дай мне водки
day mne vodki
The English phrase "give me vodka" is translated into Russian as дай мне водки (day mne vodki).
A request to be given some vodka.
Which one should you use?
дай мне водки is an informal command, whereas дайте мне водки is the polite version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be polite or formal, suitable for addressing a stranger or a group, use дайте мне водки. Examples of formal requests include Дайте мне водку, пожалуйста. and Пожалуйста, дайте мне стакан водки.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase дай мне водки, the verb дай is the imperative singular form, which is used when addressing one person informally. The word for vodka, водки, is in the genitive case because it is used with an uncountable amount of an unspecified quantity.
How do you pronounce it?
day mne vodki
Did you know?
- The word водка is a diminutive of вода, which means 'water'. Literally, the word translates to 'little water'.
- In Russian culture, it is considered impolite to drink vodka without a 'zakuska' or appetizer, such as a salted pickle or a slice of rye bread, to cleanse the palate.
- In Russian, if you use the phrase дай мне водки with a waiter, you are not just being informal, you are being potentially offensive. It sounds like a command given to a subordinate or a child.
Examples in context
- Дай мне водки, пожалуйста.Day mne vodki, pozhaluysta.Give me some vodka, please.
- Дай мне водки, я хочу отпраздновать.Day mne vodki, ya khochu otprazdnovat'.Give me some vodka, I want to celebrate.
- Просто дай мне водки и всё.Prosto day mne vodki i vsyo.Just give me some vodka and that's it.
Example conversation
Andrey and Ekaterina are in the kitchen.
- Андрей AndreyКатя, дай мне водки.Katya, day mne vodki.Katya, give me some vodka.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЗачем она тебе сейчас?Zachem ona tebe seychas?Why do you need it now?
- Андрей AndreyЯ хочу сделать настойку.Ya khochu sdelat nastoyku.I want to make a tincture.
- Екатерина EkaterinaХорошо, держи бутылку.Khorosho, derzhi butylku.Okay, here is the bottle.
