я
ja[ja]
The Russian phrase for "I" is я (ja). Wiktionary also lists аз (az).
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| я | ja | [ja] (narrow) | |
| аз | az | [as] (narrow) | Ecclesiastical, archaic, ironic |
The word is a personal pronoun.
Which one should you use?
The standard and most common way to say "I" is я. The form аз is an archaic version of "I" used today primarily for ironic, poetic or ecclesiastical effects.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is ja.
Did you know?
- In the early Cyrillic alphabet, the letter аз served as the name for the first letter and functioned as the word for 'I'. This creates a linguistic link between the start of the alphabet and the self.
- The Russian word я is a cognitive doublet of the Latin word 'ego'. Both trace their origins back to the same reconstructed root in Proto-Indo-European.
- In formal Russian writing, я is often avoided in favor of the plural мы (we), even when the author is the only person involved. This 'authorial we' conveys modesty or official authority.
Examples in context
- Я иду в сад.I go to the garden.Tatoeba #678494 by Aleksej, translation #6736431 by Eccles17
- Я – её отец?Am I the father?Tatoeba #1325662 by shanghainese, translation #1324306 by Scott
- Я ещё не ел.I haven't eaten yet.Tatoeba #1525049 by corvard, translation #476414 by minshirui
- Меня́ зову́т АннаMy name is Anna
- Мой домMy house
- 15847 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dmitry and Olga are meeting at a cafe.
- Ольга OlgaЯ уже здесь, Дмитрий.Ya uzhe zdes', Dmitriy.I am already here, Dmitry.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ тоже только пришёл.Ya tozhe tol'ko prishol.I also just arrived.
- Ольга OlgaЯ закажу чай.Ya zakazhu chay.I will order tea.
- Дмитрий DmitryХорошо, а я возьму кофе.Khorosho, a ya voz'mu kofe.Okay, and I will have coffee.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations and entries я, аз, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries аз, я, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
