Thread: Спасибо in English

That book is very good, everything is absolutely right! I will use it "in reverse", to learn the Russian expressions.

(Apart from the "1st May greeting". This holiday is not celebrated in any English speaking countries.. Nobody would say that... )

Originally Posted by Hanna

That book is very good, everything is absolutely right! I will use it "in reverse", to learn the Russian expressions.

(Apart from the "1st May greeting". This holiday is not celebrated in any English speaking countries.. Nobody would say that... )

Whether or not the holiday is celebrated in English-speaking countries, I disagree with the English translations that the book gives for the Russian phrase С Первым мая!, namely:

Congratulations! (May Day greetings to you!)

"Happy May Day!" would be much, much more natural. "May Day greetings to you" sounds too formal, and English speakers generally don't say "Congratulations" on the occasions of annual holidays like Christmas, New Year, Easter, Mother's Day, 4th of July in America, etc. Instead, we say "Happy [name of holiday]!", unless it's Christmas and you're American, in which case "Happy" is changed to "Merry," for some reason.

The phrase "Congratulations" is used when someone gets married, has a baby, graduates from school, is promoted to a higher position at work, buys a new home, etc. -- but not for holidays.

We also sometimes say "Congratulations" for a person's birthday -- though more often for young children than for adults. So "Congratulations, you're six years old now!" is quite commonly heard, but "Congratulations, you're 37!" would be rather unusual!