🔤 Grammar
Pronouns & the missing 'to be'
In present tense, Russian usually drops the verb 'to be' (быть). «Я студент» literally means 'I student' — with no verb between them. Only past and future tenses use forms of быть.
Formal vs. informal 'you'
ты (ty) is informal — friends, family, kids. вы (vy) is formal or plural — strangers, elders, professional settings. Switching from вы to ты is a small ritual of trust.
Introducing yourself
The idiomatic way is «Меня зовут ...» — literally 'they call me ...'. To ask, say «Как вас зовут?» (formal) or «Как тебя зовут?» (informal).
Conjugation tables
Subject pronouns
| Russian | Translit | English |
|---|---|---|
| я | ya | I |
| ты | ty | you (informal) |
| он / она / оно | on / oná / onó | he / she / it |
| мы | my | we |
| вы | vy | you (formal/plural) |
| они | oní | they |
Examples
- Я из Москвы.Ya iz Moskvý.I'm from Moscow.
- Как вас зовут?Kak vas zovút?What's your name? (formal)
- Она врач.Oná vrach.She's a doctor.
Practice
Match each pronoun to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the russian it belongs to — or drag it.
Russian
English
Match each greeting to its meaning.
Tap a english below, then tap the russian it belongs to — or drag it.
Russian
English