How to say "What is your name?" in Russian
Как тебя зовут?
Kak te-BYA zo-VUT?
What does it mean?
Literally translates as "How do they call you?". This is the standard and most common way to ask a person's name during an informal introduction.
When to use
Use this phrase when meeting people your age, younger than you, or in a relaxed, friendly environment (e.g., at a party, in a bar, or on a college campus).
When NOT to use
Never use this phrase when addressing people significantly older than you, officials (police, doctors, teachers), or in a corporate environment. In these cases, you must use the polite "Вы" form: "Как вас зовут?".
Example dialogue
— Привет! Меня зовут Анна. А как тебя зовут?
— Hi! My name is Anna. And what is your name?
— Очень приятно, я Иван.
— Nice to meet you, I am Ivan.
Cultural note
During informal introductions in Russia, young people often immediately give the short form of their name (e.g., Sasha, Masha, Dima) rather than their full passport name (Alexander, Maria, Dmitry). This is a sign of friendliness and openness.
Related phrases
Want to know how to decline words like this?
Get our free Russian Cases cheat sheet — all six cases, their endings, and the transformation algorithm in one clean PDF.
Check your inbox! 📬
The PDF is on its way. If you don't see it, check spam.
Putnik School
This is one word out of thousands.
Every word in our vocabulary hub comes with full declensions, real examples and flashcards. Free to start — no card needed.
