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March 4, 2025

40 Verbs in Russian To Absolutely Know For Intermediate Learners

40 Verbs in Russian To Absolutely Know For Intermediate Learners

Understanding the Importance of Verbs in Russian

Verbs form the backbone of the Russian language, allowing you to express actions, states, and intentions. For intermediate learners, expanding your verb vocabulary is crucial for more natural and fluid communication. These 40 verbs in Russian will significantly enhance your ability to express yourself in various contexts. Building upon the Russian Vocabulary: 40 Essential Words to Learn that you've already mastered, these verbs will take your Russian language skills to the next level, enabling you to construct more complex sentences and engage in meaningful conversations with native speakers.

Russian Verb Aspects: A Quick Refresher

Before diving into our list of 40 essential verbs, it's important to remember that Russian verbs typically come in aspectual pairs: imperfective and perfective. The imperfective aspect describes ongoing, habitual, or repeated actions, while the perfective aspect indicates completed actions or actions with a clear result. This distinction is fundamental to using Russian verbs correctly.

Important

Understanding verb aspects is crucial for intermediate Russian learners. Always pay attention to whether you need the imperfective (ongoing action) or perfective (completed action) form of a verb.

Let's look at a quick example:

Aspect Verb Example Translation
Imperfective (chitat') I read a book every day
Perfective (prochitat') I finished reading the book yesterday

Essential Everyday Action Verbs

These verbs represent common actions you'll use in daily conversations. Mastering them will allow you to describe your routine and activities with greater precision.

1. To Do/Make

(delat'/sdelat')

This versatile verb is used to express doing or making something. It's one of the most frequently used verbs in Russian.

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (delayu) (I'm doing homework)
Ты (You) (delayesh) (What are you doing?)
Он/Она (He/She) (delayet) (She's doing repairs)
Мы (We) (delayem) (We're doing a project together)
Вы (You formal/plural) (delayete) (You're making a mistake)
Они (They) (delayut) (They're making progress)

2. To Speak/Talk

(govorit'/skazat')

This essential verb allows you to express communication and is crucial for discussing language abilities.

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (govoryu) (I speak Russian)
Ты (You) (govorish) (You speak too fast)
Он/Она (He/She) (govorit) (He's telling the truth)
Мы (We) (govorim) (We're talking about the weather)
Вы (You formal/plural) (govorite) (Do you speak English?)
Они (They) (govoryat) (They speak different languages)

Examples

I speak Russian well, but I speak French poorly.

3. To Know

Russian has two verbs for "to know": (znat') for knowing information and (umet') for knowing how to do something.

Verb Usage Example
(znat') Knowing facts, people, places (I know this city)
(umet') Knowing how to do something (I know how to play guitar)

4. To Understand

(ponimat'/ponyat')

This verb is essential for communication and expressing comprehension.

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (ponimayu) (I understand the task)
Ты (You) (ponimaesh) (Do you understand me?)
Он/Она (He/She) (ponimaet) (She doesn't understand the question)
Мы (We) (ponimayem) (We understand the problem)
Вы (You formal/plural) (ponimaete) (Do you understand Russian?)
Они (They) (ponimayut) (They understand the situation)

5. To See/Watch

(videt'/uvidet') and (smotret'/posmotret')

These verbs help you describe visual experiences, with subtle differences in meaning.

Verb Usage Example
(videt') To see (general perception) (I see a house)
(smotret') To watch/look at (directed attention) (I'm watching a movie)

Motion Verbs: Getting Around in Russian

Motion verbs in Russian are particularly complex and important for intermediate learners. They include directional prefixes and distinctions between unidirectional and multidirectional movement.

6. To Go (By Foot)

(idti/poiti) - unidirectional (khodit'/pokhodit') - multidirectional

Verb Usage Example
(idti) Going in one direction on foot (I'm going to the store)
(khodit') Walking regularly or in multiple directions (I go to the pool on Saturdays)

Notes

The distinction between unidirectional and multidirectional verbs of motion is unique to Russian and other Slavic languages. Unidirectional verbs describe movement in one direction at one specific time, while multidirectional verbs describe habitual movement or movement in multiple directions.

7. To Go (By Vehicle)

(yekhat'/poyekhat') - unidirectional (yezdit'/poyezdit') - multidirectional

Verb Usage Example
(yekhat') Going in one direction by vehicle (I'm going to work [by vehicle])
(yezdit') Traveling regularly or in multiple directions (I go to Moscow every year)

8. To Come/Arrive

(prikhodit'/priyti) - on foot (priyezzhat'/priyekhat') - by vehicle

Verb Usage Example
(priyti) To arrive on foot (I came home late)
(priyekhat') To arrive by vehicle (They arrived by car)

9. To Leave/Depart

(ukhodit'/uyti) - on foot (uyezzhat'/uyekhat') - by vehicle

Verb Usage Example
(uyti) To leave on foot (I left work early)
(uyekhat') To leave by vehicle (They left the city)

Communication Verbs

Communication verbs are essential for expressing how you interact with others. These verbs will help you describe various forms of communication.

10. To Ask

(sprashivat'/sprosit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (sprashivayu) (I'm asking about the price)
Ты (You) (sprashivayesh) (Why are you asking?)
Он/Она (He/She) (sprashivayet) (He's asking for directions)

11. To Answer

(otvechat'/otvetit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (otvechayu) (I'm answering the question)
Ты (You) (otvechayesh) (You're not answering my calls)
Он/Она (He/She) (otvechayet) (She answers quickly)

12. To Call

(zvonit'/pozvonit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (zvonyu) (I'm calling mom)
Ты (You) (zvonish) (When are you calling?)
Он/Она (He/She) (zvonit) (He calls every day)

13. To Write

(pisat'/napisat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (pishu) (I'm writing a letter)
Ты (You) (pishesh) (Do you write poetry?)
Он/Она (He/She) (pishet) (She's writing an article)

14. To Read

(chitat'/prochitat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (chitayu) (I'm reading a book)
Ты (You) (chitayesh) (What are you reading?)
Он/Она (He/She) (chitayet) (He's reading a newspaper)

Daily Routine Verbs

These verbs will help you describe your daily activities and routines in Russian.

15. To Eat

(yest'/s'yest')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (yem) (I'm eating breakfast)
Ты (You) (yesh) (Do you eat meat?)
Он/Она (He/She) (yest) (She's eating soup)
Мы (We) (yedim) (We're eating at a restaurant)
Вы (You formal/plural) (yedite) (You eat healthy food)
Они (They) (yedyat) (They eat together)

16. To Drink

(pit'/vypit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (p'yu) (I'm drinking tea)
Ты (You) (p'yosh) (Do you drink coffee?)
Он/Она (He/She) (p'yot) (He's drinking water)

17. To Sleep

(spat'/pospat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (splyu) (I sleep for eight hours)
Ты (You) (spish) (Do you sleep well?)
Он/Она (He/She) (spit) (The child is sleeping)

18. To Wake Up

(prosypat'sya/prosnut'sya)

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (prosypayus') (I wake up early)
Ты (You) (prosypayesh'sya) (When do you wake up?)
Он/Она (He/She) (prosypayetsya) (She wakes up at seven)

Important

Note that "to wake up" in Russian is a reflexive verb, which means it includes the reflexive particle -ся (-sya) at the end. Many Russian verbs follow this pattern when the action reflects back on the subject.

19. To Work

(rabotat'/porabotat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (rabotayu) (I work in an office)
Ты (You) (rabotayesh) (Where do you work?)
Он/Она (He/She) (rabotayet) (He works as a doctor)

20. To Rest

(otdykhat'/otdokhnut')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (otdykhayu) (I'm resting at the beach)
Ты (You) (otdykhayesh) (Where are you resting?)
Он/Она (He/She) (otdykhayet) (She's resting at home)

Cognitive and Emotional Verbs

These verbs help express thoughts, feelings, and mental states, which are crucial for more nuanced communication.

21. To Think

(dumat'/podumat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (dumayu) (I'm thinking about the future)
Ты (You) (dumayesh) (What are you thinking about?)
Он/Она (He/She) (dumayet) (He thinks he's right)

22. To Remember

(pomnit'/zapomnit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (pomnyu) (I remember your address)
Ты (You) (pomnish) (Do you remember me?)
Он/Она (He/She) (pomnit) (She remembers our conversation)

23. To Forget

(zabyvat'/zabyt')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (zabyvayu) (I often forget my keys)
Ты (You) (zabyvayesh) (You forget your promises)
Он/Она (He/She) (zabyvayеt) (He never forgets birthdays)

24. To Want

(khotet'/zakhotet')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (khochu) (I want to drink)
Ты (You) (khochesh) (Do you want to go to the movies?)
Он/Она (He/She) (khochet) (She wants a new car)
Мы (We) (khotim) (We want to rest)
Вы (You formal/plural) (khotite) (Do you want coffee?)
Они (They) (khotyat) (They want to leave)

25. To Love

(lyubit'/polyubit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (lyublyu) (I love you)
Ты (You) (lyubish) (Do you love music?)
Он/Она (He/She) (lyubit) (He loves sports)

Notes

In Russian, (lyubit') is used both for romantic love and for expressing preferences (like "to like" in English).

Practical Action Verbs

These verbs describe common physical actions that are useful in many everyday contexts.

26. To Take

(brat'/vzyat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (beru) (I'm taking a book)
Ты (You) (beryosh) (You're taking my things)
Он/Она (He/She) (beryot) (She's taking a taxi)

27. To Give

(davat'/dat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (dayu) (I'm giving you a book)
Ты (You) (dayosh) (You give good advice)
Он/Она (He/She) (dayot) (He lends money)

28. To Buy

(pokupat'/kupit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (pokupayu) (I'm buying groceries)
Ты (You) (pokupayesh) (What are you buying?)
Он/Она (He/She) (pokupayеt) (She's buying new clothes)

29. To Sell

(prodavat'/prodat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (prodayu) (I'm selling a car)
Ты (You) (prodayosh) (Are you selling your house?)
Он/Она (He/She) (prodayot) (He's selling old things)

30. To Help

(pomogat'/pomoch')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (pomogayu) (I'm helping a friend)
Ты (You) (pomogayesh) [audio:ru]Ты помогаешь родителям?[audio] (Do you help your parents?)
Он/Она (He/She) (pomogayet) (She helps children with homework)

These verbs help express ability, necessity, and possibility, making your Russian more nuanced.

31. To Be Able To/Can

(moch'/smoch')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (mogu) (I can help)
Ты (You) (mozhesh) (Can you do this?)
Он/Она (He/She) (mozhet) (He can speak English)
Мы (We) (mozhem) (We can meet tomorrow)
Вы (You formal/plural) (mozhete) (Can you help me?)
Они (They) (mogut) (They can come)

32. To Have To/Must

(dolzhen/dolzhna/dolzhny)

This is not a verb but an adjective used with the verb "to be" (which is often omitted in the present tense).

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (dolzhen/dolzhna) (I must work)
Ты (You) (dolzhen/dolzhna) (You must study)
Он/Она (He/She) (dolzhen/dolzhna) (She must call)
Мы (We) (dolzhny) (We must leave)
Вы (You formal/plural) (dolzhny) (You must sign the documents)
Они (They) (dolzhny) (They must know the truth)

Important

Unlike English, Russian uses a gender-specific form of "должен" (dolzhen) in the singular: "должен" for masculine subjects and "должна" for feminine subjects.

33. To Begin/Start

(nachinat'/nachat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (nachinayu) (I start work at nine)
Ты (You) (nachinayesh) (When do you start studying?)
Он/Она (He/She) (nachinayеt) (The movie starts at seven)

34. To Finish/End

(zakanchivat'/zakonchit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (zakanchivayu) (I finish work at five)
Ты (You) (zakanchivayesh) (When do you finish the project?)
Он/Она (He/She) (zakanchivayet) (He's finishing university this year)

Reflexive Verbs in Russian

Reflexive verbs are those where the action reflects back on the subject. They're formed by adding the reflexive particle -ся (-sya) to the end of regular verbs.

35. To Get Dressed

(odevat'sya/odet'sya)

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (odеvayus') (I dress warmly in winter)
Ты (You) (odеvayesh'sya) (You take a long time to get dressed)
Он/Она (He/She) (odеvayetsya) (She dresses well)

36. To Wash (Oneself)

(myt'sya/pomyt'sya)

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (moyus') (I wash myself every morning)
Ты (You) (moyesh'sya) (Do you wash yourself with cold water?)
Он/Она (He/She) (moyetsya) (The child is washing in the bath)

37. To Meet/Get Acquainted

(znakomit'sya/poznakomit'sya)

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (znakomlyus') (I'm meeting new people)
Ты (You) (znakomish'sya) (Are you getting acquainted with the neighbors?)
Он/Она (He/She) (znakomitsya) (She's getting acquainted with the city)

Examples

Let's get acquainted! My name is Ivan.

Advanced Concept Verbs

These verbs express more complex ideas and actions, helping you communicate at a more sophisticated level.

38. To Decide

(reshat'/reshit')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (reshayu) (I'm solving a problem)
Ты (You) (reshayesh) (Are you deciding to leave?)
Он/Она (He/She) (reshayet) (He solves complex problems)

39. To Change

(menyat'/pomenyat') or (izmenyat'/izmenit')

Verb Usage Example
(menyat') To change/replace something (I'm exchanging money)
(izmenyat') To change/modify something (She's changing her life)

40. To Create

(sozdavat'/sozdat')

Form Conjugation Example
Я (I) (sozdayu) (I'm creating a new project)
Ты (You) (sozdayosh) (Are you creating a website?)
Он/Она (He/She) (sozdayot) (He creates music)

Practical Tips for Mastering Russian Verbs

Learning Russian verbs can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can make significant progress. Here are some practical tips:

  1. Learn verbs in pairs: Always learn both the imperfective and perfective forms together to understand their relationship.

  2. Practice conjugation regularly: Create flashcards with different pronouns and practice conjugating verbs in different tenses.

  3. Use verbs in context: Rather than memorizing isolated verbs, learn them within phrases and sentences you're likely to use.

  4. Group verbs by prefix: Many Russian verbs share the same root but have different prefixes that modify their meaning (e.g., , , ).

  5. Focus on high-frequency verbs: Start with the most commonly used verbs (like those in this list) before moving on to more specialized vocabulary.

Important

When learning a new Russian verb, always note: - Both aspects (imperfective and perfective) - Any irregular conjugations - Whether it's reflexive - What case it takes for its objects

Conclusion

Mastering these 40 essential Russian verbs will significantly enhance your ability to communicate in everyday situations. By understanding their aspects, conjugations, and usage patterns, you'll be able to express a wide range of actions and concepts with confidence. Remember that consistent practice is key - try to use these verbs regularly in conversation and writing to reinforce your learning.

As you continue your Russian language journey, gradually incorporate more specialized verbs related to your specific interests or professional needs. The strong foundation provided by these 40 verbs will make learning additional vocabulary much easier.

Notes

Continue building your Russian language skills with 30 Common Russian Phrases for Everyday Conversations, where you'll learn practical expressions that utilize many of the verbs covered in this article.

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