Russian

Alternative forms

• -ивать ‎(-ivatʹ)

Suffix

-ывать • ‎(-yvatʹ)

1. Used to form imperfective verbs from prefixed perfective verbs.

   отде́лать pf ‎(otdélatʹ) → отде́лывать impf ‎(otdélyvatʹ)

   записа́ть pf ‎(zapisátʹ) → запи́сывать impf ‎(zapísyvatʹ)

   срабо́тать pf ‎(srabótatʹ) → сраба́тывать impf ‎(srabátyvatʹ)

   опроки́нуть pf ‎(oprokínutʹ) → опроки́дывать impf ‎(oprokídyvatʹ)

   обхвати́ть pf ‎(obxvatítʹ) → обхва́тывать impf ‎(obxvátyvatʹ)

   заката́ть pf ‎(zakatátʹ) → зака́тывать impf ‎(zakátyvatʹ)

   закати́ть pf ‎(zakatítʹ) → зака́тывать impf ‎(zakátyvatʹ)

2. Used for form frequentative verbs from non-prefixed verbs.

   писа́ть ‎(pisátʹ, “to read”) → пи́сывать ‎(písyvatʹ, “to read repeatedly”)

   чита́ть ‎(čitátʹ, “to write”) → чи́тывать ‎(čítyvatʹ, “to write repeatedly”)

Usage notes

The frequentative and imperfectivizing suffixes are etymologically the same. The suffixes are used with verbs in -ать ‎(-atʹ) and -нуть ‎(-nutʹ) (in the latter case, the underlying root reappears, which may involve an extra consonant that was lost before the -н- of the verbal suffix). They are also used with some verbs in -ить ‎(-itʹ). The spelling variant -ивать ‎(-ivatʹ) is used instead with verbs that end in root-final velars (к г х) and hushing consonants (ш ж ч щ). The stress is drawn onto the syllable before the prefix, and an о in that syllable usually changes into а.

Related terms

• -ва́ть ‎(-vátʹ)