Ти and Ви
A1–A2Pronouns 4 min
Ти is for someone close, Ви for a stranger or an older person; Ви takes a plural verb: Ви зна́єте. Even with one person, Ви takes the second-person plural form: Ти зна́єш? Ви зна́єте?
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A1: choose A1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA1–A2
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ти | family, friends, children | Як ти? | How are you? |
| Ви | strangers, older people, at work | Як у Вас спра́ви? | How are you? |
| Verb | зна́єш → зна́єте | Ви зна́єте, де вокза́л? | Do you know where the station is? |
| Request | сіда́й → сіда́йте | Сіда́йте, будь ла́ска! | Please take a seat! |
| Addressing | па́не / па́ні + the name in the vocative | Па́ні Оле́но, скажі́ть, будь ла́ска, котра́ годи́на? | Ms Olena, could you tell me the time, please? |
| Letter | Ви with a capital to one person | Дя́кую Вам за лист. | Thank you for your letter. |
| A2First name and patronymic | polite, to older people and at work | Іва́не Петро́вичу, до́брий день! | Good afternoon, Ivan Petrovych! |
OverviewA1
- ти is for family, friends and children: Ма́мо, ти вдо́ма? — Mum, are you at home?
- Ви is for strangers, older people, colleagues and shops: Ви́бачте, Ви не зна́єте, котра́ годи́на? — Excuse me, do you know what time it is?
- ви also speaks to several people, close or not: Ді́ти, ви гото́ві? — Kids, are you ready?
Form: the verb with ти and ВиA1
| Form | ти | Ви |
|---|---|---|
| Present | чита́єш | чита́єте |
| Past | чита́в / чита́ла | чита́ли |
| Imperative | чита́й | чита́йте |
- Ви takes a plural verb in the past tense too: Ви були́ в Оде́сі? — Have you been to Odesa?
Addressing peopleA1–A2
| Address | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| па́не + the name in the vocative | Па́не Іва́не, Ви за́йняті? | Mr Ivan, are you busy? |
| па́ні + the name in the vocative | Дя́кую, па́ні Ма́рто! | Thank you, Ms Marta! |
| A2first name and patronymic | Іва́не Петро́вичу, до́брий день! | Good afternoon, Ivan Petrovych! |
- па́ні never changes, and the name after па́не or па́ні takes the vocative: Vocative Case.
Ви in writingA1
- In a letter to one person, Ви, Вас, Вам and Ваш take a capital letter: Чека́ю на Ваш лист. — I look forward to your letter.
- To several people, ви takes a small letter: Дру́зі, ви всі запро́шені! — Friends, you're all invited!
Typical errorsA1
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ви зна́єш? | Ви зна́єте? | Ви takes the second-person plural |
| Па́не Оле́г! | Па́не Оле́же! | after па́не the name takes the vocative |
| Ви́бачте, ти зна́єш, де вокза́л? | Ви́бачте, Ви зна́єте, де вокза́л? | a stranger is addressed as Ви, not ти |