Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| да́йте мені́ | dájte mení | |
| да́й мені́ | dáj mení | informal |
These phrases are used to express a preference or to request that someone hand something over to you.
What does it mean word for word?
да́йте is the imperative (command) form of the verb давати (to give) in the second-person plural or polite form, while мені́ is the dative case of the pronoun я (I), meaning "to me".
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on who you are addressing. Use да́йте мені́ when speaking to a group or to show respect, and use да́й мені́ when speaking to someone you know well.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
да́йте мені́ is the polite and formal version, suitable for strangers or elders. You can increase the politeness by saying Дайте мені, будь ласка (Give me, please). да́й мені́ is the informal version, used with friends and family. Another informal way to say "give me" is Подай мені, which is often used when asking someone to hand you an object.
How does it change in a sentence?
да́йте мені́ is used when addressing more than one person or when using the formal "you" (ви) to show respect. да́й мені́ is used when addressing a single person with whom you are on familiar terms, such as a friend or child.
How do you pronounce it?
dájte mení
Did you know?
- The polite form да́йте is derived from the same root as the English word 'data', as both stem from the Latin 'dare', meaning 'to give'.
- While да́йте мені́ means 'give me', the word давати is also used in the phrase давати дорогу, which literally means 'to give the road' but functions as 'to make way'.
- The verb давати is part of a complex pair with дати, where one describes the general process of giving and the other describes a single, completed act.
Examples in context
- Дайте мені, будь ласка.Give me, please.
- Дай мені.Give me.
- Подай мені, будь ласка.Pass me, please.
- Да́йте мені́ меню, будь ласка.Daite meni menu, bud' laska.Give me the menu, please.
- Да́йте мені́ ще одну чашку кави.Daite meni shche odnu chashku kavy.Give me one more cup of coffee.
Example conversation
In a small cafe, Maria is ordering food.
- Марія MariiaДа́йте мені́, будь ласка, список десертів.Daite meni, bud' laska, spysok deseriv.Give me the dessert list, please.
- Сергій SerhiiЗараз, Маріє, я принесу його.Zaraz, Mariye, ya prynesu yoho.Right now, Maria, I will bring it.
- Марія MariiaДякую, Сергію.Dyakuyu, Serhiyu.Thank you, Serhii.
- Сергій SerhiiБудь ласка.Bud' laska.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “give me” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
