Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on whether you are addressing one person informally or multiple people/one person formally. Additionally, while the phrase typically focuses on the immediate present, it can also describe habitual or repeated actions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form что ты делаешь? is informal and uses the singular ты (you). It should only be used with friends, family or children. For formal situations or when addressing more than one person, use the form Что вы делаете?
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of verb conjugation and pronoun is dictated by the subject: use ты (singular/informal) for one person you know well, and use вы (plural/formal) when addressing a group of people or a single person in a formal context.
How do you pronounce it?
chto ty delayesh'?
Did you know?
- If someone asks you что ты делаешь? while you are in the middle of a task, they might actually be asking 'what is the matter?' or 'what is wrong?', implying your behavior is strange.
- Using the informal ты form with a stranger or a superior can be perceived as an intentional insult or a sign of aggression rather than just a mistake.
- The word ты is a direct cognate of the English word 'thou', which was the singular informal 'you' used in English until the early modern period.
Examples in context
- Что вы делаете?What are you doing, sir/madam?
- Что ты делаешь?What are you up to?
Example conversation
Sergey enters the living room and sees Ekaterina sitting on the floor.
- Сергей SergeyЕкатерина, что ты делаешь?Ekaterina, shto ty delayesh'?Ekaterina, what are you doing?
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ собираю пазл.Ya sobirayu pazl.I am putting a puzzle together.
- Сергей SergeyЭто выглядит очень сложно.Eto vyglyadit ochen' slozhno.That looks very difficult.
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, но это весело.Da, no eto veselo.Yes, but it is fun.
