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Russian grammar · B2·приста́вки

Russian verb prefixes beyond motion

Short answer: a prefix (приста́вка) is a syllable added to the front of a verb. On ordinary verbs it does two jobs at once: it makes the verb perfective (one completed action) and it adds a shade of meaning, such as “again” (пере-), “to the end” (до-) or “for a while” (по-). One root like писа́ть (to write) can produce a dozen related verbs.

писа́тьto write переписа́тьдописа́тьзаписа́тьвы́писа́тьподписа́тьсписа́ть rewritefinish writingwrite downwrite outsigncopy (crib)
One root, six new verbs. Each prefix (red) keeps a trace of its basic meaning: под- “under”, so a signature goes under the text.
On this page Twelve prefixesPrefixes and aspectStarting and lastingTo your heart’s contentRelated guides

Twelve prefixes and what they add

Each prefix has a core meaning that shows up across many verbs. Tap a row to hear both examples.

PrefixAdds the idea ofExample 1Example 2
пере- again; over, too much переде́латьpi-ri-DYE-lat’ · to redo перее́стьpi-ri-YEST’ · to overeat
до- to the end, finishing дочита́тьda-chi-TAT’ · to finish reading допи́тьda-PEET’ · to drink up
за- starting; noting down запла́катьza-PLA-kat’ · to burst into tears записа́тьza-pi-SAT’ · to write down
по- a little, for a while поспа́тьpa-SPAT’ · to have a nap погуля́тьpa-gu-LYAT’ · to go for a short walk
про- through; a length of time; missing прочита́тьpra-chi-TAT’ · to read through проспа́тьpra-SPAT’ · to oversleep
вы- out; thoroughly вы́питьVY-pit’ · to drink (up) вы́учитьVY-u-chit’ · to learn by heart
раз- / рас- apart, in all directions разре́затьraz-RYE-zat’ · to cut up рассказа́тьras-ka-ZAT’ · to tell (a story)
под- under; a little more; secretly подписа́тьpat-pi-SAT’ · to sign подслу́шатьpat-SLU-shat’ · to eavesdrop
от- away; in response отве́титьat-VYE-tit’ · to answer отказа́тьat-ka-ZAT’ · to refuse
при- adding, attaching пригото́витьpri-ga-TO-vit’ · to prepare приши́тьpri-SHYT’ · to sew on
у- away, removing убра́тьu-BRAT’ · to tidy away уме́ньшитьu-MYEN’-shyt’ · to reduce
с- / со- together; down from собра́тьsa-BRAT’ · to gather сфотографи́роватьsfa-ta-gra-FEE-ra-vat’ · to take a photo

Prefixes and aspect

Adding a prefix makes a verb perfective. If the prefix also changes the meaning, Russian needs a new imperfective partner for the new verb, usually made with the suffix -ыва- / -ива-. That gives a chain of three verbs.

+ пере-+ -ыва- писа́тьпереписа́тьперепи́сывать to write · imperfectiveto rewrite · perfectiveto be rewriting · imperfective The stress in the new imperfective usually moves before -ыва-: перепи́сывать.
Blue: imperfective. Red: perfective. Every prefixed verb on this page has a partner like перепи́сывать.
Perfective · done once ya pi-ri-pi-SAL sa-chi-NYE-ni-ye ЯIпереписа́лrewroteсочине́ниеessay I rewrote the essay.
New imperfective · in progress ya si-CHAS pi-ri-PEE-sy-va-yu sa-chi-NYE-ni-ye ЯIсейча́сnowперепи́сываюam rewritingсочине́ниеessay I’m rewriting the essay now.
Perfective · finished a-NA da-chi-TA-la ra-MAN Она́sheдочита́лаfinished readingрома́нnovel She finished reading the novel.
New imperfective · habit a-NA fsig-DA da-CHEE-ty-va-yit KNEE-gi da kan-TSA Она́sheвсегда́alwaysдочи́тываетfinishes readingкни́гиbooksдоtoконца́end She always reads books to the end.

Starting and lasting: за-, по-, про-

Three prefixes measure an action in time without changing what the action is. Together they let you say that something began, lasted a little, or lasted a long stretch.

заговори́ть: start talking поговори́ть: talk for a while проговори́ть часtalk a whole hour
The dot is a beginning; the bars are a stretch of time. про- always names how long: проговори́ть час, проспа́ть всю ночь.
ri-BYO-nak vdruk za-PLA-kal Ребёнокchildвдругsuddenlyзапла́калburst into tears The child suddenly burst into tears.
da-VAY pa-ga-va-REEM Дава́йlet’sпоговори́мtalk a bit Let’s have a talk.
my pra-ga-va-REE-li fsyu noch Мыweпроговори́лиtalked throughвсюwholeночьnight We talked all night long.

To your heart’s content: на- and вы- with -ся

Combine на- or вы- with the reflexive ending -ся and the verb means “to do something until you have had enough”. The thing you have had enough of goes in the genitive.

  1. ya VY-spal-syaЯIвы́спалсяslept my fill I’ve had a good night’s sleep.вы- + спать + -ся. A woman says вы́спалась.
  2. my na-YE-lis’ pi-ra-GOFМыweнае́лисьate our fillпирого́вpies We ate our fill of pies.на- + есть + -ся, with the genitive plural пирого́в.
  3. DYE-ti na-gu-LYA-lis’Де́тиchildrenнагуля́лисьwalked their fill The children have had enough of being outside.They have played outdoors as long as they wanted.
  4. ty na-ga-va-REEL-syaТыyouнаговори́лсяtalked your fill Have you finished talking?Often said with mild irony to someone who has talked a lot.