мне нравится
mne nravitsya
The Russian phrase for "I like" is мне нравится (mne nravitsya).
мне нравится is used to express that you find something pleasant or appealing. While English speakers often use "I love" to express general preferences, мне нравится is the more natural way in Russian to express liking an object or a concept.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "to me is pleasing". The word мне is the dative form of "I" (to me), and нравится is the third-person singular form of the verb "to please".
How does it change in a sentence?
Because this phrase uses the dative case, the thing being liked is actually the grammatical subject of the sentence, while "I" is expressed as мне. You must change the verb based on the object: use the singular form нравится when the object being liked is singular, but use the plural form нравятся if the things you like are plural.
How do you pronounce it?
mne nravitsya
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using я люблю (I love) to express general preferences. Instead, use мне нравится to sound more natural when discussing objects or concepts.
Did you know?
- If you want to say you like a person's personality or character, using мне нравится can sometimes sound like you are evaluating them as an object rather than feeling a connection.
- In very informal speech, Russians might omit мне entirely and just say нравится when pointing at something, as the dative context is implied.
- The word мне is a direct descendant of the Proto-Slavic form *mьně.
Examples in context
- Мне нравится их дом.I like their house.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase мне нравится with a singular object.Tatoeba #2408055 by marafon, translation #1766651 by CK
- Мне нравится её кот.I like her cat.Tatoeba #5165442 by marafon, translation #5165284 by tabular
- Мне нравится её дом.I like her house.Tatoeba #10165815 by marafon, translation #10165826 by shekitten
- Мне нравится эта книга.I like this book.
- Мне нравится путешествовать.I like to travel.
- Мне по душе этот город.I like this city (I feel connected to it).
- Мне по душе этот стиль музыки.I like this music style (It resonates with my emotions).
- Мне нравится ваша компания.I like your company.
- Мне нравится ваш новый проект.I like your new project.
- Мне приятно пообщаться с вами.I like talking to you (It's a pleasure).
- Мне приятно получить такой комплимент.I like receiving such a compliment (It's enjoyable).
- 1118 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andrei and Maria are visiting an art gallery.
- Андрей AndreyПосмотри на эту картину. Мне нравится этот цвет.Posmotri na etu kartinu. Mne nravitsya etot tsvet.Look at this painting. I like this color.
- Мария MariaДа, он очень яркий. А тебе нравится этот стиль?Da, on ochen' yarkiy. A tebe nravitsya etot stil'?Yes, it is very bright. And do you like this style?
- Андрей AndreyНет, мне не нравится такой стиль.Net, mne ne nravitsya takoy stil'.No, I don't like such a style.
- Мария MariaПонятно. Пойдём посмотрим другие работы.Ponyatno. Poydyom posmotrim drugiye raboty.I see. Let's go look at other works.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries мне, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
