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Learn Russian words to express your love and affection
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Do you have a Russian sweetheart who says, “Ya tebya lyublyu,” but you’re not quite sure what it means? The good news is that they’re telling you they love you. But there are many other ways to express love and affection in Russian. We’ve put together all the best ways to tell someone you love them in Russian, along with some compliments and terms of endearment to help you express everything in your heart. Read on to learn more!
How to Say “I Love You” in the Russian Language
The most basic way to say “I love you” in Russian is “Ya tebya lyublyu.” If someone says, “Ya tebya lyublyu,” to you, and you want to return the sentiment, say, “Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu,” which means, “I love you, too.”
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
11 Ways to Say “I Love You” in Russian
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Say, "Ya tebya lyublyu," to tell someone you love them. This is the most straightforward, direct translation of “I love you” when speaking in Russian . [1] X Research source "Ya tebya lyublyu" is the romanization of the phrase, using Latin script (or the alphabet used for English and Latin-based languages). Russians read and write in the Cyrillic alphabet .
- Russian script: Я тебя люблю. [2] X Research source
- Pronounciation: ya tee-BYAH lyoo-BLYOO
- Ya means "I" in Russian.
- Tebya means "you."
- Lyublyu means "love."
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"Ya lyublyu tebya vsem serdtsem." Use this expression to emphasize the depth of your love.
- Russian script: Я люблю тебя всем сердцем.
- Pronounciation: ya lyoo-BLYOO tee-BYAH fsyem SYER-tsem
- English translation: "I love you from the bottom of my heart." [3] X Research source
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"Ya lyublyu tebya vsey dushoy." This Russian phrase tells your love that your feelings are deep and sincere.
- Russian script: Я люблю тебя всей душой.
- Pronounciation: ya lyoo-BLYOO tee-BYAH fsyei doo-SHOI
- English translation: “I love you with all my soul.” [4] X Research source
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"Ya ne mogu zhit' bez tebya." This expression tells a man or woman you love that you need him or her to make it through each day. [5] X Research source
- Russian script: Я не могу жить без тебя.
- Pronounciation: ya nee mah-GOO zhit' byes tee-BYA
- English translation: "I can't live without you."
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Tell a woman, "Ty nuzhna mnye." Use this Russian phrase to tell a woman you need her in your life. [6] X Research source
- Russian script: Ты нужна мне.
- Pronounciation: ty noozh-NAH mnyeh
- English translation: “I need you.”
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Tell a man, "Ty nuzhen mne." Use this expression to tell a man you need him in your life. [7] X Research source
- Russian script: Ты нужен мне.
- Pronounciation: ty NOO-zhen mnyeh
- English translation: “I need you.”
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If you are a woman, say, "Ya vlyubilas’ v tebya s pervogo vzglyada." This phrase is used by women to tell a person you fell in love with them the moment you saw them. [8] X Research source
- Russian script: Я влюбилась в тебя с первого взгляда.
- Pronounciation: ya vlyoo-BEEL-as' fti-bya s PYER-vah-vah vzgl-YA-da
- English translation: “I fell in love with you at first sight.”
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If you are a man, say, "Ya vlyubilsya v tebya s pervogo vzglyada." If you are a man and want to tell someone that you fell in love with them the moment you saw them, use this Russian phrase. [9] X Research source
- Russian script: Я влюбился в тебя с первого взгляда.
- Pronounciation: ya vlyoo-BEEL-sya fti-bya s PYER-vah-vah vzgl-YA-da
- English translation: “I fell in love with you at first sight.”
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"Ya budu lyubit tyebya vsegda." Use this expression to tell a man or woman that you’ll love them forever. [10] X Research source
- Russian script: Я буду любить тебя всегда.
- Pronounciation: ya BOO-doo lyoo-BEET' tee-BYA fseeg-DAH
- English translation: "I will always love you."
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"Ya tebya obozhayu." Use this Russian phrase to let someone know just how much you adore them. [11] X Research source
- Russian script: Я тебя обожаю.
- Pronounciation: ya tee-BYAH ah-ba-ZHA-yu
- English translation: "I adore you."
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"Ya khochu byt' s toboy vsegda." Say this phrase to tell someone you want to be with them forever. [12] X Research source
- Russian script: Я хочу быть с тобой всегда.
- Pronounciation: ya khah-CHOO byt' s tah-BOY fseeg-DAH
- English translation: "I want to be with you forever."
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Section 3 of 4:
Russian Terms of Endearment
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Call a woman "lyubimaya" and a man "lyubimyy." Use this term to call someone your "darling" or "sweetheart." [15] X Research source
- Russian script: любимая (woman) & любимый (man)
- Pronounciation: : “lyubimaya” is lyoo-BEE-mah-yah & “lyubimiy” is lyoo-BEE-miy
- English translation: “beloved.”
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Refer to a woman as "kotyonok" or a man as "kotik." Say this endearment when you want to call someone your “kitten.”
- Russian script: котёнок (woman) & котик (man)
- Pronounciation: “kotyonok” is kah-TYOU-nahk & “kotik” is KOT-teek
- English translation: “kitten” or “little cat.” [16] X Research source
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Affectionately use "dorogaya" for a woman or "dorogoy" for a man. This is another term used to call someone “love” or “darling.” [17] X Research source
- Russian script: дорогая (woman) & дорогой (man)
- Pronounciation: “dorogaya” is dah-rah-GAH-ya & “dorogoy” is dah-rah-GOI
- English translation: “dear.”
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Use "sladkaya" for a woman or "sladkiy" for a man. This Russian endearment is used to call someone "sweetie" or "honey."
- Russian script: сладкая (woman) & сладкий (man)
- Pronounciation: “sladkaya” is SLAHT-kah-yah & “Sladkiy” is SLAHT-kiy
- English translation: “sweet.” [18] X Research source
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Refer to a man or woman as "solnyshko." This term of endearment is used to call someone “sunshine” no matter what their gender is. [19] X Research source
- Russian script: солнышко
- Pronounciation: SOL-nysh-kah .
- English translation: “little sun.”
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Call a woman "printsessa." This is the Russian word for “princess,” so use it to make a woman feel like royalty. [20] X Research source
- Russian script: принцесса
- Pronounciation: preen-TSES-sah .
- English translation: “princess.”
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Call a man "tigryonok." This is a playful way of calling a guy “tiger.” [21] X Research source
- Russian script: тигрёнок
- Pronounciation: tee-GRYOH-nahk .
- English translation: “little tiger.”
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Section 4 of 4:
Loving Compliments in Russian
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"Ty takaya krasivaya." This expression compliments a woman's overall beauty. It’s only used when paying a compliment to a woman. [22] X Research source
- Russian script: Ты такая красивая!
- Pronounciation: tye tah-KAH-ya krah-SEE-vah-yah.
- English translation: “You are so beautiful.”
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"Ty takoj krasivyj." Pay this compliment when commenting on a man's overall attractiveness. But it’s only used when complimenting a man’s looks. [23] X Research source
- Russian script: Ты такой красивый!
- Pronounciation: tye TAH-koi krah-SEE-viy .
- English translation: “You are so handsome.”
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Gaze into your loved one's eyes and say, "U tebya krasiviye glaza." This Russian phrase compliments the eyes of men or women.
- Russian script: У тебя красивые глаза
- Pronounciation: oo tee-BYAH krah-SEE-viyeh glah-ZAH . [24] X Research source
- English translation: “You have beautiful eyes.”
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When he or she smiles, say, "U tebya ocharovatel'naya ulybka." This phrase is used as a compliment for a man or a woman.
- Russian script: У тебя очаровательная улыбка
- Pronounciation: oo tee-BYAH ah-chah-rah-VAH-teel'-nah-yah oo-LYP-kah .
- English translation: “You have a charming smile.” [25] X Research source
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"Ty luchshe vsekh na svete." This is another compliment that is used for men and women to tell them just how highly you think of them.
- Russian script: Ты лучше всех на свете
- Pronounciation: ty LOOCH-shee fsyekh nah SVYEH-tee .
- English translation: “You are better than anyone else in the world.” [26] X Research source
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References
- ↑ https://www.rbth.com/education/333396-i-love-you-russian
- ↑ http://www.russianlessons.net/lessons/lesson7_main.php
- ↑ https://www.linguajunkie.com/russian/i-love-you-in-russian-2
- ↑ https://www.fluentu.com/blog/russian/i-love-you-in-russian/#toc_8
- ↑ https://youtu.be/JrwpSUYuwFM?t=9
- ↑ http://www.learnalanguage.com/learn-russian/russian-phrases/russian-love-phrases.php
- ↑ http://www.learnalanguage.com/learn-russian/russian-phrases/russian-love-phrases.php
- ↑ https://www.russianpod101.com/blog/2021/08/26/russian-love-phrases/
- ↑ https://www.russianpod101.com/blog/2021/08/26/russian-love-phrases/
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the/russian-word-for-a84c3730b7b060431a3a61bc04f39b8a2741bb80.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/INNt0HMjLfo?t=27
- ↑ https://www.learnalanguage.com/learn-russian/russian-phrases/russian-love-phrases.php
- ↑ https://youtu.be/k1ZQB02WAEQ?t=15
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/russian-word-135c15a7f9ab38ca334afe1e561495177e9acb18.html
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/russian-word-ae25dda7cfd45b5205e3a97bfb1c6d96a86d7ca0.html
- ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-russian/kitten
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/russian-word-ccac4cabfc4a2b295b4d5500893001316acdd472.html
- ↑ https://russianlanguageguide.com/russian-terms-of-endearment/
- ↑ https://learnrussian.rt.com/speak-russian/tender-words-russian/index.html
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/russian-word-d10d6ed2c8099ca1d871057293e120837a0d4420.html
- ↑ https://en.openrussian.org/?search=%D0%A2%D0%B8%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BA
- ↑ https://learnrussianwords.com/you-are-beautiful-in-russian/
- ↑ https://learnrussianwords.com/you-are-beautiful-in-russian/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ho1aeSwKv9Y?t=17
- ↑ https://cudoo.com/blog/flirting-in-russian-top-words-and-phrases/
- ↑ https://learnrussianineu.com/romantic-phrases-russian/
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To say "I love you" in Russian, say “Ya tebya lyublyu,” which is pronounced like "ya tee-BYAH lyoo-BLYOO." If someone tells you they love you and you want to say it back, you would say "Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu," pronounced like "ya toh-zhay tee-BYAH lyoo-BLYOO." To learn how to say other terms of endearment in Russian, keep reading!
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