Thread: "про" vs "о"

What is the difference between "о + Prepositional" and "про + Accusative"?
What is the difference between the following two sentences?

You speak about love.

Вы говорите про любовь.

Вы говорите о любви.

There is no difference.

I would suppose that "про" is used in vernacular speech. "О" is its literary synonym.

If you go to Ukraine, you will notice that the most Russian speaking people use "про" instead of "о". That's just because in Ukrainian language there is no "о" but "про".

Originally Posted by kwatts59

What is the difference between "о + Prepositional" and "про + Accusative"?
What is the difference between the following two sentences?

You speak about love.

Вы говорите про любовь.

Вы говорите о любви.

the difference, as you note above, is in the case of the noun that follows the preposition. As far as the meaning is concerned they're the same. In semi literate colloquial speach you might even hear some people say

вы говорите за любовь

but this pattern in the sense of about is really substandard
in questions I'd say that
О чем is more usual than про что

It's like in English, just a slight difference:

To speak on love.

To speak about love.

I think it's not the same because "speak on love" sounds weird whereas both "говороть о любви" and "говорить про любовь" sound natural.

I think these two sentences DO distinguish from each other:

at least for those who speak german!

man spricht VON liebe ( ПРО)
man spricht

Except in english i dont think anyone would say "speak about love".

Probly either "Talk about love" or "Speak of love" but speak about sounds gay.

Originally Posted by net surfer

I think it's not the same because "speak on love" sounds weird whereas both "говорить о любви" and "говорить про любовь" sound natural.

ON is also possible in this sense, as well as ABOUT and OF, the last being the best choice.

[quote=krobatshov]I think these two sentences DO distinguish from each other:

at least for those who speak german!

man spricht VON liebe ( ПРО)
man spricht

[quote=Indra][quote=krobatshov]I think these two sentences DO distinguish from each other:

at least for those who speak german!

man spricht VON liebe ( ПРО)
man spricht

[quote=Анатолий]

Originally Posted by "net surfer":xlicofyp

I think it's not the same because "speak on love" sounds weird whereas both "говорить о любви" and "говорить про любовь" sound natural.

ON is also possible in this sense, as well as ABOUT and OF, the last being the best choice.[/quote:xlicofyp]
I'd like to hear it from native English speakers. Is it Ok to say "on" in the phrase "speak on love"?

Speak on love sounds a little poetic and just...strange to me. For me, "talk about love" sounds the most natural.

Finally i agree with saibot. Or rather he agrees with me since i said it first. But 'Talk about love' is the best possible choice. Forget "on love" you'll never use it and probly never see it.

Ok, thanks.