Indirect objects (-у, -ю, -е)

When someone receives an action or object—like the person you are giving a gift or sending a message to—they are the indirect object. In Russian, you express this using the dative case.

You will frequently use it with verbs of giving, sending, and showing.

Feminine Nouns (-е)

For feminine nouns ending in -а or -я, replace the ending with -е.

  • сестра → сестре
  • подруга → подруге

Masculine and Neuter Nouns (-у, -ю)

For masculine nouns ending in a hard consonant, add -у. For neuter nouns ending in -о, change the ending to -у.

  • мальчик → мальчику
  • брат → брату
  • начальство → начальству
In the morning, the secretary sends a message to the management.
Утром секретарь отправляет сообщение начальству.

If a masculine or neuter noun ends in -й, -ь, or -е, replace the final letter with -ю.