я убью тебя
ya ub'yu tebya
The English phrase 'i will kill you' is translated into Russian as я убью тебя (ya ub'yu tebya).
This phrase is used as a direct threat to take someone's life.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the pronoun я (I), the future tense of the verb убить (to kill) and the accusative form of the pronoun ты (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word тебя is the accusative case of the singular informal pronoun ты, used here as the direct object of the verb. To change the target from a single informal person to multiple people or a single person addressed formally, use вас instead of тебя, resulting in я убью вас.
How do you pronounce it?
ya ub'yu tebya
Did you know?
- Using the formal вас in the phrase я убью вас can create a chilling effect by combining a deadly threat with cold, professional politeness.
- While я убью тебя is the direct translation, Russians often use the phrase убью! (I'll kill!) without the pronoun 'I', as the subject is implied by the verb ending.
- While 'I' in English is always capitalized, the Russian я is written in lowercase unless it starts a sentence, even when referring to oneself.
Examples in context
- Пора совершить возмездие. Сейчас я убью тебя!It's time I got revenge. Now I will kill you!This sentence is useful for illustrating a threat made during a moment of revenge using я убью тебя.Tatoeba #2937709 by Ooneykcall, translation #2937707 by Ooneykcall
- Я убью тебя.I will kill you.This sentence is a simple example of the phrase я убью тебя.Tatoeba #1486953 by heccele, translation #1111435 by Scott
- Если ты не замолчишь, я убью тебя.Esli ty ne zamolchish', ya ub'yu tebya.If you don't shut up, I will kill you.
Example conversation
Two enemies are confronting each other in a dark alley.
- Сергей SergeyТеперь ты никуда не уйдешь.Teper' ty nikuda ne uydesh'.Now you are not going anywhere.
- Екатерина EkaterinaПопробуй останови меня, если сможешь.Poprobuy ostanovit' menya, yesli smozhesh'.Try to stop me if you can.
- Сергей SergeyЯ убью тебя за всё, что ты сделал!Ya ub'yu tebya za vsyo, chto ty sdelal!I will kill you for everything you've done!
- Екатерина EkaterinaСначала попробуй догнать меня.Snachala poprobuy dognat' menya.Try to catch me first.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
