How to Say Congratulations in Russian for Every Occasion

To say congratulations in Russian, use “Pozdravlyayu”, meaning “I congratulate you” and naturally translated as “Congratulations!” Pronounce it roughly “puh-zdrahv-LYAH-yoo”, with the stress on “LYAH”; “Pozdravlyayu tebya” addresses someone informally, while “Pozdravlyayu vas” is polite or addresses several people.

The best wording depends on what you are celebrating and your relationship with the recipient. A birthday greeting, a graduation message and congratulations on a promotion need different details, even though they can begin with the same word. The examples below use Latin-letter transliterations so you can read them aloud or adapt them for a flower card without needing to read Russian script.

Choose between friendly, formal and group congratulations

“Pozdravlyayu!” works as a complete greeting when the occasion is already clear. You might say it while handing someone flowers after a graduation ceremony or when a friend tells you about a new job. Adding the achievement makes a written message more personal, especially when the bouquet arrives separately and the recipient cannot hear your tone or see your expression.

Use “tebya” for someone you normally address informally, such as a close friend, partner or family member. Use “vas” for a professional contact, someone you address politely, or more than one recipient. Age alone does not settle the choice: follow the relationship you already have. For a colleague you do not know well, “Pozdravlyayu vas” is a sensible, respectful opening.

If the greeting comes from a family, couple or team, change “Pozdravlyayu” to “Pozdravlyayem”, meaning “We congratulate you”. For example, “Pozdravlyayem vas!” suits a shared message to a couple or a formal recipient. Keep that voice consistent throughout the card: a note that starts with “we” should not suddenly end with “I”. Our guide to the meaning of pozdravlyayu explores the basic expression further.

Match the Russian phrase to the actual occasion

For a birthday, say “S dnyom rozhdeniya!”: “Happy birthday!” You can also write “Pozdravlyayu s dnyom rozhdeniya”, meaning “Congratulations on your birthday”. The shorter version is a natural greeting on its own. Russian uses congratulations for birthdays more readily than English does, so translating the complete greeting as “Happy birthday” usually sounds better in English.

For a wedding, use “Pozdravlyayu so svadboy!”: “Congratulations on your wedding!” If you are addressing both newlyweds, “Pozdravlyayem vas so svadboy” means “We congratulate you both on your wedding”. For a wedding anniversary, “S godovshchinoy svadby!” means “Happy wedding anniversary!” Keep the occasion explicit so a card for an anniversary does not read like congratulations on a new marriage.

For a promotion, “S povysheniyem!” means “Congratulations on your promotion!” For a university graduation, “Pozdravlyayu s okonchaniyem universiteta” means “Congratulations on graduating from university”. Choose the phrase that matches the confirmed achievement. If you only know that someone has done well, a clear English sentence naming their success is more useful than an elaborate Russian phrase you cannot confidently adapt.

Bouquets we can deliver

Bouquet of 1 yellow sunflowers

$13

Bouquet of 1 white lilies

$19

Bouquet of 1 pink lilies

$19

Bouquet of 3 gerberas mix

$20

Write a flower card that sounds like you

A useful card has three parts: the congratulation, one specific personal thought and your name. For example: “S povysheniyem! You have worked so hard for this, and I am delighted for you. With love, Anna.” Combining a short Russian greeting with English is perfectly practical if the recipient understands both. You do not need to translate every sentence to make the gesture thoughtful.

For a birthday, try: “S dnyom rozhdeniya! Wishing you a joyful day and a year full of things you love. Love, James.” For graduation: “Pozdravlyayu s okonchaniyem universiteta! I am so proud of your dedication. Love, Mum.” These messages identify the occasion and the sender without filling the card with generic wishes. Adjust the affection to your relationship rather than copying a romantic sign-off for a colleague.

For a more formal card, keep the wording warm but measured: “Pozdravlyayu vas s povysheniyem! Wishing you success in your new role. Best wishes, Alex.” Check names, the achievement and the signature before submitting your text. A card with your wording is free with our delivery. Delivery is anonymous by default and the courier does not name the sender, so include your name on the card if you want the recipient to know who sent it.

Choose congratulations flowers with the recipient in mind

Start with the person's preferences, then consider the occasion. Their favourite colour is usually a stronger guide than a rigid list of flower meanings. Red roses can suggest romance, which may make them less suitable for a professional congratulations message. For a colleague or graduate, a mixed bouquet in colours they enjoy can express celebration without adding an unintended romantic message.

In Russian flower-giving etiquette, odd numbers are customary for celebratory bouquets when individual stems are counted; even numbers are associated with mourning. This distinction matters most with a small, visibly countable bunch. Colour meanings are less fixed: do not assume that every recipient interprets yellow flowers as separation or white flowers as a wedding reference. Personal taste and the context of your card help shape the gesture.

Think about what the recipient will do immediately after receiving the flowers. A large bouquet can be awkward during a ceremony, a commute or an evening with several stops. Delivery to an agreed address may be more convenient than asking someone to carry flowers throughout an event. Browse the bouquets catalogue with their plans in mind; for a graduation, consider where they will be able to put the bouquet in water.

Time the greeting and help the flowers last

For birthdays, sending congratulations on the day is the safest cultural choice: some Russian recipients dislike early birthday wishes. For a promotion or graduation, wait until the result is confirmed before naming it on the card. If the recipient is abroad from you, check the calendar date at their destination. A message sent late in your evening may reach them on a different day.

Choose a delivery period when the recipient can reasonably receive flowers, taking account of ceremonies, work and travel. Our courier calls about 15 minutes before arrival, so the surprise includes a practical phone call. If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or handing the flowers to a neighbour or concierge with the sender's consent. An agreed plan helps avoid interrupting an important event.

Once the bouquet is received, a clean vase and fresh water are useful first steps. Remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline, recut the stem ends with a clean, sharp tool and keep the flowers away from radiators and direct sun. Refresh the water regularly and remove fading material. These are general cut-flower care steps; any instructions supplied for the particular flowers should guide their care.

Arrange a congratulations bouquet delivery to Russia

We deliver flowers across Russia. To arrange your gift, choose a bouquet and prepare the recipient's name, phone number, delivery address, occasion and card text. If you need help selecting flowers or agreeing the address, timing and wording, contact a manager on WhatsApp. You can also discuss a photo of the bouquet before delivery, which is useful when you are arranging the gift from another country.

City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In large cities, express delivery is available within 1–2 hours after order confirmation. Other timing options are an exact time with a margin of plus or minus 30 minutes, or the windows 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21. You can also pre-order 1–30 days ahead; agree the timing for the destination before planning around it.

Online checkout uses CloudPayments. If you are ordering from abroad, check the payment options displayed at checkout; acceptance of every foreign card is not guaranteed. Review the address, recipient's phone number, delivery timing and final card text before completing the order. The delivery and payment page is a useful reference while arranging the details, particularly when you and the recipient are in different time zones.