Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| гоня́ть | gonjátʹ | abstract, imperfective |
| погоня́ть | pogonjátʹ | perfective |
| гна́ть | gnátʹ | concrete, imperfective |
| погна́ть | pognátʹ | perfective |
| гоня́ться | gonjátʹsja | imperfective |
| погоня́ться | pogonjátʹsja | perfective |
| гна́ться | gnátʹsja | imperfective |
| погна́ться | pognátʹsja | perfective |
| пресле́довать | preslédovatʹ | imperfective |
| охо́титься | oxótitʹsja | imperfective |
The meaning of 'to chase' varies depending on the specific Russian verb used. Гоня́ть and гна́ть are used for the transitive action of chasing something else. For more formal or serious contexts, such as a police pursuit or pursuing a goal, use пресле́довать. If the 'chase' is specifically in the context of hunting animals, use охо́титься. Related nouns include пого́ня, го́нка and пресле́дование for the action of chasing, while паз refers to a groove cut in an object.
Which one should you use?
The forms without the –ся suffix are transitive, meaning you are chasing something else (e.g., chasing a dog or a car). Additionally, гоня́ть is categorized as an abstract imperfective verb, while гна́ть is a concrete imperfective verb. For the perfective aspect, you can use погоня́ть or погна́ть and погоня́ться or погна́ться. The noun го́нка is often used to refer to a race or a high-speed chase.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gonjátʹ
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific phrase гна́ть в ше́ю, which literally means 'to chase by the neck'. It is the equivalent of the English phrase 'to kick someone out' or 'to dismiss someone bluntly'.
- The verb пресле́довать is used for both a physical chase and a haunting feeling. For example, a memory or a bad dream is said to пресле́довать a person, similar to 'haunting' in English.
- The verb охо́титься is used for hunting, but in modern slang, it is used when someone is 'chasing' a bargain or 'hunting' for a specific item in a store.
Examples in context
- Полицейский преследовал вора сквозь многолюдный рынок.The police officer chased the thief through the crowded market.
- Давай гоняться друг за другом в парке!Let's chase each other in the park!
- Собака любит гоня́ть кошек во дворе.Sobaka lyubit gonyat' koshek vo dvore.The dog loves chasing cats in the yard.
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are talking about their pets in the park.
- Сергей SergeyТвой пёс любит гоня́ть белок?Tvoy pyos lyubit gonyat' belok?Does your dog like to chase squirrels?
- Екатерина EkaterinaДа, он всегда за ними бегает.Da, on vsegda za nimi begayet.Yes, he always runs after them.
- Сергей SergeyМой пёс вообще никого не гоня́ет.Moy pyos voobshche nikogo ne gonyayet.My dog doesn't chase anyone at all.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЭто делает его очень спокойным.Eto delayet yego ochen' spokoynym.That makes him very calm.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chase” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
