Sentence 4 in Kalinka
This is a sentence in Russian from Kalinka. It is composed of 12 words.
Ай-люли, люли, ай-люли, люли, спать положите вы меня.
English translation
Ay-lyuli, lyuli, ay-lyuli, lyuli, put me to sleep.
Description
Analysis of the phrase in context.
This sentence repeats a lullaby-like phrase (люли is often used in Russian lullabies). This enhances the dreamy, melodic quality of the song, reinforcing the desire for rest or solace
Word sources
A quick overview of the meaning of each word and its etymology.
| ай | ай | ouch! | |
| - | - | ||
| люли | люли | ||
| люли | люли | ||
| ай | ай | ouch! | |
| - | - | ||
| люли | люли | ||
| люли | люли | ||
| спать | спать | to sleep | Inherited from Proto-Slavic *sъpati, distantly related to English soporific, hypnosis and somnolent. |
| положите | положить | to put | From по- (po-) + ложи́ть (ložítʹ). Compare Serbo-Croatian положити, Polish położyć, Czech položit. |
| вы | вы | you | From Old East Slavic вы (vy), from Proto-Slavic *vy, from Proto-Indo-European *yū́. Cognate with Sanskrit यूयम् (yūyam) and English you. Use of Вы as a formal singular is attested in East Slavic literature from the 11th-16th century, under influence of Byzantine speech. It started becoming widespread in Russian society during the rule of Peter the Great, under French and German influence, and became ingrained by the 19th century. |
| меня | я | I |