тебе нравится?
tebe nravitsya?
The English phrase "do you like it?" is translated into Russian as тебе нравится? (tebe nravitsya?)
This phrase is used to ask if someone finds something pleasing or agreeable. Adding the word это makes the object of the liking more explicit, though it is often omitted in casual speech, resulting in the phrase тебе это нравится?
What does it mean word for word?
The verb нравится literally means "it is pleasing."
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form тебе нравится? uses the informal singular pronoun тебе (to you). To be polite or to address a group, use вам нравится? instead of тебе нравится?
How do you pronounce it?
tebe nravitsya?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ты любишь это? (do you love this?) when they should use нравиться for general preferences or objects.
Did you know?
- The word тебе in this phrase stems from the same Proto-Slavic roots as the word 'thee' in archaic English, meaning they are distant linguistic cousins.
- While English speakers might use 'like' for both a painting and a person, using нравится for a person often implies you find them physically or aesthetically attractive rather than liking their personality.
- The verb нравиться is related to the word равный, meaning 'equal'. Historically, the root suggests that something you like is something that 'matches' or 'is equal' to your tastes.
Examples in context
- Вам нравится э́та кни́га?Do you like this book?
- Тебе э́ти цветы́ нра́вятся?Do you like these flowers?
Example conversation
Dmitry shows Olga a new painting he bought.
- Дмитрий DmitryОльга, посмотри на картину. Тебе нравится?Ol'ga, posmotri na kartinu. Tebe nravitsya?Olga, look at the painting. Do you like it?
- Ольга OlgaДа, она очень красивая.Da, ona ochen' krasivaya.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ рад, что она тебе нравится.Ya rad, chto ona tebe nravitsya.I am glad that you like it.
- Ольга OlgaЭто отличный выбор, Дмитрий.Eto otlichnyy vybor, Dmitriy.This is a great choice, Dmitry.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries тебе, CC BY-SA 4.0.
