Я хочу тебя поцеловать
Ya khochu tebya potselovat'
In Russian, "I want to kiss you" is expressed as Я хочу тебя поцеловать (Ya khochu tebya potselovat').
This phrase is a direct expression of a desire to kiss someone.
Which one should you use?
The default form uses the perfective verb поцеловать, which suggests a desire for a single, completed act of kissing. Using the imperfective form целовать instead would imply a desire for the ongoing or repeated act of kissing.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the word for "you" is тебя, which is in the accusative case because it serves as the direct object of the verb. The verb поцеловать is a perfective verb, implying a single, completed action.
How do you pronounce it?
Ya khochu tebya potselovat'
Did you know?
- While поцеловать means 'to kiss', the root цел is related to the word for 'whole' or 'healthy', целый. Historically, a kiss was seen as a way to make someone 'whole' or to seal a bond of health and peace.
- Russian has a distinct word чмок to describe the sound of a short, quick kiss. It is often used as a playful alternative to the formal verb поцеловать in text messages.
- In traditional Russian culture, a 'kiss' of greeting was often performed on the cheek, but the 'kiss of peace' in Orthodox tradition involves kissing a cross or an icon before kissing a person.
Examples in context
- Я хочу тебя поцеловать.I want to kiss you.This sentence is useful for expressing the direct desire to kiss someone.Tatoeba #2584069 by dipdowel, translation #437047 by lukaszpp
- Я бы хотел(а) поцеловать тебя.I would like to kiss you.
- Я хочу тебя поцеловать прямо сейчас.Ya khochu tebya potselovat' pryamo seychas.I want to kiss you right now.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye after a date.
- Ольга OlgaЯ не хочу уходить.Ya ne khochu ukhodit.I don't want to leave.
- Дмитрий DmitryМне тоже грустно.Mne tozhe grustno.I'm sad too.
- Ольга OlgaЯ хочу тебя поцеловать.Ya khochu tebya potselovat.I want to kiss you.
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ тоже этого хочу.Ya tozhe etogo khochu.I want that too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
