я буду скучать по тебе
ya budu skuchat' po tebe
The English phrase "I will miss you" is expressed in Russian as я буду скучать по тебе (ya budu skuchat' po tebe).
This phrase is used to express that you will feel sadness because someone is no longer with you. While я буду скучать по тебе specifically uses the future tense to describe a feeling that will occur once the person has departed, the present tense phrase я скучаю по тебе is used to say that you are currently missing them.
Which one should you use?
To address more than one person, or to one person using the formal 'you', you change тебе to вам, resulting in я буду скучать по вам.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase я буду скучать по тебе is gender-neutral regarding the speaker. The gender of the person being missed is not reflected in this specific form. To adjust the level of formality or plurality, change the object from тебе to вам.
How do you pronounce it?
ya budu skuchat' po tebe
Did you know?
- The word скучать has evolved from meaning 'to be bored' to describing the emotional ache of missing someone. This suggests that, in the Russian mindset, the absence of a person is experienced as a form of monotony or listlessness.
- While я буду скучать по тебе expresses longing, Russians may use the word тоска to describe a more intense, soul-crushing ache of longing that can feel almost physical.
- The word я, meaning 'I', is a linguistic cousin to the Latin 'ego'. Both words share a common ancestor from the Proto-Indo-European language used thousands of years ago.
Examples in context
- Я буду скучать по тебе очень сильно.Ya budu skuchat' po tebe ochen' sil'no.I will miss you very much.
- Не уезжай, я буду скучать по тебе.Ne uezzhay, ya budu skuchat' po tebe.Don't leave, I will miss you.
- Я буду скучать по тебе каждый день.Ya budu skuchat' po tebe kazhdyy den'.I will miss you every day.
Example conversation
Sergey and Anastasia are saying goodbye at the train station.
- Сергей SergeyПрощай, Анастасия, я буду скучать по тебе.Proshchay, Anastasiya, ya budu skuchat' po tebe.Goodbye, Anastasia, I will miss you.
- Анастасия AnastasiaЯ тоже буду скучать по тебе, Сергей.Ya tozhe budu skuchat' po tebe, Sergey.I will miss you too, Sergey.
- Сергей SergeyБудем созваниваться по вечерам?Budem sozvani-vat'sya po vecheram?Will we call each other in the evenings?
- Анастасия AnastasiaКонечно, обязательно.Konechno, obyazatel'no.Of course, definitely.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries по, тебе, я, CC BY-SA 4.0.
