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A2How to sayprakhadíte

How to say “After you” in Russian

Russian has no phrase for “after you”. It uses an imperative instead: “do go through”.

Quick answer

Проходи́те!

prakhadíte — the imperative does the whole job — no “after you” needed

The options

Проходи́те!Do go through! · After you!
Пожа́луйста!Please! — with a gesture, enough on its own
Проходи́те, пожа́луйста.Please go ahead.
Вы пе́рвый.You first.
Разреши́те.Excuse me. — squeezing past

The imperative of invitation

Russian politeness often works through imperatives: проходи́те (go through), сади́тесь (sit down), угоща́йтесь (help yourself), бери́те (take some). All of them are warm invitations, not commands, and all take the polite -те.

Разреши́те, the other direction

When *you* need to get past, the word is разреши́те — allow me — or позво́льте in a more formal setting. In a crowded metro car Разреши́те! is what you say, and people step aside.

What you hear back

Спаси́бо!Thank you!
Нет, вы пе́рвый.No, you first.
Да, спаси́бо.Yes, thanks.

Typical mistakes

По́сле вас.

Проходи́те!

The literal translation is not used.

Проходи́ — to a stranger

Проходи́те.

Use the polite -те form.

Check yourself

How do you say “after you” at a door?

The invitation imperative.

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