Lesson 007

My name is ... in Russian

In this lesson will teach you how to say “My name is…” and to ask “What is your name?” in Russian. The lesson combines basic Russian vocabulary with grammar references.

“My name is …” in Russian

When talking about someone’s name, Russians use the verb зову́т which means “they call me” or “I’m called”. This verb comes from the infinitive звать (to call). It is used with the Accusative case.

For example:

Меня́ зову́т А́ня.
My name is Ann.

Меня́ is the Accusative case of the pronoun Я. We have covered the Accusative case of the Russian personal pronouns in one of the previous lessons.

What is your name? in Russian

You can use the pronouns in the Accusative case to ask about other people’s name:

Как тебя́ зову́т?
What is your name? (informal)

Как вас зову́т?
What is your name? (formal or plural)

In the next example, we also use the possessive pronoun твоего́ in the Accusative case:

Как зову́т твоего́ дру́га?
What is your friend’s name?

More about Russian names

You can also use a phrase that can be literally translated “somebody’s name is”:

Моё и́мя – А́нна, моя́ фами́лия – Ивано́ва.
My first name is Anna, my family name is Ivanova.

Его́ и́мя – Дени́с.
His name is Denis.

But it is less common than the previous one.

Pay attention that family name in Russian changes in gender and number. Here are some typical examples:

– Ивано́в И́горь
– Ивано́ва Ири́на
– Ива́новы И́горь и Ири́на

– Михалко́в Серге́й
– Михалко́ва Ната́лья
– Михалко́вы Серге́й и Ната́лья

Patronymic name

Russians also have a third part of the name called о́тчество (which means “patronymic name”). It is formed by adding a suffix to the name of the father:

ович for masculine names
овна for feminine names

For example, if your father’s name was Ива́н, your отчество would be Ива́нович or Ива́новна.

Russian Pod 101

Have a look at some other examples:

Моё по́лное и́мя – Ивано́в Ива́н Ива́нович.
My full name is Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich.

Како́е у тебя́ о́тчество? Моё о́тчество – Дени́совна.
What is your patronimic name? My patronimic name is Denisovna.

Keep in mind, that о́тчество is only used in formal situations. Young people, friends and family members usually never use it.

Sometimes in questionnaires you might come across an abbreviation ФИО. It stands for фами́лия, и́мя, о́тчество (family name, first name, patronymic name).

Also remember that names in the Russian language change in gender and number as all other nouns and follow the same rules.

If you would like to know how your name is written in Russian, visit this link.

Practice all today’s phrases with the audio track.

The offline version of this lesson is available here

Start the quiz
  • Question # 1
    Say it in Russian:
    What is his name?
    • Как он зову́т?
    • Как её зову́т?
    • Как него́ зову́т?
    • Как его́ зову́т?
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 2
    How do you say "first name" in Russian?
    • и́мя
    • пе́рвое и́мя
    • о́тчество
    • фами́лия
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 3
    How do you say "family name" in Russian?
    • второ́е и́мя
    • о́тчество
    • фами́лия
    • фами́льное и́мя
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 4
    Say it in Russian:
    What is the name of your dog?
    • Как зову́т твоя́ соба́ка?
    • Как зову́т твою́ соба́ку?
    • Как зову́т её соба́ку?
    • Как зову́т ва́ша соба́ка?
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 5
    Choose correct response
    • Михалкова
    • Ната́лья и Серге́й
    • О́льга
    • Влади́мирович
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 6
    Choose correct response
    • Денисовна
    • Денисов
    • Денис
    • Денисова
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 7
    Choose correct response
    • Владимир Петрович
    • Иванова Ирина
    • Поляков Денис Сергеевич
    • Поляковы Инна и Андрей
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 8
    Choose correct response
    • Анна Алексеевна
    • Петрова Анна
    • Анна Алексеевна
    • Петрова Анна Алексеевна
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 9
    Which option is incorrect?
    • Евгения Петрова
    • Евгений Петров
    • Евгения Петров
    • Евгений Петрович
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
    Next
  • Question # 10
    Which option is incorrect?
    • Его зовут Андрей.
    • Его имя - Андрей.
    • Его друга зовут Андрей.
    • Его фамилия - Андрей.
    Answered: 0 out of 10
    Correct answers: 0 (0%)
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Comment on “007 – “My name is …” in Russian”

  1. Claudio Rosa says:

    Hello,

    it seems that lesson 59 has a problem with the sound file.

    Thanks and keep on with your good work.

    Claudio

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