ты плохо пахнешь
ty plokho pakhnesh'
The English phrase "you smell bad" is translated into Russian as ты плохо пахнешь (ty plokho pakhnesh').
This phrase is used to state that someone's body or clothing has an unpleasant odor. You can also use the adjective вонючий to informally call someone "stinky".
Which one should you use?
While ты плохо пахнешь focuses on the person's act of smelling, it is very common to use the phrase от тебя плохо пахнет, which literally means "from you it smells bad".
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of people or to use the formal "you", use the form вы плохо пахнете.
How do you pronounce it?
ty plokho pakhnesh'
Did you know?
- The word ты comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *túh₂, making it a very distant relative of the English word 'thou'.
- The phrase от тебя плохо пахнет is often preferred over ты плохо пахнешь because it suggests the smell is coming from the person's clothes or surroundings rather than their actual body.
- While ты плохо пахнешь is a statement of fact, Russians may use the phrase ну и вонь to express shock or disgust at a smell, similar to saying 'what a stench'.
Examples in context
- Ты плохо пахнешь.You smell bad.This sentence is a direct way to state that someone smells bad using ты плохо пахнешь.Tatoeba #5007117 by dimitris, translation #5006758 by Lindoula
- Потому что ты плохо пахнешь, вот почему.Because you smell bad, that's why.This sentence provides a reason for something using the phrase ты плохо пахнешь.Tatoeba #3389754 by tod, translation #3389749 by Jesse
- Извините, но у вас не очень приятный запах. Может быть, вам стоит принять душ?I'm sorry, but you have an unpleasant smell. Maybe you should take a shower?
- Ты, конечно, мой лучший друг, но ты воняешь. Не мог бы ты попробовать использовать другой дезодорант?You are my best friend for sure, but you stink. Could you try using a different deodorant?
- Прости, но ты плохо пахнешь.Prosti, no ty plokho pakhnesh'.Sorry, but you smell bad.
Example conversation
Dmitry just came back from a long workout.
- Мария MariaДмитрий, ты плохо пахнешь.Dmitriy, ty plokho pakhnesh'.Dmitry, you smell bad.
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, я только что из спортзала.Da, ya tol'ko chto iz sportzala.Yes, I just came from the gym.
- Мария MariaТебе нужно принять душ.Tebe nuzhno prinyat' dush.You need to take a shower.
- Дмитрий DmitryХорошо, я сейчас пойду.Khorosho, ya seychas poydu.Okay, I will go now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries плохо, ты, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
