Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ты мне нра́вишься | ty mne nrávišʹsja | informal |
| вы мне нра́витесь | vy mne nrávitesʹ | formal |
This phrase is used to express that you like or are attracted to someone. It is important to distinguish this from the stronger expression of love. For example, while ты мне нравишься means "I like you", the phrase Я тебя люблю means "I love you".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "you to me are pleasing", where the person being liked acts as the subject of the sentence.
Which one should you use?
ты мне нра́вишься is the informal version used for a single person you know well or are close to. вы мне нра́витесь is the formal or plural version, used when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use ты мне нра́вишься in informal situations. Use вы мне нра́витесь in formal situations or when addressing multiple people.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this construction, the person experiencing the feeling is the indirect object in the dative case, which is why the word мне (meaning "to me") is used.
How do you pronounce it?
ty mne nrávišʹsja
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse "I like you" with "I love you". While ты мне нравишься expresses liking or attraction, я тебя люблю is much stronger and expresses love.
Did you know?
- In a romantic context, transitioning from the formal вы to the informal ты is a significant social milestone that signals a shift in the relationship's intimacy.
- In Russian, saying ты мне нравишься is not just about preference, but often implies a romantic or physical attraction that 'I like you' in English does not always convey.
- Using the formal вы for a single person was heavily influenced by Byzantine speech and later reinforced by French and German customs during the era of Peter the Great.
Examples in context
- Мария, ты мне нравишься, ты по-настоящему классная!Maria, I like you, you're really cool!
Example conversation
Alexander and Anastasia are talking in a park.
- Александр AleksandrАнастасия, ты мне нра́вишься.Anastasiya, ty mne nravish'sya.Anastasia, I like you.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОй, правда? Ты мне тоже!Oy, pravda? Ty mne tozhe!Oh, really? I like you too!
- Александр AleksandrЯ давно хотел тебе это сказать.Ya davno khotel tebe eto skazat'.I've wanted to tell you this for a long time.
- Анастасия AnastasiaМне очень приятно это слышать.Mne ochen' priyatno eto slyshat'.I am very pleased to hear that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I like you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вы, мне, ты, CC BY-SA 4.0.
