How to Say Please in Russian: Пожалуйста and When to Use It
In Russian, one word covers both "please" (in requests) and "you're welcome" (in response to thanks): пожалуйста. This dual meaning makes it one of the most important CEFR A1 words to master early on.
- How пожалуйста works as both "please" and "you're welcome"
- Where to place пожалуйста in a sentence
- Other polite expressions: будьте добры, не могли бы вы
- Quick tips for sounding polite in Russian
Пожалуйста (pozhaluysta) — Please / You're welcome
Пожалуйста means both "please" and "you're welcome" — context makes the meaning clear. Add it to any request to be polite, or use it as a reply to спасибо.
- Please: add it to a request to make it polite.
Дайте, пожалуйста, воду. — Give me water, please.
Пожалуйста, помогите. — Please help (formal). - You're welcome: use it as a reply to "thank you."
— Спасибо! — Пожалуйста. (— Thank you! — You're welcome.)
Pronunciation: pa-ZHAL-sta (the "уй" often sounds like a short "y" or is reduced). Stress on the second syllable.
Want to practise polite Russian phrases like пожалуйста with a native speaker? Book a free trial lesson and start using them naturally in conversation.
Where to Put Пожалуйста
You can put it at the start or end of the sentence (or in the middle):
- Пожалуйста, закройте окно. — Please close the window.
- Закройте окно, пожалуйста. — Close the window, please.
Both are correct and polite.
Other Ways to Sound Polite
- Будьте добры (bud'te dobry) / Будьте любезны (bud'te lyubezny) — Be so kind (formal).
Будьте добры, передайте соль. — Would you be so kind as to pass the salt. - Не могли бы вы…? (Ne mogli by vy…?) — Could you…? (formal).
Не могли бы вы помочь? — Could you help?
Getting the right tone for polite requests takes practice. Try our Russian lessons — every session includes real-life role-plays where you'll use пожалуйста naturally with a native teacher.
Quick Tips
- Пожалуйста is your go-to for both "please" and "you're welcome."
- Use вы (formal "you") and пожалуйста when talking to strangers or in formal situations.
- Tone and a smile matter as much as the word.
Пожалуйста goes hand-in-hand with how to say thank you in Russian — since it's the standard reply to спасибо. For a broader look at politeness registers, see our guide on formal and informal Russian. And don't forget to learn how to say hello in Russian so you can start every CEFR A1 conversation confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does пожалуйста mean "please" or "you're welcome"?
Both! Context makes the meaning clear. When added to a request (e.g., Дайте, пожалуйста, воду), it means "please." When used as a reply to спасибо, it means "you're welcome." This dual function is unique compared to English.
How can I be extra polite in Russian?
Beyond пожалуйста, use будьте добры (be so kind) or будьте любезны (be so gracious) before a request. You can also frame questions with не могли бы вы…? (could you possibly…?). These are more formal and especially useful in professional or service situations.
Is there a casual "please" in Russian?
Not exactly. Пожалуйста is used across all registers — formal and informal. In casual speech, people sometimes drop it entirely and rely on friendly tone and intonation instead. Among close friends, a simple request without пожалуйста isn't considered rude.
Practice Polite Russian
Using пожалуйста naturally in requests and replies is something we practise in every class. Explore our Russian lessons and improve your polite Russian with a native teacher.