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Usage Pronouns are words that are used as substitutes for nouns. They do not name objects, their characteristics or quantity but only refer to them. There are nine types of pronouns in Russian. Here we take a look at the personal pronouns. They are:  я (I) мы (we) ты (you - singular; thou*) вы (you - plural) он (he) онá (she) онó (it) они (they).

Join the Discussion "What personal pronoun is most often used, according to Dale Carnegie?" Vote here Related Resources • Person and Number of the Verb • The Cases of Russian Nouns External Links • Personal Pronoun Declensions by R. Beard •  Basic Grammar: Pronouns

*In Russian, as in many other languages, ты (thou) is used generally among people very familiar with each other, or by superiors to inferiors.

As you may know, the first person grammar term refers to someone who is the author of the narration. Therefore я, мы are the first person pronouns; they refer to the speaker.

Я стал медленно взбираться на холм.
I started to climb the hill slowly.
(я refers to someone who is actually saying this sentence)

In addition, the pronoun мы refers to people who perform an action along with the speaker.

Мы все éли яблоки: и я, и Миша, и Толя, и Дима.
We were all eating apples: I and Misha and Tolya and Dima.
(мы refers to all people who were performing an action)

The second person describes someone who was addressed by the utterance. In other words, it is the person you are talking to. Therefore ты, вы are the second person pronouns; they refer to one ore more interlocutors.

Лéна, ты тáк хорошó поёшь.
Lena, you sing so well.
(ты substitutes for Lena, the person being addressed)

Когдá ты пойдёшь в гóсти к дрýгу.
When will you visit a friend?
(вы substitutes for the person addressed)

The third person pronouns он, она, оно, они refer to the person or thing being talked about.

Он заинтересовáлся игрóй.
He became interested in the game.

Онá былá единственным ребёнком в семьé.
She was the only child in the family

Они встáли и поздорóвались.
They stood up and greeted.

Declension

All personal pronouns change by cases.

Я, ты, мы, вы

Он, она, оно, они