а ты?
a ty?[ə tɨ]word by word
The Russian phrase and you is expressed as а ты? (a ty?)
This phrase is used as a question to ask the same thing back to the person who has just asked you a question.
What does it mean word for word?
The particle а is used here to create a contrastive 'and' when turning a question back to the speaker.
Which one should you use?
While а ты? is the informal version, а вы? is used when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
А ты? is the informal way to say 'and you'. For polite or formal situations, use а вы? when speaking to someone you are not on intimate terms with. The form И вы is also a formal way to say 'and you'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle а acts as a contrastive 'and' in this construction.
How do you pronounce it?
a ty?
Did you know?
- The word ты is a direct descendant of the Proto-Indo-European pronoun *túh₂, making it a distant relative of the English word 'thou'.
- Switching from а вы? to а ты? during a conversation is a significant social milestone in Russia. It marks the transition from a formal relationship to a personal friendship.
- In some contexts, а ты? can be used as a rhetorical device to imply that the other person is just as guilty or responsible as the speaker.
Examples in context
- Я Том, а ты?I'm Tom, and you?This is useful for introducing yourself and asking for the other person's name using а ты?Tatoeba #10008331 by Ooneykcall, translation #10008324 by DJ_Saidez
- Я нет, а ты?Not me. And you?This shows how to use а ты? to return a negative answer to a question.Tatoeba #10066815 by ZegPhig, translation #10067195 by DJ_Saidez
- Я спал, а ты?I slept, and you?This demonstrates using а ты? to ask about a past action.Tatoeba #5450570 by nina99nv, translation #1176175 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- Хорошо, спасибо. А Вы?Fine, thank you. And you?
- Всё отлично. А ты?Everything is great. And you?
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Alexander are meeting at a cafe.
- Ольга OlgaЯ очень устала сегодня, а ты?Ya ochen' usta-la segodnya, a ty?I am very tired today, and you?
- Александр AleksandrЯ тоже очень устал.Ya tozhe ochen' usta-l.I am also very tired.
- Ольга OlgaТы хочешь заказать кофе?Ty khochesh' zakazat' kofe?Do you want to order coffee?
- Александр AleksandrДа, давай закажем.Da, davay zakazhem.Yes, let's order.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (а, ты) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries а, ты, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
