Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "kind" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

добрый

Meaning: kind, good

Pronunciation: [DOHB-riy]

Part of speech: adjective

Rank: #494 (see frequency list)

My Mum is very kind.
Photo by Glutnix CC-BY-2.0

Example sentences:

Моя́ ма́ма - о́чень до́брая.
My mother is very kind.
У него́ до́брое се́рдце.
He has a tender heart.
Са́мые до́брые пожела́ния в э́тот юбиле́й!
All the best wishes on this anniversary!
До́брые лю́ди! Помоги́те мне, пожа́луйста.
Kind people! Help me, please.
Ты что! Он в до́бром здра́вии и ещё рабо́тает!
You're quite mistaken! He is in good health and is still working.
До́брый день! Я могу́ поговори́ть с дире́ктором?
Good afternoon! May I speak with the director, please?
literal Good afternoon! Can I speak with the director?
До́брой но́чи, дорога́я!
Good night, my dear! (addressing a female)
До свида́ния! Всего́ до́брого!
Goodbye! All the best!
literal Goodbye! All the best!
Здра́вствуйте, бу́дьте добры́, Лю́ду.
Hello, may I speak to Lyuda, please?
literal Hello, would you be so kind, Lyuda.
Дава́й поговори́м по душáм, как в ста́рые до́брые времена́.
Let's speak openheartedly, like in good old days.
literal Let's speak soul to soul, like in good old times.
Он, чего́ до́брого, вообще́ не прие́дет!
He may not come at all, for all I know!

Idioms and set expressions:

бу́дьте до́бры = would you be so kind
literal be kind
до́брый день = good afternoon
literal good day
до́брое у́тро = good morning
до́брый ве́чер = good evening
до́брой но́чи = good night
быть в до́бром здра́вии = be in good health
до́брые ста́рые времена́ = the good old days
literal the good old times
до́брая полови́на = good half
до́брый ма́лый = good guy
до́брый мóлодец = fine young man (Russian folklore)
literal kind young man
по до́брой во́ле = willingly
literal for the good will
в до́брый час = good luck
literal in a good hour
всего́ до́брого = goodbye
literal all the good
чего́ до́брого = for all I know
помина́ть до́брым сло́вом = have a kind word to say about smb
literal remember with a good word
спаси́бо на до́бром сло́ве = thank you for your kind words!

Related words:

хоро́ший = good, nice
добрó = good, property
доброду́шный = good-natured
доброта́ = kindness, goodness

Proverbs and sayings:

До́брые слова́ доро́же бога́тства
Kind words are more expensive then wealth.
Нау́чат до́брые лю́ди решето́м во́ду носи́ть.
Some people give useless advice.
literal Some good people show how to carry water in a sieve.
За кого́ Бог, за того́ и до́брые лю́ди.
Good people stand for the same people as God.

Vocabulary lesson: By Russificate blog exclusively for MasterRussian

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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