А0 "Ты" or "Вы"? Understanding Politeness in Russian 🤝🏻

When you start learning Russian, one of the first surprises is that there are two ways to say “you”: ты and вы. In English, you use just one word — “you” — whether you’re talking to your best friend or your boss. In Russian, however, your choice between ты and вы shows the level of politeness, respect, and closeness in your relationship.

Let’s explore how and when to use them.

1. Ты — Informal “you”

Use ты when speaking to:

• Friends

• Family members

• Children

• People you know well and are on a first-name basis with

Examples:

1. Ты хо́чешь чай? — “Do you want tea?” (asking your mother in the kitchen)

2. Ты идёшь в кино́ сего́дня? — “Are you going to the cinema today?” (talking to a friend you often go to the cinema with)

3. Ты уже́ до́ма? — “Are you already home?” (messaging your close friend)

   
   
   
   

2. Вы — Formal “you”

Use вы when speaking to:

• Strangers

• Older people (unless they invite you to use ты)

• Your boss or colleagues in formal situations

• People you want to show respect to

  
  

Examples:

1. Здра́вствуйте, А́нна Ива́новна! Как вы пожива́ете? — “Hello, Anna Ivanovna! How are you?” (talking to an older person)

2. Вы мо́жете помо́чь мне? — “Can you help me?” (asking a police officer for assistance)

3. Вы живёте в Москве́? — “Do you live in Moscow?” (talking to someone you met for the first time at a conference)

4. Вы говори́те по-англи́йски? — “Do you speak English?” (asking a stranger on the street)

3. Cultural notes

• In Russia, using вы with strangers is the default. Jumping to ты too quickly can feel impolite.

• However, once you get to know someone, they might say: Дава́йте перейдём на "ты". — “Let’s switch to ty.”This means they want a more friendly, informal relationship.

• Switching from вы to ты is often a sign of trust or friendship.

4. Special case: Plural “you”

Вы is also used when speaking to more than one person — even if they are your close friends.

Example:

• Вы идёте домо́й? —“Are you going home?” (speaking to two friends)

📝Practice: Ты or Вы? 📝

Decide which form you would use (answers are below):

1. You meet your new teacher. (…?)

2. You talk to your younger brother. (…?)

3. You ask an elderly woman for directions. (…?)

4. You greet two close friends. (…?)

5. You meet your friend’s grandmother for the first time. (…?)

6. You order coffee from a barista you don’t know. (…?)

7. You call your grandmother on the phone. (…?)

8. You talk to your classmate during a break. (…?)

9. You meet a small child in the park. (…?)

10. You speak to your new boss on the first day of work. (…?)
    

    
    

(Answers: 1. вы, 2. ты, 3. вы, 4. вы (for plural), 5. вы, 6. вы, 7. ты, 8. ты, 9. ты, 10. вы)

🎯 Want More?

Let formal вы be for the strangers — and let friendly ты be for the people you meet in your Russian journey! I invite you to discover not only the words, but also the culture behind them.

📚 I offer individual lessons for all levels — from absolute beginners to advanced speakers. We’ll explore grammar, vocabulary, and the cultural secrets that make your Russian sound natural and confident.

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