Formal:
* Алло (Allo): This is the most common and neutral greeting, similar to "hello" in English. It's suitable for most phone calls, especially with strangers or someone you don't know well.
* Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte): This is the most formal greeting, similar to "good morning/afternoon/evening". It's typically used in professional settings or when speaking to someone older or in a position of authority.
Informal:
* Привет (Privet): This is a casual greeting similar to "hi" or "hey". It's used with friends and family.
* Да (Da): This means "yes" but is often used as a casual greeting on the phone, especially among younger people.
It's important to note that:
* "Алло" is used even when you know the person on the other end of the line. It's considered standard phone etiquette.
* In some cases, people may use "Здравствуйте" even in informal situations, particularly with older generations.
Example:
You call a friend:
* You: "Алло, привет! Как дела?" (Allo, privet! Kak dela?)
* Friend: "Привет! Нормально, а у тебя?" (Privet! Normal'no, a u tebya?)
You call a restaurant to make a reservation:
* You: "Алло, здравствуйте, я хотел(а) бы забронировать столик..." (Allo, zdravstvuyte, ya hoted(a) by zabronirovat' stolik...)
* Restaurant: "Здравствуйте, сколько человек?" (Zdravstvuyte, skol'ko chelovek?)
Ultimately, the best way to know which greeting to use is to pay attention to the context and the relationship with the person on the other end of the call.