How to Write an Email or Letter in Russian: the complete guide

Business correspondence in Russia is mostly done via email, so It’s important to know how to correctly compose one in Russian. This will be your main communication tool for contacting your work colleagues, clients, and any other persons related to your career or business.

This article will teach you how to properly compose an email in Russian, from the opening to the conclusion, depending on the addressee and context. Read along to prevent possible embarrassment!

How to begin a Russian email or letter

In business correspondence, it is customary to address Russians by their first name and patronymic (name derived from the father).

Владимир (Vladimir) being the first name and Владимирович (Vladimirovich) being the patronymic. The suffix of patronymics depends on the name and gender, so double-check for correctness.

To make an email more polite, the word “Уважаемый” (“Uvazhaemy”) or “Уважаемая” (“Uvazhaemaya”) when the recipient is a woman, can be added. It literally means “Respected”, but think of it as the Russian version of “Dear”.

Therefore, a greeting such as “Уважаемый Владимир Владимирович” (“Uvazhaemy Vladimir Vladimirovich”) would be considered proper form.

You can avoid writing a patronymic when you’re addressing a close colleague or friend. If you’re addressing a superior or a colleague whom you don’t know very well, it’s advised to not forget the patronymic.

Other valid ways of starting an email:

• "Добрый день" (“Good afternoon”)
• “Здравствуйте” (“Hello”) – this hello is more formal than “Привет” (“Hi”)

Using the appropriate Russian “you” pronoun

There are two versions of “you” in Russian:

• “Вы” (“Vy”) – more formal
• “Ты” (“Ty”) – less formal

For a business email, you’re going to be using “Вы” (“Vy”) nearly all of the time. The only time “Ты” (“Ty”) would be used is if you’re addressing a friend or someone you speak to on an informal basis.

Which “you” to use on your work colleagues also depends on your company’s work culture. Although less so than in the past, there are strong hierarchical traditions that prevail in Russian business etiquette.

In some Russian companies, the use of “Ты” (“Ty”) between employees and superiors can be regarded as a recognition of merit or formal inclusion as "one of the team”.

There’s also a difference between:

• “вы” ("you") – lower case
• “Вы” ("You") – with a capital

Lower case “you” is already polite enough, but you can use the capital variation if you want to be extra polite.

We recommend the following: use “Вы” ("You”) to begin with. If the reply contains вы” ("you") instead of “Вы” ("You”) switch to lower case in further correspondence with the recipient.

How to end a Russian email or letter

In business, you should try to come off as an educated professional. The case is the same for business emails.

The most common phrase for ending an email in Russian is “С уважением” (“Best regards”). Another one is “С наилучшими пожеланиями” (“Best wishes”).

Less formal options:

• “Искренне Ваш (Ваша)…” (“Sincerely, yours…”)
• “Благодарю” (“Thank you”)
• “Желаем успехов” (“Wishing you success”)
• “Приносим извинения” (“Our apologies”)

Standard Russian phrases for emails and letters

The following are standard phrases we compiled to help you compose an email in Russian.

Reasons for writing:

• “Мы рады сообщить Вам ...” (“We are glad to inform you...”)
• “К сожалению, мы должны сообщить, что” (“We are sorry to inform you that that...”)
• “Мы обращаемся к Вам с предложением...” (“We are writing to you with an opportunity...”)
• “Мы хотим сообщить Вам о...” (“We are writing to tell you about...”)
• “Мы хотим...” (“We would like to...”)
• “Мы предлагаем Вам...” (“We are offering you”)
• “Данным письмом подтверждается, что... “(“This letter confirms that...”)

Reference phrases:

• “Благодарим за письмо” (“Thank you for your letter”)
• “В ответ на Ваше письмо” (“In response to your letter”)
• “Ссылаясь на наше письмо от... сообщаем, что ... (“Referring to your letter from... we inform you that...”
• “Что касается Вашей просьбы, (Вашего заказа, Вашей претензии) ...” (“As to your request (your order, your claim) ...”)

Binding phrases:

• “Считаем необходимым (важным, целесообразным) отметить...” (“We find it necessary (important, reasonable) to note...”)
• “Помимо вышеуказанного...” (“apart from the mentioned above”)
• “В связи с этим...” (“In connection to this”)
• “В связи с Вашей просьбой...” (“In connection with your request”)
• “Дело в том, что...” (“The point is that”)
• “В сложившихся обстоятельствах... “ (“Under the circumstances”)
• “По нашему мнению...” (“In our opinion”)
• “Более того...” (“Moreover”)
• “Тем не менее...” (“Nevertheless”)
• “В первую очередь...”) (“In the first place”)
• “Извините за задержку ответа” (“Sorry for the delayed response”)

Requesting phrases:

• “Обращаюсь к Вам с просьбой...” (“I’m writing to you with a favor”)
• “Я буду очень благодарен (благодарна), если Вы...” (“I would be grateful if you could …”)
• “Пожалуйста, (сообщите нам...)” (“Please (let us know...)”)
• “Не могли бы вы прислать мне...” (“Would you please send me…”)
• “Вы не против, если...” (“Would you mind if…”)

Attached documents:

• “К письму прилагается...” (“Attached to the letter…”)
• “Прикрепленный файл…” (“The attached file…”)

Closing phrases:

• “Мы будем признательны за быстрый ответ” (“Early reply will be appreciated...”)
• “Надеемся на скорый ответ” (“Looking forward to hearing from you soon...”)
• “Просим сообщить нам, как можно скорее” (“Please, inform us in the shortest possible time”)
• “Ожидаем Вашего согласия (одобрения, подтверждения)” (Looking forward to receiving your consent (approval, confirmation)”)
• “Если у вас возникнут дальнейшие вопросы, вы можете обратиться ко мне за информацией.” (“If you have any additional questions, please contact me.”)
• “Заранее спасибо...” (“Thank you in advance”)
• “Я хотел бы обсудить это с вами” (“I would like to discuss this with you”)
• “Спасибо за помощь в этом деле.” (“Thank you for your help in this matter”)
• “Если вам необходимо больше информации...” (“If you require more information”)
• “Пожалуйста свяжитесь со мной по номеру...” (“Please contact me on this phone number…”

Example of an email in Russian:

This is the end of this Russian email and letter writing guide. For more on the Russian language, see this article on Russian compliments.