Не говори так громко.

to speak

Breakdown of Не говори так громко.

• не: not
• громко: loudly
• так: like that

Questions & Answers about Не говори так громко.

What verb form is говори, and who is being addressed?

Говори is the imperative, 2nd person singular, from the verb говорить (to speak).

• Imperative = a command/request: speak / talk.
• 2nd person singular = addressing one person informally: ты.

So Не говори так громко. literally means:
(Ты) не говори так громко. – You (informal), don’t speak so loudly.
The ты is normally dropped because the verb ending already shows the person.

How would I say this politely to a stranger or to several people?

Use the formal / plural imperative form:

• Не говорите так громко. – Don’t speak so loudly (you – formal / you all).

Here говорите is imperative, 2nd person plural, used for:

• talking to one person formally (вы), or
• talking to more than one person, formal or informal.

Why isn’t ты written in the sentence?

Russian usually omits subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

• (Ты) не говори так громко. – the -и ending in говори shows it’s ты, so ты is not needed.

Adding ты is possible but changes the tone:

• Ты не говори так громко. – can sound more pointed or emotional, like stressing you specifically.