вы говорите по-русски
vy govorite po-russki
To say "you speak Russian" in Russian, you use вы говорите по-русски (vy govorite po-russki).
This phrase is used as a question or a statement to ask or tell someone that they have the ability to communicate in the Russian language. When expressing the ability to speak a language, Russian uses the adverb по-русски rather than the noun русский язык.
What does it mean word for word?
The adverbial form по-русски literally means "in the Russian manner" or "in Russian".
Which one should you use?
вы говорите по-русски is the standard form used for formal situations, while ты говоришь по-русски is used when speaking to a single friend, a child or someone you know well.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form вы говорите по-русски uses the plural/formal second-person pronoun, making it appropriate for strangers or superiors. The informal version uses the pronoun ты.
How do you pronounce it?
vy govorite po-russki
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Вы говорите по-русски?Do you speak Russian?This sentence is useful for asking if someone speaks Russian.Tatoeba #3321640 by Selena777, translation #2302175 by soweli_Elepanto
- Я знаю, что вы говорите по-русски.Ya znayu, chto vy govorite po-russki.I know that you speak Russian.
- Вы говорите по-русски очень хорошо.Vy govorite po-russki ochen' khorosho.You speak Russian very well.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two strangers meet at an international airport.
- Мария MariaЗдравствуйте! Вы говорите по-русски?Zdravstvuyte! Vy govorite po-russki?Hello! Do you speak Russian?
- Александр AleksandrДа, я немного говорю.Da, ya nemnogo govoryu.Yes, I speak a little.
- Мария MariaОтлично, Александр, помогите мне, пожалуйста.Otlichno, Aleksandr, pomogite mne, pozhaluysta.Great, Alexander, please help me.
- Александр AleksandrКонечно, Мария, я помогу.Konechno, Mariya, ya pomogu.Of course, Maria, I will help.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вы, по-русски, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
