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A2How to sayvyzdorávlivay

How to say “get well soon” in Russian

Three ways to wish someone better, and one of them is delightfully blunt: “don’t be ill”.

Quick answer

Выздора́вливай!

vyzdorávlivay — a long word for a simple wish

The options

Выздора́вливай!Get well! — informal
Выздора́вливайте!Get well! — polite
Поправля́йся!Get better! — warmer
Не боле́й!Don’t be ill! — casual and very common
Жела́ю здоро́вья!I wish you health!

A long word, worth the effort

Выздора́вливай has five syllables and the stress on -ра́в-. Say it slowly; nobody minds, and the effort itself is part of the wish.

What you hear back

Спаси́бо!Thank you!
Постара́юсь.I’ll try.
Спаси́бо, уже́ лу́чше.Thanks, I’m better already.

Typical mistakes

Выздора́вливай to your boss

Выздора́вливайте

The -те makes it polite.

Будь здоро́в as “get well”

It means “bless you” after a sneeze

Same words, different moment.

Check yourself

Someone sneezes. What do you say?

Будь здоро́в (or бу́дьте здоро́вы) is the “bless you”.

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