It can be used in both formal and informal settings for all situations

не за что — It’s nothing

In situations where helping someone was really no big deal or didn’t really require much effort, you can respond with не за что, which means, “It’s nothing.” However, this should only be used with friends and family, as it’s fairly informal.

рад(a) помочь — Happy to help

Another option to say you’re welcome is рад(a) помочь. It’s used in the same way as in English, but it’s gendered based on the speaker. Therefore, if you identify as female and say it, you’ll want to add the (a) at the end.

To connect with native speakers and practice saying thank you in Russia’s native tongue, download Tandem today. With millions of members worldwide, you can match with a Russian speaker regardless of where you are. Having real-world conversations with like-minded individuals will help you build your skills, from basic Russian pronunciation to Russian slang words, Russian swear words, and more. With the holidays coming up, you can even learn a few Christmas and New Year greetings in Russian. Who knows, you might even make some lifelong friends along the way!

All you need to do is create a profile, match with a native speaker of your target language, and start communicating. Sign up for Tandem today to join our community and improve your fluency.