Meaning
Asking if the person knows English.
Cultural Background
Russians value politeness with strangers. Always start with 'Извините' (Excuse me) before asking the question. In business, asking this is a sign of respect for the other person's time, allowing them to choose the most efficient language. Among young people in cities, English is very common. They might even answer you in English before you finish the question. In smaller villages, English is rare. People might feel shy. A smile and simple Russian words are better if they say 'нет'.
The 'Excuse Me' Rule
Always start with 'Извините' (Izvinite). It makes the question much more likely to receive a helpful response.
The 'Vy' vs 'Ty' Trap
Never use 'Ты' with someone you don't know, even if they look your age. Stick to 'Вы' until invited otherwise.
Meaning
Asking if the person knows English.
The 'Excuse Me' Rule
Always start with 'Извините' (Izvinite). It makes the question much more likely to receive a helpful response.
The 'Vy' vs 'Ty' Trap
Never use 'Ты' with someone you don't know, even if they look your age. Stick to 'Вы' until invited otherwise.
Rising Intonation
Russian doesn't change word order for questions. Make sure your voice goes UP at the end of the sentence.
Modesty
If someone says 'чуть-чуть' (a little), they probably speak better than they admit. Keep speaking slowly.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct formal way to ask if someone speaks English.
___ говорите по-английски?
'Вы' is the formal pronoun used for strangers.
Complete the phrase with the correct adverb.
Вы говорите по-_______?
The construction 'по- ... -ски' is required for languages.
Complete the dialogue politely.
Tourist: Извините, ___ ________ по-английски? Local: Да, немного.
Polite address to a stranger requires 'вы' and the matching verb form.
Match the phrase to the person you are speaking to.
1. Ты говоришь по-английски? 2. Вы говорите по-английски?
Informal 'ты' for children, formal 'вы' for officials.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercises___ говорите по-английски?
'Вы' is the formal pronoun used for strangers.
Вы говорите по-_______?
The construction 'по- ... -ски' is required for languages.
Tourist: Извините, ___ ________ по-английски? Local: Да, немного.
Polite address to a stranger requires 'вы' and the matching verb form.
1. Ты говоришь по-английски? 2. Вы говорите по-английски?
Informal 'ты' for children, formal 'вы' for officials.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsBoth are correct. 'По-английски' is an adverb, 'на английском' is a prepositional phrase. 'По-английски' is slightly more common for this specific question.
It's understandable but considered rude. Using the full phrase shows respect for the local language.
Russian grammar rules require a hyphen for adverbs formed with the prefix 'по-' and suffixes '-ски', '-цки', or '-ьи'.
Smile, say 'Спасибо' (Thank you), and try someone else or use a translation app.
Almost. It means 'Do you know English?'. It's slightly more formal and implies a broader knowledge of the language.
You can say 'Я немного говорю по-английски' or simply 'Чуть-чуть'.
No, the verb 'говорите' is the same for all genders in the 'Вы' form.
Yes, Russian is widely understood and used in these countries, and the phrase is identical.
Yes, it's perfectly fine for texting a new contact or a service provider.
Usually 'Да' (Yes), 'Нет' (No), or 'Немного' (A little).
Related Phrases
Я не понимаю
similarI don't understand
Повторите, пожалуйста
builds onRepeat, please
Как это по-русски?
similarHow is this in Russian?
Вы знаете английский?
synonymDo you know English?
