Что ты говоришь?
chto ty govorish'?
The Russian phrase for "what are you saying?" is Что ты говоришь? (chto ty govorish'?)
This phrase is used to ask someone to repeat or clarify what they have just said. In conversational contexts, it can also express disbelief or shock, similar to saying "You're kidding!"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Что ты говоришь? is composed of Что (what), ты (you, singular/informal) and говоришь (are saying/speak).
Which one should you use?
While Что ты говоришь? focuses on the ongoing action or the content of the speech, Что ты сказал? is used specifically to ask about a completed utterance, meaning "What did you say?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "What are you saying right now?", you can use Что ты говоришь сейчас? informally or Что вы говорите сейчас? formally. To ask "What are you saying at the moment?", use Что ты говоришь в данный момент? informally or Что вы говорите в данный момент? formally.
How do you pronounce it?
chto ty govorish'?
Did you know?
- The word что is a distant relative of the English word 'what', as both descend from the same Proto-Indo-European roots.
- Russian has a specific related term, переспросить, which means specifically 'to ask someone to repeat what they just said'.
- If a Russian speaker responds to this phrase with Да вот так, they are not answering what they said but are instead insisting that the situation is exactly as they described it.
Examples in context
- Что вы говорите? Я не совсем понимаю.What are you saying? I don't quite understand.
- Что ты говоришь? Я совсем запутался.What are you saying? I'm completely confused.
- Извини, что ты говоришь?Izvini, shto ty govorish'?Sorry, what are you saying?
Example conversation
A noisy cafe where Maria cannot hear Alexander.
- Мария MariaАлександр, что ты говоришь?Aleksandr, shto ty govorish'?Alexander, what are you saying?
- Александр AleksandrЯ сказал, что здесь очень шумно.Ya skazal, chto zdes' ochen' shumno.I said that it is very noisy here.
- Мария MariaПрости, я тебя не расслышала.Prosti, ya tebya ne rasslyshala.Sorry, I didn't hear you clearly.
- Александр AleksandrНичего страшного, Мария.Nichego strashnogo, Mariya.No problem, Maria.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ты, что, CC BY-SA 4.0.
