How to Say Thank You in Russian: Спасибо and More
Saying "thank you" in Russian is easy to start with, and you can add a few variants for different situations. Mastering gratitude expressions is a core CEFR A1 skill — and knowing the right register (formal vs informal) makes a real difference.
- Спасибо, большое спасибо, and благодарю — when to use each
- How to respond when someone thanks you
- Formal vs informal registers for expressing gratitude
- Example sentences for everyday use
The Basics
Спасибо (spasiba) works in almost any situation. For extra emphasis use большое спасибо (thank you very much), and for formal or literary contexts use благодарю (I thank you).
Спасибо (spasiba) — Thank you
- The most common way to say thanks. Works in almost any situation.
- Pronunciation: spa-SEE-ba (the о is often pronounced like "a" in unstressed position).
- You can say Спасибо! by itself or add more: Спасибо за помощь. (Thank you for your help.)
Большое спасибо (bol'shoye spasiba) — Thank you very much
- Literally "big thank you." Use when you want to stress gratitude.
- Огромное спасибо (ogromnoye spasiba) — "huge thank you" — is even stronger.
Want to practise saying спасибо and other polite phrases with correct pronunciation? Book a free trial with a native Russian teacher and get instant feedback.
Благодарю (blagodaryu) — I thank you (formal)
- More formal and a bit more elevated than спасибо.
- Use in formal letters, speeches, or when you want to sound very polite.
- Благодарю вас (blagodaryu vas) — I thank you (formal).
How to Respond to "Thank You"
- Пожалуйста (pozhaluysta) — You're welcome / Please.
- Не за что (ne za chto) — informal "don't mention it."
- На здоровье (na zdorov'ye) — literally "to (your) health," often used when offering food or drink.
Knowing when to use спасибо vs благодарю is all about register. If you want to practise polite phrases in real conversations, explore our Russian lessons with native teachers who'll give you instant feedback.
In a Sentence
- Спасибо за приглашение. — Thank you for the invitation.
- Большое спасибо за помощь! — Thank you so much for your help!
- Я благодарю вас за терпение. — I thank you for your patience. (formal)
Спасибо pairs naturally with how to say please in Russian — since пожалуйста is both "please" and "you're welcome." You'll also want to learn how to say hello in Russian to start every conversation right, and our guide on formal and informal Russian goes deeper into register.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I respond to спасибо?
The most common response is пожалуйста (you're welcome). In informal speech, не за что (don't mention it) is very natural. На здоровье (to your health) is typically used when offering food or drink, not as a general "you're welcome" — despite what many textbooks claim.
Is благодарю too formal for everyday use?
For most daily conversations, yes — благодарю sounds elevated and is mainly used in formal letters, speeches, or when you want to be especially polite. At CEFR A1, stick with спасибо and большое спасибо for almost every situation.
When should I use большое спасибо instead of just спасибо?
Use большое спасибо (literally "big thank you") when someone has gone out of their way to help or when you want to express stronger gratitude. For even more emphasis, you can say огромное спасибо (huge thank you). Both are appropriate in formal and informal registers.
Practice Saying Thanks in Russian
Using спасибо and пожалуйста naturally comes with practice. Explore our Russian lessons — we use everyday phrases like these in every class. Practice with a native teacher and build confidence.