от тебя пахнет
ot tebya pakhnet
The Russian phrase for "you smell" is от тебя пахнет (ot tebya pakhnet).
This phrase is used to indicate that someone has a noticeable scent. This applies regardless of whether the scent is pleasant or unpleasant. In Russian, the grammatical subject of the sentence is the scent itself (it smells), rather than the person. The person is identified as the source of the scent through the use of a prepositional phrase.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, от тебя пахнет translates to "from you it smells". The component от тебя means "from you" and пахнет means "it smells".
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing someone formally or speaking to a group of people, you should use the alternative form от вас пахнет.
How do you pronounce it?
ot tebya pakhnet
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific word духи for perfume, which literally means 'spirits'. This links the act of smelling a person to the historical belief that fragrances could capture or repel spiritual essences.
- If you want to say someone smells wonderful, you should use the verb пахнет with a positive adjective, but if you use the specific verb воняет, you are strictly accusing them of smelling bad.
- In very informal or rude contexts, one might use the word смердит instead of пахнет to describe a smell so bad it is almost unbearable.
Examples in context
- От тебя пахнет дымом.You smell like smoke.This sentence is useful for saying someone smells like smoke using от тебя пахнет.Tatoeba #9687120 by Ooneykcall, translation #9686986 by shekitten
- От тебя пахнет чесноком.You smell like garlic.This sentence is useful for saying someone smells like garlic using от тебя пахнет.Tatoeba #12468782 by marafon, translation #12140852 by shekitten
- От тебя пахнет клубникой.You smell like strawberries.This sentence is useful for saying someone smells like strawberries using от тебя пахнет.Tatoeba #12672499 by marafon, translation #11037511 by shekitten
- Извините, но у вас есть неприятный запах.Excuse me, but you have an unpleasant odor.
- Извини, но у тебя плохой запах.Sorry, but you have a bad smell.
- Ты воняешь.You stink.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Alexander are standing in the kitchen.
- Екатерина EkaterinaАлександр, от тебя пахнет кофе.Aleksandr, ot tebya pakhnet kofe.Alexander, you smell like coffee.
- Александр AleksandrДа, я только что пил его.Da, ya tol'ko shto pil ego.Yes, I just drank some.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто очень приятный запах.Eto ochen' priyatnyy zapakh.It is a very pleasant scent.
- Александр AleksandrСпасибо, Екатерина!Spasibo, Ekaterina!Thank you, Ekaterina!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
