The Polite 'вы' — Russian Grammar

Russian has two words for you. (Ty) is used for one person you know well - family, friends, children, animals. (Vy) is used for several people, and also, politely, for one person: someone older, a stranger, a customer, a teacher or a colleague you do not know well.

Verbs and Pronouns Follow

Polite (vy) takes plural verb forms, plural possessives and plural forms of the imperative, even when only one person is addressed.

Как вас зову́т?
Kak vas zovút?
What's your name?
Чем я могу́ вам помо́чь?
Chem ya mogú vam pomóch'?Čem ja mogú vam pomóčʹ?
How can I help you?
Могу́ я посмотре́ть ваш па́спорт?
Mogú ya posmotrét' vash pásport?Mogú ja posmotrétʹ vaš pásport?
May I see your passport?
Входи́те, пожа́луйста.
Vkhodíte, pozháluysta.Vxodíte, požálujsta.
Please come in.

Short Adjectives and Past Tense

Short adjectives and past-tense verbs are plural with (vy).

Вы пра́вы.
Vy právy.
You're right.
Вы бы́ли в Москве́?
Vy býli v Moskvé?
Have you been to Moscow?

Long Adjectives and Nouns

A long adjective or a noun describing the person stays in the singular, and agrees with their sex.

Вы о́чень до́брая.
Vy óchen' dóbraya.Vy óčenʹ dóbraja.
You're very kind.

In Writing

In letters and emails addressed to one person, (Vy) and (VashVaš) are often written with a capital letter as a sign of respect.

С нетерпе́нием жду Ва́шего отве́та.
S neterpéniyem zhdu Váshego otvéta.S neterpénijem ždu Vášego otvéta.
I look forward to your reply.

Choosing

Adults who meet for the first time use (vy). Switching to (ty) is usually suggested by the older or more senior person.

Дава́й на ты.
Daváy na ty.Daváj na ty.
Let's be on first-name terms.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Russian course

48 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 4. A few of them, with the words “The Polite 'вы'” is about in bold:

Вы первая, кто заметила!
Vy pérvaya, kto zamétila!Vy pérvaja, kto zamétila!
You are the first person to notice!
Lesson 337

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