Welcoming Guests
When hosting friends or family, greet them with "welcome" (добро пожаловать).
The Prefix ПРИ- (Arrival)
Russian uses prefixes to change the direction and meaning of verbs of motion. Adding the prefix при- creates the meaning of arrival.
Because these prefixed verbs describe reaching a destination, they form standard imperfective and perfective pairs. The imperfective is used for habitual or repeated arrivals, while the perfective is used for a single, successfully completed arrival.
Arriving by Transport (Приезжать / Приехать)
For arriving by vehicle, use the imperfective приезжать or the perfective приехать.
To meet or pick up arriving guests, use the perfective verb встретить.
For arriving on foot (or general short-distance arrivals), use the imperfective приходить or the perfective прийти.
Bringing Things (Привозить / Привезти)
The prefix при- also applies to carrying objects. For bringing items by transport (like gifts or souvenirs), use привозить (imperfective) or привезти (perfective).
Visiting and Returning
Russian has a specific verb for staying somewhere as a guest: гостить.
Having family visit is a great joy (радость).
When the trip comes to an end, use the perfective verb вернуться to say someone returned.