Do you speak Russian? in Russian: How to say?

Jul 07, 2020 | How to say it in Russian?

Saying do you speak Russian? in Russian depends on who you are talking to: whether it is one person or several, and whether it is a formal or informal situation. These are two possible options:

– Вы говори́те по-ру́сски?
[vy ga-va-rée-tye pa-rús-kee]
Do you speak Russian? (formal or plural)

– Ты говори́шь по-ру́сски?
[ty ga-va-réesh’ pa-rús-kee]
Do you speak Russian? (informal singular)

Говори́те/говори́шь are different forms of the verb говори́ть (to speak). You can find the conjugation of the verb говорить here.

По-ру́сски literally means in Russian. More information here.

Sometimes you need to know is there anybody who speaks Russian, in this case you can say:

– Кто-нибу́дь здесь говори́т по-ру́сски?
[kto-nee-bút’ sdyes’ ga-va-réet pa-rús-kee]
Is there anybody speaking Russian here?

– С кем я могу́ поговори́ть по-ру́сски?
[s kyem ya ma-gú pa-ga-va-réet’ pa-rús-kee]
Who can I speak Russian to?

Listen to "Do you speak Russian?" in Russian

The audio recording includes all the examples (in bold and blue) listed above.

Related Russian words

по-ру́сски

[parúskee] Phrase

in Russian

Related examples

Вы говори́те по-ру́сски?

vy gavaréetye parúskee

Do you speak Russian?
Здесь не по-ру́сски напи́сано.

zdyes' nye parúskee napéesana

It is not written in Russian here.
Он отли́чно говори́т по-ру́сски.

on atléechna gavaréet parúskee

He speaks excellent Russian.
Я говорю́ по-ру́сски.

ya gavaryú parúskee

I speak Russian.
Я могу́ чита́ть по-ру́сски, но говори́ть мне сло́жно.

ya magú cheetát' parúskee, no gavaréet' mnye slózhna

I can read in Russian, but it's difficult for me to talk.
Сего́дня мы бу́дем учи́ться счита́ть по-ру́сски.

seevódnya my búdeem uchéetsa scheetát' parúskee

Today we will learn to count in Russian.