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A2How to sayvsegdá rad

How to say “Happy to help” in Russian

Russian has four answers to “thank you”, and they are not interchangeable.

Quick answer

Всегда́ ра́д!

vsegdá rad — plus не за что and обраща́йтесь — the three Russian “you’re welcome”s

The options

Пожа́луйста!You’re welcome! — the standard
Не за что!Don’t mention it! — warmer
Всегда́ рад / ра́да!Always happy to!
Обраща́йтесь!Do ask again any time!
На здоро́вье!You’re welcome — after food only

Which when

Пожа́луйста works everywhere — the same word as “please”, which surprises learners. Не за что plays down the favour and is the friendliest. Обраща́йтесь is for help you could give again, often in a professional context. На здоро́вье belongs strictly after food or drink.

рад agrees

Рад is a short adjective: a man says всегда́ рад, a woman всегда́ ра́да. The same word appears in рад помо́чь (happy to help) and рад тебя́ ви́деть (nice to see you).

What you hear back

Ещё раз спаси́бо!Thanks again!
Вы о́чень добры́.That’s very kind of you.
Спаси́бо, вы́ручили!Thanks, you saved me!

Typical mistakes

На здоро́вье — after being helped with a suitcase

Пожа́луйста. / Не за что.

На здоро́вье is only for food and drink.

Всегда́ рад — said by a woman

Всегда́ ра́да.

The short adjective agrees.

Check yourself

When is На здоро́вье correct?

Only in response to thanks for food.

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