Что делаешь?
Chto delayesh'?
The English phrase 'wyd' can be translated into Russian as Что делаешь? (Chto delayesh'?)
This phrase is used to ask someone about their current activity, functioning as an informal way to ask 'what are you doing?'
Which one should you use?
While Что делаешь? is a standard informal way to ask the question, Чё делаешь? is a common way to say 'WYD' in a casual, friendly way. If you are addressing a group of people or want to be polite, you should use the plural or formal form Что вы делаете? or Что делаете? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase Что делаешь? uses the singular second-person form of the verb. To address a group of people or to use the formal 'you' (вы), you must change the verb ending to the second-person plural form, as seen in Что делаете? or Что вы делаете?
How do you pronounce it?
Chto delayesh'?
Did you know?
- In texting, Russian speakers often use the abbreviation чд as a shorthand for Что делаешь?, similar to how English speakers use 'wyd'.
- Using the formal Вы in Что вы делаете? is not just for strangers, but is often used by adults when speaking to their own children to show a specific kind of distance or irony.
- Depending on the intonation, Что делаешь? can be used as a rhetorical expression of disbelief, similar to saying 'What are you even doing?' when someone makes a mistake.
Examples in context
- Привет, что делаешь?Privet, chto delayesh'?Hi, what are you doing?
Example conversation
Two friends are texting each other on their phones.
- Анастасия AnastasiaПривет, Дмитрий! Что делаешь?Privet, Dmitriy! Chto delayesh'?Hi, Dmitry! What are you doing?
- Дмитрий DmitryНичего особенного, просто отдыхаю.Nichego osobennogo, prosto otdykhayu.Nothing special, just relaxing.
- Анастасия AnastasiaХочешь пойти в кино?Khochesh' poyti v kino?Do you want to go to the cinema?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, отличная идея!Da, otlichnaya ideya!Yes, great idea!
