How to Say Thank You in Russian
How to say thank you in Russian: 'Спасибо' (spa-SEE-ba). Learn 'thank you very much', the formal form, and how to reply. Full pronunciation guide inside.
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Quick answer
To say thank you in Russian, say 'Спасибо' (spa-SEE-ba) — the universal word for thanks. For 'thank you very much', say 'Большое спасибо' (bal-SHO-ye spa-SEE-ba).
Спасибо
/spa-SEE-ba/ — Russian
How to Say Thank You in Russian
To say thank you in Russian, say Спасибо (spa-SEE-ba). It is the universal word for thanks and works in every situation, from a quick exchange to a formal occasion. To express deeper gratitude, add большое for Большое спасибо (“thank you very much”). Once you have this down, learn to say hello (Здравствуйте) and goodbye (До свидания) in Russian too.
The Essential Word: Спасибо
Спасибо — pronounced spa-SEE-ba — is your all-purpose thank you.
It works:
- In formal and informal situations
- With strangers, colleagues, friends and family
- Spoken, written, in person and on the phone
Its origin is touching: спасибо contracted from спаси Бог (“God save you”) — so every Russian “thank you” carries an old blessing inside it.
Copy the Phrase
The Russian word for thank you is Спасибо (spa-SEE-ba).
All the Ways to Say Thank You in Russian
| Russian | Transliteration | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Спасибо | Spasibo | spa-SEE-ba | Thank you (universal) |
| Большое спасибо | Bolshoye spasibo | bal-SHO-ye spa-SEE-ba | Thank you very much |
| Огромное спасибо | Ogromnoye spasibo | ag-ROM-na-ye spa-SEE-ba | A huge thank you |
| Спасибо большое | Spasibo bolshoye | spa-SEE-ba bal-SHO-ye | Thank you very much (reordered) |
| Благодарю | Blagodaryu | bla-ga-da-RYOO | I thank you (more formal/literary) |
| Спасибо за всё | Spasibo za vsyo | spa-SEE-ba za VSYO | Thank you for everything |
| Спасибки | Spasibki | spa-SEEB-kee | Cute, casual “thanks” |
Formal vs. Informal
Спасибо itself is neutral — it suits both formal and informal settings, which is why it is the safe default.
More formal / emphatic:
- Большое спасибо — “thank you very much”
- Благодарю (bla-ga-da-RYOO) — a more literary, formal “I thank you”, common in writing and polite speech
- Благодарю вас — “I thank you” (formal/plural)
More casual:
- Спасибки (spa-SEEB-kee) — a playful, affectionate “thanks”
- Спс (a texting abbreviation of спасибо)
Pronunciation Tips
- The stress is on the middle syllable: spa-SEE-ba.
- The final unstressed ‘о’ reduces to an ‘a’ sound (akanye), so it is spa-SEE-ba, never spa-SEE-bo.
- The first ‘с’ is a clean ‘s’, and the ‘б’ is a soft ‘b’.
- For Большое, note the льш cluster — say bal-SHO-ye with a soft ‘l’.
Cultural Notes
Russians use Спасибо generously in daily life, and adding Большое or Огромное signals genuine, heartfelt gratitude. When someone thanks you, the natural reply is Пожалуйста (pa-ZHAL-sta, “you’re welcome”) or the warm Не за что (NYE za shta, “it’s nothing / don’t mention it”). After serving food or drink, hosts often say На здоровье (“to your health”). A common superstition: avoid saying спасибо for a gift of a knife or sharp object — Russians playfully give a coin in return instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say thank you in Russian?
Say 'Спасибо' (spa-SEE-ba). It is the standard, all-purpose 'thank you' that works in every situation, formal or informal. For extra gratitude, say 'Большое спасибо' (bal-SHO-ye spa-SEE-ba), meaning 'thank you very much'.
How do you pronounce Спасибо?
Say spa-SEE-ba, with the stress on the middle syllable 'SEE'. The final 'о' reduces to an 'a' sound in Russian, so it ends in 'ba', not 'bo'. The whole word flows as spa-SEE-ba.
How do you say thank you very much in Russian?
Say 'Большое спасибо' (bal-SHO-ye spa-SEE-ba), literally 'big thank you'. For even stronger gratitude, 'Огромное спасибо' (ag-ROM-na-ye spa-SEE-ba) means 'a huge thank you'.
What does Спасибо literally mean?
Спасибо comes from the old phrase 'спаси Бог' (spasi Bog) — 'God save (you)' or 'may God protect you'. Over time it contracted into the single word спасибо, so the Russian thank you is rooted in a blessing.
How do you respond to Спасибо in Russian?
Say 'Пожалуйста' (pa-ZHAL-sta) for 'you're welcome', or 'Не за что' (NYE za shta) for 'don't mention it / it's nothing'. 'На здоровье' (na zda-RO-vye) — 'to your health' — is also used, especially after offering food.