вы говорите по-русски?
vy govorite po-russki?
The English phrase "can you speak Russian?" is translated into Russian as вы говорите по-русски? (vy govorite po-russki?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone has the ability to communicate in the Russian language.
What does it mean word for word?
The adverbial form по-русски literally means "in the Russian manner" or "in Russian".
Which one should you use?
ты говоришь по-русски? is the informal version used when speaking to one person you know well or a child, whereas вы говорите по-русски? is the polite or plural form used for strangers or groups.
How does it change in a sentence?
While English uses the modal verb "can" to ask about ability, the standard Russian way to ask this is using the present tense of говорить (to speak), which translates more literally to "do you speak Russian?"
How do you pronounce it?
vy govorite po-russki?
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'can' to inquire about ability, asking with the word 'can' in Russian would sound like you are questioning someone's physical or legal capacity rather than their linguistic skill.
- The habit of using the plural вы to address a single stranger as a mark of respect became a standard social requirement in Russia following the influence of French and German etiquette during the era of Peter the Great.
- In Russia, if you use the informal ты with a stranger instead of вы, it can be perceived as a deliberate sign of disrespect or an assertion of superiority.
Examples in context
- Да, я говорю по-русски.Yes, I speak Russian.
- Да, конечно! Я носитель русского языка.Yes, of course! I am a native Russian speaker.
- Простите, вы говорите по-русски?Prostite, vy govorite po-russki?Excuse me, do you speak Russian?
- Скажите, вы говорите по-русски?Skazhite, vy govorite po-russki?Tell me, do you speak Russian?
Example conversation
Sergey is meeting Olga at an international conference.
- Сергей SergeyЗдравствуйте, Ольга! Вы говорите по-русски?Zdravstvuyte, Olga! Vy govorite po-russki?Hello, Olga! Do you speak Russian?
- Ольга OlgaДа, я немного говорю по-русски.Da, ya nemnogo govoryu po-russki.Yes, I speak a little Russian.
- Сергей SergeyЭто очень хорошо.Eto ochen khorosho.That is very good.
- Ольга OlgaСпасибо, Сергей.Spasibo, Sergey.Thank you, Sergey.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вы, по-русски, CC BY-SA 4.0.
