Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| лови́ть | lovítʹ | imperfective |
| пойма́ть | pojmátʹ | perfective |
To capture or snare something, you can use the verb forms provided. The term пойма́ть is the most general and widely used way to express 'to catch'. Another option is захватить, which implies a more forceful or deliberate action, such as seizing or capturing something. In an informal context, the verb лови́ть can also be used to mean 'to comprehend' or 'to understand'. Related nouns for a 'catch' in the sense of a physical clasp include защёлка, задви́жка and запо́р, while the noun подво́х refers to a 'catch' in the sense of a hidden difficulty, such as in a deal or negotiation.
Which one should you use?
Russian uses different verb aspects to distinguish between the nature of the action. Use the imperfective form лови́ть to describe the ongoing process of catching or for repeated attempts to catch something. Use the perfective form пойма́ть to describe a single, completed action of catching something.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective verb пойма́ть changes in the past tense depending on the subject: поймал is the masculine form, поймала is the feminine form and поймали is the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
lovítʹ
Did you know?
- While English uses 'catch' for a cold, Russian speakers typically use the verb подхвати́ть to describe 'picking up' a virus or infection.
- In Russian slang, пойма́ть is used to describe the experience of 'catching' a specific mood, a vibe, or even a state of intoxication.
- The root of лови́ть is shared with the word ло́вушка, meaning 'trap' or 'snare'.
Examples in context
- Спецназ решил захватить здание.The special forces decided to capture the building.
- У нас есть два часа, чтобы поймать последний поезд.We have two hours to catch the last train.
- Он поймает мяч.He will catch the ball.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “catch” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
