да́й мне
dáj mneinformal
The English phrase "give me" is expressed in Russian as да́й мне (dáj mne). Wiktionary also lists да́йте мне (dájte mne).
Meaning: expression of preference (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| да́й мне | dáj mne | informal |
| да́йте мне | dájte mne |
This phrase is used as an expression of preference.
What does it mean word for word?
The word да́й is the imperative (command) form of the verb давать (to give), while мне means "to me".
Which one should you use?
да́й мне is the informal version, whereas да́йте мне is the formal or plural version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
да́й мне is an informal way to say "give me" and is suitable when speaking to a child, a close friend or a single person you know well. You should use да́йте мне to be formal, such as when speaking to an elder, a stranger, a superior or a group of people. Additionally, the phrase Дай-ка can be used in informal settings to add a friendly or playful tone to a request.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word мне is the dative case of я (I) and represents the recipient of the action.
How do you pronounce it?
dáj mne
Did you know?
- The word да́й is used in the common Russian idiom да́й бог (God grant). It is used to express hope that something will happen, similar to the English phrase 'God willing'.
- The word мне shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'me', both stemming from the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- In Russian, using the informal да́й мне with a stranger is not just considered rude, it can be perceived as a direct and aggressive command.
Examples in context
- Дайте мне книгу, пожалуйста.Give me the book, please.
- Могли бы вы дать мне ручку?Could you please give me a pen?
- Дай мне воды.Give me some water.
- Дай-ка мне пожалуйста телефон.Give me your phone, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “give me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, CC BY-SA 4.0.
