Company vocabulary
Grouped by what they describe. Tap a word to hear it. For the English equivalents, see our guide to business emails.
Компа́нияThe company
Де́ньгиMoney and documents
Рабо́таWork processes
Etiquette
Five rules that matter more in a Russian office than in most English-speaking ones.
- Use name and patronymicWith senior colleagues and clients, until they suggest otherwise. Ива́н Петро́вичIvan Petrovichмо́жноmay IВасyouнаforмину́туa minuteIvan Petrovich, may I have a minute?
- Stay on выSwitching to ты is the senior person’s offer to make. Дава́йтеlet’sперейдёмswitchнаtoтыtyLet’s switch to ты. (said by the senior person)
- Shake hands, but waitMen usually shake hands; with a woman, wait for her to offer. О́ченьveryприя́тноpleasantпознако́митьсяto meetVery nice to meet you.
- Be punctual, expect delaysArrive on time; meetings may still start late. Извини́теsorryзаforопозда́ниеlatenessSorry I’m late.
- Small talk before businessA few minutes of tea and conversation build trust. Какhowдобрали́сь(you) got hereHow was your journey here?
In a meeting
Phrases for each stage of a meeting (совеща́ние). Disagreement is softened more than in English: Russians often start with agreement before the “but”.
| Stage | Phrase | English |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Дава́йте начнём. ▸Дава́йтеlet’sначнёмbegin | Let’s begin. |
| Opening | На пове́стке дня три вопро́са. ▸Наonпове́стке дняthe agendaтриthreeвопро́саitems | There are three items on the agenda. |
| Agreeing | Я по́лностью согла́сен. ▸ЯIпо́лностьюfullyсогла́сенagree | I fully agree. |
| Agreeing | Э́то хоро́шая иде́я. ▸Э́тоthisхоро́шаяgoodиде́яidea | That’s a good idea. |
| Disagreeing | Я понима́ю Ва́шу то́чку зре́ния, но… ▸ЯIпонима́юunderstandВа́шуyourто́чку зре́нияpoint of viewноbut | I understand your point of view, but… |
| Disagreeing | Позво́льте с Ва́ми не согласи́ться. ▸Позво́льтеallow meсwithВа́миyouнеnotсогласи́тьсяto agree | Allow me to disagree with you. |
| Asking | Не могли́ бы Вы уточни́ть? ▸Неnotмогли́ быcouldВыyouуточни́тьclarify | Could you clarify? |
| Closing | Дава́йте подведём ито́ги. ▸Дава́йтеlet’sподведёмdrawито́гиconclusions | Let’s sum up. |
| Closing | Спаси́бо всем за рабо́ту. ▸Спаси́боthanksвсемeveryoneзаforрабо́туwork | Thank you all for your work. |
Email formulas
Business emails are built from set phrases. Learn them whole; the grammar inside them is often more formal than in speech. For openings and sign-offs see the writing guide.
Replying В отве́тin replyнаtoВа́шеyourписьмо́letterотof5 ма́я5 May In reply to your letter of 5 May…
Sending Направля́ем(we) sendВамyouкомме́рческоеcommercialпредложе́ниеproposal Please find attached our commercial proposal.
Asking Прошу́(I) askрассмотре́тьto considerна́шуourзая́вкуapplication Please consider our application.
Attaching Воinвложе́нииattachmentВыyouнайдётеwill findдогово́рcontract You will find the contract attached.
Thanking Бу́ду(I) will beпризна́теленgratefulзаforско́рыйpromptотве́тreply I would be grateful for a prompt reply.
Confirming Подтвержда́ем(we) confirmполуче́ниеreceiptВа́шегоyourписьма́letter We confirm receipt of your letter.
Apologising Прино́сим(we) offerизвине́нияapologiesзаforзаде́ржкуdelay We apologise for the delay.
Offering help Е́слиifуatВасyouвозни́кнутariseвопро́сыquestionsобраща́йтесьget in touch If you have any questions, do get in touch.
Official style: saying it with nouns
Contracts, reports and formal letters use the официа́льно-делово́й стиль. Its main habit: turning verbs into nouns and adding a general verb such as осуществля́ть (to carry out) or производи́ть (to perform). You need to read it; in emails, a lighter version is fine.
| Everyday | Official | English |
|---|---|---|
| Мы запла́тим за́втра. | Опла́та бу́дет произведена́ за́втра. ▸ | Payment will be made tomorrow. |
| Мы прове́рили докуме́нты. | Была́ осуществлена́ прове́рка докуме́нтов. ▸ | The documents have been checked. |
| Потому́ что це́ны вы́росли… | В связи́ с ро́стом цен… ▸ | Owing to the rise in prices… |
| Мы хоти́м с ва́ми рабо́тать. | Мы заинтересо́ваны в сотру́дничестве. ▸ | We are interested in cooperation. |
| Скажи́те, когда́ мо́жно. | Про́сим сообщи́ть удо́бное вре́мя. ▸ | Please let us know a convenient time. |
A negotiation
A supplier and a buyer discuss price and delivery. Notes in red explain the politeness strategies.
Поставщи́к my ga-TO-vy prid-la-ZHYT’ vam TSE-nu pit’-SOT ru-BLYEY za i-di-NEE-tsu Мыweгото́выreadyпредложи́тьto offerВамyouце́нуpriceпятьсо́тfive hundredрубле́йroublesзаperедини́цуunit We are ready to offer you a price of 500 roubles per unit. ↳ гото́вы предложи́ть: “are ready to offer” sounds more flexible than a flat “the price is”.
Покупа́тель spa-SEE-ba. no, k sa-zha-LYE-ni-yu, dlya nas E-ta da-ra-ga-VA-ta Спаси́боthank youНоbutк сожале́ниюunfortunatelyдляforнасusэ́тоitдорогова́тоa bit expensive Thank you. But unfortunately it’s a little expensive for us. ↳ Thanks first, then the “but”; -ова́то softens до́рого to “a bit pricey”.
Поставщи́к pri za-KA-zye at TY-sya-chi i-di-NEETS my MO-zhym ZDYE-lat’ SKEET-ku pyat’ pra-TSEN-taf Приwithзака́зеan orderотfromты́сячиa thousandедини́цunitsмыweмо́жемcanсде́латьmakeски́дкуa discountпятьfiveпроце́нтовpercent For orders of a thousand units or more we can give a five per cent discount. ↳ A condition with при + prepositional: very common in business offers.
Покупа́тель a YES-li my pat-PEE-shym da-ga-VOR na got Аandе́слиifмыweподпи́шемsignдогово́рcontractнаforгодa year And what if we sign a one-year contract? ↳ A counter-offer framed as a question keeps it friendly.
Поставщи́к tag-DA my ga-TO-vy ab-su-DEET’ DYE-syat’ pra-TSEN-taf Тогда́thenмыweгото́выreadyобсуди́тьto discussде́сятьtenпроце́нтовpercent In that case we are prepared to discuss ten per cent. ↳ обсуди́ть (discuss) rather than “give”: a commitment with room to move.
Покупа́тель kha-ra-SHO. pri-SHLEE-tye, pa-ZHA-lus-ta, ka-MYER-chis-ka-ye prid-la-ZHE-ni-ye Хорошо́goodПришли́теsendпожа́луйстаpleaseкомме́рческоеcommercialпредложе́ниеproposal Good. Please send us a formal proposal. ↳ The deal moves into writing: the next step is a formal document.
Check yourself
You meet the client’s finance director, Ната́лья Серге́евна Орло́ва. How do you address her?
How do you politely disagree in a meeting?
Which phrase means “Please find attached”?
Which is the official-style version of “because prices rose”?