Thread: name question

Did a quick search and didn't find this question elsewhere so
Hi, I'm an absolute beginner in russian and was just wondering if there was any difference between using "как тебя зовут" and "как ваше имя" as different sites tell me different things. Also, when would you use "как поживаете" compared to when you'd use "как дела"?
Many thanks.

Originally Posted by jamesjean

Did a quick search and didn't find this question elsewhere so
Hi, I'm an absolute beginner in russian and was just wondering if there was any difference between using "как тебя зовут" and "как ваше имя" as different sites tell me different things. Also, when would you use "как поживаете" compared to when you'd use "как дела"?
Many thanks.

"как тебя(вас) зовут?" — usual
"как ваше имя?" — a little official

"как дела" — usual
"как поживаете" — a little official and archaic

как тебя зовут => what's your name
как ваше имя => can I have your name

как поживаете => how do you do
как дела => how are you

Wicked, cheers for that. Pimsleur actually recommend using "как вы поживаете" but i'm guessing that's even more formal