Which one should you use?
Вы говорите по-английски? is the formal version, while Ты говоришь по-английски? is the informal version. Using the formal Вы говорите is much more polite and standard when approaching a stranger in Russia than using the informal Ты говоришь.
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal form Вы говорите uses the formal/plural "you" (вы), whereas the informal form Ты говоришь uses the informal "you" (ты). In the formal version, говорите means "speak".
How do you pronounce it?
Vy govorite po-angliyski?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective английский instead of the adverb по-английски when asking if someone speaks the language.
When do people say it?
A standard positive response to this question is Да, я говорю по-английски (Yes, I speak English), while a standard negative response is Нет, я не говорю по-английски (No, I don't speak English). To be polite, you can add "excuse me" to your approach: use извините for the formal version or извини for the informal version.
Did you know?
- While the phrase asks about the language, Russians often respond with Немного meaning 'a little' even if they are quite fluent, as a sign of modesty.
- The Russian word Вы is a distant relative of the English word 'you' as both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In very formal or old-fashioned Russian settings, the word Вы was sometimes capitalized in writing to show extreme respect to a single individual.
Examples in context
- Да, немного говорю по-английски.Yes, I speak a little English.
- Да, хорошо говорю по-английски.Yes, I speak English well.
- Скажите, вы говорите по-английски?Skazhite, vy govorite po-angliyski?Tell me, do you speak English?
Example conversation
A tourist asks a local man for directions in a park.
- Ольга OlgaИзвините, вы говорите по-английски?Izvinite, vy govorite po-angliyski?Excuse me, do you speak English?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, немного.Da, nemnogo.Yes, a little.
- Ольга OlgaКак мне дойти до музея?Kak mne doyti do muzeya?How do I get to the museum?
- Дмитрий DmitryИдите прямо и направо.Idite pryamo i napravo.Go straight and turn right.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вы, по-английски, CC BY-SA 4.0.
