позади тебя
pozadi tebya
The English phrase "behind you" can be translated into Russian as позади тебя (pozadi tebya).
This phrase is used to indicate that a person or an object is located at someone's back.
Which one should you use?
While позади тебя is a common way to express this, the phrase сзади тебя is a synonymous way to say the same thing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on who you are addressing and the level of formality required. Use the informal second-person singular pronoun in позади тебя. For formal situations or when addressing multiple people, use позади вас or За вами. You can also adapt the phrase to other people by changing the pronoun, such as using позади меня to say "behind me".
How do you pronounce it?
pozadi tebya
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific word, затылок, to describe the very back of the head. If someone is literally 'behind you' and touching your head, they are touching your затылок.
- In a military or tactical context, the command to check 'behind you' often involves the word тыл, which means 'rear' or 'back'. This word is also used to mean 'home front' during a war.
- The phrase позади тебя can be used figuratively to describe someone's support. To stand 'behind' someone in a moral sense is expressed using the preposition за, as in я за тебя.
Examples in context
- Он был позади тебя.He was behind you.This sentence is useful for showing how to state that someone was located behind you.Tatoeba #13297091 by EugeneGS, translation #13296773 by LdjuherTaqvaylit
- Я прямо позади тебя.I'm right behind you.This sentence is useful for expressing that you are directly behind someone.Tatoeba #3711380 by odexed, translation #1664579 by Spamster
- Она прямо позади тебя.She's right behind you.This sentence is useful for expressing that she is directly behind someone.Tatoeba #1993982 by mrtaistoi, translation #1664583 by Spamster
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrey and Anastasia are standing in a crowded park.
- Андрей AndreyСмотри, там кто-то позади тебя.Smotri, tam kto-to pozadi tebya.Look, there is someone behind you.
- Анастасия AnastasiaКто там? Я никого не вижу.Kto tam? Ya nikogo ne vizhu.Who is there? I don't see anyone.
- Андрей AndreyТвоя сумка осталась позади тебя.Tvoyya sumka ostalas' pozadi tebya.Your bag was left behind you.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОй, спасибо, что заметил!Oy, spasibo, chto zametil!Oh, thanks for noticing!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
