Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "you" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

ты

Meaning: you, thou

Pronunciation: [tih]

Part of speech: pronoun ("ты" is singular familiar form. See lesson on personal pronouns)

Rank: #21 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

Где ты?
Where are you? (familiar)
Я тебя́ люблю́.
I love you. (familiar)
Как тебя́ зову́т?
What is your name? (familiar)
Я хочу́ тебе́ помо́чь.
I want to help you. (familiar)
Я не бу́ду с тобо́й спо́рить.
I will not argue with you. (familiar)
Что с тобо́й?
What's the matter with you? (familiar)
Как у тебя́ дела́?
How are things? (informal)
Я с ней "на ты".
Her and I are on familiar terms. (lit: I with her thou.)
Андре́й на́чал обраща́ться ко мне на "ты".
Andrey started addressing me informally.

Idioms and set expressions:

быть "на ты" с кем-либо = to be on familiar terms with smb.
"тыкать" кому-либо = to address in a familiar manner when it is not proper
быть "на ты" с чем-либо = to be an expert in smth.

Proverbs and sayings:

Как ты к людям, так и они к тебе.
As the call, so the echo.
Будешь ты у меня по ниточке ходить.
You'll get bawled out.
Ты мне -- я тебе.
You roll my log and I'll roll yours.
Ты ей вдоль, а она поперёк.
Every woman is a rebel, and usually in wild revolt against herself.

Other forms of the word (declensions):

Case	Form
Nominative	ты
Genitive	тебя́
Dative	тебе́
Accusative	тебя́
Instrumental	тобо́й (тобо́ю)
Prepositional	тебе́

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

Got questions?

Ask them in the Russian Questions and Answers — a place for students, teachers and native Russian speakers to discuss Russian grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the Russian language.