ты злой
ty zloy[tɨ zɫoj]word by word
The phrase 'you're mean' in Russian is ты злой (ty zloy).
The phrase is used to tell someone that they are unkind or cruel. Depending on the context and intensity, the word злой can range in meaning from being 'mean' or 'unkind' to being 'evil' or 'angry'.
Which one should you use?
The word злой can range from 'mean' or 'unkind' to 'evil' or 'angry' depending on the intensity of the context.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective changes to the feminine form ты злая if you are speaking to a woman. When addressing a group of people formally or pluralizing the subject, the adjective becomes злые, as in вы злые.
How do you pronounce it?
ty zloy
Did you know?
- The word злой shares an ancient root with the English word 'yellow', as both are thought to derive from a Proto-Indo-European root describing a certain color or brightness.
- If you want to say someone is 'very mean', Russians often use the word злющий instead of just adding 'very', which creates a much more intense and visceral feeling of malice.
- While English speakers might use 'mean' to describe someone who is 'stingy' with money, the Russian злой does not carry this financial connotation at all.
Examples in context
- Ты злой.You're mean.This sentence provides a direct translation of 'You're mean.'Tatoeba #8411961 by marafon, translation #2203075 by CK
- Я, может, и кринжовый, но ты злой, и это еще хуже.I may be cringe, but you're mean, and that's worse.This sentence compares being 'cringe' with being mean using ты злой.Tatoeba #13199536 by EugeneGS, translation #13049284 by DJ_Saidez
- Я уверен, что ты сделал это специально, ты злой.I'm sure you did it on purpose, you're mean.This sentence expresses the certainty that someone acted with malice using ты злой.Tatoeba #9725812 by carlosalberto, translation #9725739 by carlosalberto
Example conversation
Andrey and Maria are joking around, but he makes a joke that goes too far.
- Андрей AndreyХа-ха, посмотри на себя!Kha-kha, posmotri na sebya!Ha-ha, look at yourself!
- Мария MariaАндрей, ты злой!Andrey, ty zloy!Andrey, you're mean!
- Андрей AndreyДа ладно, я просто шучу.Da ladno, ya prosto shuchu.Come on, I'm just joking.
- Мария MariaЭто была совсем не смешная шутка.Eto byla sovsem ne smeshnaya shutka.That was not a funny joke at all.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ты, злой) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries злой, ты, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
