How to Say 'I LOVE YOU' in Russian With 13 Romantic Ways
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| How to Say 'I LOVE YOU' in Russian |
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There are certain countries, languages and cultures that are naturally associated with love and romance.
But what about Russian?
There are several opportunities to use the love language in Russian! Read this to learn dating etiquette and how to say "I love you" plus more romantic expressions in Russian!
When Reading Romantic Russian Literature
Russian literature is internationally renowned.
And while many people are too intimidated to read the classics, the names of Tolstoy, Pushin and Solzhenitsyn are easily recognizable even amongst non-fans.
Russian literature is often stereotyped as being tragic, and for good reason. But there are plenty of Russian love stories (some of which actually end well) to choose from. Some of the most well-known Russian love stories include Анна Каренина (Anna Karenina) by Толстой (Tolstoy), Первая любовь (First Love) by Тургенев (Turgenev), and Мастер и Маргарита (The Master and Margarita) by Булгаков (Bulgakov).
When Visiting Romantic Russian Destinations
Swimming in the blue waters of Bali, visiting Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky in Iceland might be the typical romantic destinations that come to mind, but there are several in Russia you might not have considered.
If you’re headed to Russia and want an ideal place to propose to your loved one, a cruise through the canals of St. Petersburg—often referred to as the “Venice of the North”—or a stroll through the gardens of the Peterhof Palace might be the place to pop the question.
When Exploring the World of Dating and Relationships
Some say dating a native speaker is one of the best ways to learn a language.
If you have aspirations of finding yourself a Russian друг/подруга (male friend/female friend) or someone more serious, such as a девушка (girlfriend) or парень (boyfriend), then you should be prepared. And if you’re a fan of dating apps, Tinder is available in Russia.
But even if you aren’t looking for a romantic partner, you might be able to find your next language exchange partner on one of these apps.
What is The National Anthem Of Russia: English Version, Original Lyrics, History and Facts
How to Say I Love You in Russian
Like any other language, Russian has a few nuances that can make it difficult to understand someone’s true intent behind the saying. Like in English, someone can mean two different things when they say “I like you.”
Thus, it’s important to educate yourself on the dating culture of Russia and how Russian people talk about romance!
You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the following phrases:
1. Она мне нравится — I Like You
The phrase “…мне нравится” (…is pleasing to me) can be used to indicate both preference and romantic feelings. For example, it can be used to express a liking for a certain food, a general liking for a person or feelings of attraction toward someone.
2. Я тебя люблю — I Love You
Quite simply, if you’d like to convey your feelings for another person, and you want him or her to know that you find them attractive, this is what you want to use.
You can choose to change the word order and say “Я люблю тебя,” but there’s no significant difference in the meaning of the two. Some Russians prefer to emphasize the last word in a sentence, thus Я тебя люблю may be preferred.
It’s important to note that you really wouldn’t ever say “Я люблю Вас.” Вас is the formal version of тебя. Вас is used to address strangers, people you don’t know well or individuals of authority. Hopefully, the person you have romantic feelings towards is someone you know well, so you’d only use the informal тебя with that individual.
3. Я тоже тебя люблю — I Love You, Too
Hopefully, if you’re ever in the position where someone tells you they love you, you’ll reciprocate the feeling. If that’s the case, use this sentence.
But once you’ve been in a relationship for a while and want to emphasize the depth of your feelings and devotion, you might want to consider using some of the next few phrases!
4. Я тебя обожаю — I Adore You
As you’d expect, this is a rather serious declaration, so think carefully before using it. Saying it too early might be like saying “I love you” on the first date in English.
5. Я не могу без тебя жить — I Can’t Live Without You
What a cute phrase! But be careful—don’t let its adorableness deceive you. While in English we might think this sounds like a cheesy phrase any lovebirds would say, Russians take it a bit more seriously.
Similar to Я тебя обожаю, this is a significant comment and shouldn’t be used too early in a relationship.
6. Я люблю тебя всем сердцем — I Love You from the Bottom of My Heart
Perhaps even deeper than the previous two, this is a rather serious phrase and shouldn’t be used lightly. It’s probably better to wait until you regularly tell your partner “Я тебя люблю” before taking it to the next level with this saying.
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| Photo: Expatica |
Giving Compliments in RussianWhen trying to make a good impression and showcase your intentions, compliments are a good way of setting yourself apart from normal friends and expressing your appreciation for the other person’s efforts. All three of these comments are everyday sayings you can use with your love interest. None of them are over the top, so it’s acceptable to use them right from the start of a relationship, or even as a way of showcasing your interest before the first date. |
7. (Ты) такая красивая!/(Ты) такой красивый! — (You’re) so Beautiful/Handsome!
In Russian, you’d use (Ты) такая красивая for women and (Ты) такой красивый for men.
These sentences are appropriate to use when complimenting your date for the effort they made to look nice for the occasion.
8. У тебя красивые глаза — You Have Beautiful Eyes
Who doesn’t like getting told they have beautiful eyes?
You’ll be glad to have this phrase handy when getting lost in the dreamy eyes of your date or significant other. Not only will they be pretty flattered, but they’ll also be fairly impressed by your romantic Russian abilities!
9. У тебя отличная улыбка — You Have a Great Smile
Another oldie but still a goodie, telling your love interest they have a wonderful smile is another great way to compliment and appreciate them.
| Useful Expressions for Dating in Russian Next up, we have a few expressions and questions that may be helpful before, during or after a date. |
10. Ты свободна в эти выходные? — Are You Free This Weekend?
It should be noted that traditional gender roles are alive and well in Russia.
In other words, Russian men open the door and carry heavy loads, as women aren’t expected to fulfill these duties. But this traditional gender role means the vast majority of the time, men ask the female out. As a result, this phrase should be used by a man and directed toward a woman.
11. Ты хочешь поужинать со мной? — Would You Like to Have Dinner with Me?
Speaking of gender roles, Russian men typically pay, or at least offer to pay, for dinner. If a man doesn’t pay—or at least on the first date—he may offend his date and risk not seeing her again.
12. Спасибо за чудесный вечер — Thank You for a Wonderful Evening
This is a great way to end the night and thank your date for their attention, planning and effort. This phrase can also be used in non-romantic situations, such as when a party is breaking up or when friends are saying goodbye after an outing.
13. Мы можем увидеться снова? — Can We See Each Other Again?
It’s a good idea to gauge your companion’s interest in continuing the relationship if you’re interested. This is especially helpful because Russians are forthcoming, so if your date isn’t interested, it’s likely they’ll let you know in order to save you both time in the future.
Must-know Facts About Dating Etiquette in RussiaIn addition to learning some key phrases for dating, there are a few etiquette rules to keep in mind: 1. Russian women typically dress to impress, so if you’re a foreign female and invited on a date by a Russian man, he’ll likely expect the same effort. Men also dress up on dates. 2. If the two parties don’t know one another, they’ll typically meet at the date location. 3. At the end of the date, the man may offer to give the woman a lift home if she doesn’t have her own personal transportation. This is considered polite, but many women will refuse the offer, particularly on a first date if she doesn’t know the gentleman well. 4. Finally, only say “Я тебе позвоню” (I’ll call you) if you really mean it. If you tell your date you’ll call them and then fail to do so, it’s considered rude. |
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