я тебя́ ненави́жу
ja tebjá nenavížuinformal
The English phrase "I hate you" is expressed in Russian as я тебя́ ненави́жу (ja tebjá nenavížu). Wiktionary also lists я вас ненави́жу (ja vas nenavížu).
Meaning: expression of intense dislike (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| я тебя́ ненави́жу | ja tebjá nenavížu | informal |
| я вас ненави́жу | ja vas nenavížu | formal, plural |
This phrase is used to express an intense dislike for another person.
Which one should you use?
The form я тебя́ ненави́жу is used when addressing a single person you know well, whereas я вас ненави́жу is used to address multiple people or to maintain a formal distance from a single person.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
я тебя́ ненави́жу is an informal way to say "I hate you". In contrast, я вас ненави́жу is the formal version used for one person or for a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular/informal form uses the accusative pronoun тебя́ to address one person. The plural/formal form uses the accusative pronoun вас to address multiple people or one person in a formal context.
How do you pronounce it?
ja tebjá nenavížu
Did you know?
- In Russian, expressing hatred towards a single person using the formal вас might actually sound more aggressive or cold than the informal version. Using the formal 'you' in a heated argument creates a psychological distance that can make the hatred feel more profound and impersonal.
- Russian has a separate word неприязнь for a mild dislike, making ненавижу significantly more powerful and heavy than the English 'I hate you' is in casual conversation.
- The pronoun я is a doublet of the Latin word 'ego', both descending from the same Proto-Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- Я тебя́ ненави́жу за всё это.Ya tebyá nenavízhu za vsyo eto.I hate you for all of this.
- Не уходи, я тебя́ ненави́жу!Ne ukhodí, ya tebyá nenavízhu!Don't leave, I hate you!
- Слышишь? Я тебя́ ненави́жу.Slyshish'? Ya tebyá nenavízhu.Do you hear me? I hate you.
Example conversation
A heated argument between a couple in an apartment.
- Екатерина EkaterinaТы меня совсем не слушаешь!Ty menya sovsem ne slushayesh'!You don't listen to me at all!
- Александр AleksandrПерестань так кричать на меня.Perestan' tak krichat' na menya.Stop shouting at me like that.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ тебя́ ненави́жу, Александр!Ya tebyá nenavízhu, Aleksandr!I hate you, Alexander!
- Александр AleksandrЕкатерина, это уже слишком.Ekaterina, eto uzhe slishkom.Ekaterina, this is too much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I hate you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вас, я, CC BY-SA 4.0.
