Я болею
Ya boleyu
To say "I am sick" in Russian, you use Я болею (Ya boleyu).
Я болею is used to state that you are currently suffering from an illness.
What does it mean word for word?
The word болею is the first-person singular conjugation of the verb болеть, which means "to be ill" or "to suffer from an illness".
Which one should you use?
While Я болею describes the ongoing process of being ill, the alternative Я болен uses an adjective to describe a person's state and is often used more formally or to state a condition.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Northern Dialects, such as those in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk, Я хвораю is used to express sickness.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you were sick in the past, use Я болел if you are male or Я болела if you are female.
How do you pronounce it?
Ya boleyu
Did you know?
- In Russian, if you say Я болею за…, you are actually saying 'I am rooting for…' a sports team. The phrase shifts from describing illness to expressing intense support.
- If you want to say you are 'sick of' something, like a repetitive situation, you wouldn't use болеть. Instead, you would use the verb надоело, which describes a psychological weariness rather than a physical ailment.
- While Я болею is the common way to say 'I am sick', the phrase Мне плохо literally means 'To me it is bad' and is often used instead to describe feeling unwell.
Examples in context
- Я не могу курить. Я болею.I cannot smoke. I am sick.This example is useful for explaining why someone cannot perform an action like smoking due to their illness.Tatoeba #6171335 by odexed, translation #1688791 by Amastan
- Я болею.I am sick.This example provides a simple, direct statement of being sick.Tatoeba #2776353 by odexed, translation #436427 by lukaszpp
- Прости, что не могу выйти сегодня. Я болею.Sorry, I can't go out today. I am sick.
- Мне так плохо, я чувствую себя слабым.I feel so bad, I feel weak.
- Ну ничего, я заболел, но скоро поправлюсь!Well, it's nothing, I got sick, but I'll recover soon!
- Я болею, поэтому остаюсь дома.Ya boleyu, poetomu ostayus' doma.I am sick, so I am staying home.
Example conversation
Andrey tells Ekaterina why he cannot go to the cinema.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАндрей, пойдём сегодня в кино?Andrey, poydyom segodnya v kino?Andrey, shall we go to the cinema today?
- Андрей AndreyИзвини, я не могу. Я болею.Izvini, ya ne mogu. Ya boleyu.Sorry, I can't. I am sick.
- Екатерина EkaterinaОй, бедняга! Что у тебя случилось?Oy, bednyaga! Chto u tebya sluchilos'?Oh, poor thing! What happened to you?
- Андрей AndreyУ меня сильная простуда.U menya sil'naya prostuda.I have a bad cold.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
