Saying no with не
Put не directly before the verb to make a sentence negative.
Russian negation is simple: не goes before the verb. Я хочу → Я не хочу. The sentence keeps the same word order, so you only add one small word.
A1 · Russian
When you don't understand
Ask someone to slow down or repeat — and keep the conversation alive.
Pattern
Извините, я не …
Izvinite, ya ne …
Sorry, I don't …
Try a real sentence
Извините, я не понимаю.
Izvinite, ya ne ponimayu.
Sorry, I don't understand.
Вы говорите по-английски?
Vy govorite po-angliyski?
Do you speak English?
Повторите, пожалуйста.
Povtorite, pozhaluysta.
Please repeat that.
Говорите медленнее, пожалуйста.
Govorite medlenneye, pozhaluysta.
Please speak more slowly.
Я не знаю.
Ya ne znayu.
I don't know.
Помогите, пожалуйста.
Pomogite, pozhaluysta.
Please help me.
Words in this sentence
- извинитеexcuse me, sorry
- понимаюunderstand
- яI
- неnot
- выyou (formal/plural)
- говоритеyou speak
- по-английскиin English
- повторитеrepeat
- пожалуйстаplease
- медленнееmore slowly
- знаюknow
- помогитеhelp (polite)
Grammar
Вы — the polite you
Use вы with strangers and in formal situations; ты is for friends and children.
Вы takes the plural verb form even when you address one person: Вы говорите по-русски? Меня зовут… means “they call me…”, and is the standard way to give your name. Как вас зовут? is the polite question.
Start my first free lesson
Free to learn. AI can add new lessons in the categories you choose — your progress is saved on this device.
Start for freeLearning path
- Expressing what you wantSay what you want, simply and clearly.
- Introducing yourselfGive your name, say where you are from and ask the same back.
- Asking for thingsOrder and pay in a café without switching to English.
- Talking about your dayDescribe a normal day in six short sentences.
- Your dayDescribe a normal day in six sentences.
- At the café
Free · forever