How to Say "Tell Me" in Russian

скажи мне

skazhi mne

The English phrase "tell me" is translated into Russian as скажи мне (skazhi mne).

This phrase is used as a request for someone to provide information or an answer.

What does it mean word for word?

The word мне is the dative case of я (I), used here because the action is directed toward the speaker.

Use скажи мне for a single person you know well, but use скажите мне for formal or plural contexts.

The default form скажи мне is the imperative singular. Use the form скажите мне when addressing a stranger, a superior or more than one person.

skazhi mne

The verb used in скажи мне is the same one used to command a dog to 'speak' in Russian.
If you want to ask 'Tell me' as a way to start a conversation or a question, Russians often use скажи-ка. The particle -ка softens the imperative and makes it sound more like a casual suggestion.
The root of скажи is shared with the word сказание, which means 'legend' or 'tale'. This links a simple request for information to the ancient tradition of oral storytelling.

Скажи мне, где я.
Tell me where I am.
This example shows how to use скажи мне to ask for one's location.
Tatoeba #4287366 by odexed, translation #3199839 by CK
Скажи мне её имя.
Tell me her name.
This example shows how to use скажи мне to ask for a name.
Tatoeba #13921221 by marafon, translation #8371804 by Ergulis
Скажи мне, где он!
Tell me where he is.
This example shows how to use скажи мне to ask for someone's location.
Tatoeba #2551839 by marafon, translation #2182735 by Hybrid
715 more sentences on Tatoeba

Andrey and Olga are talking about a movie.

Андрей Andrey

Скажи мне, какой фильм ты хочешь посмотреть?
Skazhi mne, kakoy fil'm ty khochesh' posmotret'?
Tell me, which movie do you want to watch?
Ольга Olga

Я хочу посмотреть новую комедию.
Ya khochu posmotret' novuyu komediyu.
I want to watch a new comedy.
Андрей Andrey

Хорошо, а скажи мне, где она идёт?
Khorosho, a skazhi mne, gde ona idyot?
Okay, and tell me, where is it playing?
Ольга Olga

Она идёт в кинотеатре рядом с нами.
Ona idyot v kinoteatre ryadom s nami.
It is playing in the cinema near us.

Sources

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