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A1How to sayvy govorite po-angliyski

How to say “do you speak English” in Russian

Worth knowing by heart — and worth expecting a “немно́го” in reply.

Quick answer

Вы говори́те по-англи́йски?

vy govorite po-angliyski — the polite version — and the one to use with strangers

The options

Вы говори́те по-англи́йски?Do you speak English? — polite
Ты говори́шь по-англи́йски?Do you speak English? — informal
Здесь кто-нибу́дь говори́т по-англи́йски?Does anyone here speak English?
Я говорю́ то́лько по-англи́йски.I only speak English.
Я немно́го говорю́ по-ру́сски.I speak a little Russian.

Expect “немно́го”

The usual answer is немно́го (a little) or нет. Outside the big cities, English is rarer than travel guides suggest — which is exactly why the rest of this site exists.

What you hear back

Да, немно́го.Yes, a little.
Нет, извини́те.No, sorry.
Немно́жко.A tiny bit.

Typical mistakes

Вы говори́те англи́йский?

Вы говори́те по-англи́йски?

Speaking a language takes the по-…-и form.

Ты говори́шь по-англи́йски? — to a stranger

Вы говори́те по-англи́йски?

Strangers get вы.

Check yourself

Which is correct?

The fixed form is по-англи́йски.

Want it all in one place?

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