How to properly respond to an apology in Russian
Expressing Complaints and Apologies in Russian: A Practical Guide: How to properly respond to an apology in Russian
To properly respond to an apology in Russian, common polite phrases include:
- Ничего страшного (Nichego strashnogo) — “Nothing bad happened.” This is a very frequent reply used in both formal and informal contexts to reassure the person apologizing.
- Всё в порядке (Vsyo v poryadke) — “Everything is okay.” Also common and polite, suitable for formal or informal use.
- Ничего (Nichego) — “It’s nothing.” A shorter, casual form similar to Ничего страшного.
- Проехали (Proyekhali) — “Already forgotten.” Informal, conveying that the mistake is forgiven and the matter is behind.
- Бывает (Byvayet) — “It happens.” Informal phrase expressing understanding that mistakes are natural.
- Ладно, забыли (Ladno, zabyli) — “It’s okay, let’s forget about it.” Indicates willingness to move on, but can sometimes imply lingering annoyance, so use carefully.
- Извинения приняты (Izvineniya prinyaty) — “Apologies accepted.” More formal, and sometimes can be used to imply a cold or distant acceptance.
These phrases help show acceptance and understanding of the apology, varying from formal to casual tones depending on the situation. 1, 2, 3
General polite responses:
- Ничего страшного.
- Всё в порядке.
Informal and casual responses:
- Ничего.
- Проехали.
- Бывает.
- Ладно, забыли.
Formal or reserved acceptance:
- Извинения приняты.
Using these responses is culturally appropriate to acknowledge an apology in Russian conversations. It’s common to choose simpler ones like “Ничего страшного” or “Всё в порядке” to put the other person at ease.