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A1How to saypriyátnava appetíta

How to say “Enjoy your meal” in Russian

Said before eating, in the genitive like every other Russian wish.

Quick answer

Прия́тного аппети́та!

priyátnava appetíta — genitive, because it is a wish

The options

Прия́тного аппети́та!Enjoy your meal!
Приступа́йте!Do start!
Угоща́йтесь!Help yourself!
Спаси́бо, вам то́же.Thank you, you too.
Всё о́чень вку́сно!Everything is delicious!

Another genitive wish

Like споко́йной но́чи and всего́ хоро́шего, this is the leftover object of an unspoken жела́ю — “I wish you a pleasant appetite”. Hence the genitive on both words.

At the table

A Russian host will press food on you: Ещё? (more?), Попро́буй э́то (try this), Ты ничего́ не ешь! (you’re not eating anything!). Refusing once is treated as politeness, not as a no. The real stop is Спаси́бо, я уже́ сыт / сыта́ — thank you, I’m full.

What you hear back

Спаси́бо!Thank you!
И вам прия́тного аппети́та!You too!
Спаси́бо, о́чень вку́сно.Thank you, it’s delicious.

Typical mistakes

Прия́тный аппети́т!

Прия́тного аппети́та!

A wish takes the genitive.

Я по́лный.

Я сыт / сыта́.

по́лный describes your build, not a full stomach.

Check yourself

Which case is прия́тного аппети́та?

Wishes use the genitive.

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