ложись
lozhis'
In Russian, the phrase "get down" is expressed as ложись (lozhis'), which is an urgent command to drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger.
The phrase is primarily used as an urgent command to protect oneself from danger by dropping to the ground. In an emergency or combat situation, the command is typically shouted as a single word to ensure an immediate reaction.
Which one should you use?
While ложись is an imperative command to drop to the ground, other forms like Спускайся or Сойди are used in everyday conversation to ask someone to come down from a higher place or descend. For the specific act of descending or going down in formal situations, the verb Опуститься is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
ложись is the singular imperative form used for one person. The plural or polite version of this command is ложитесь.
How do you pronounce it?
lozhis'
Did you know?
- While ложись is used to dodge bullets or explosions, the word 'ложиться' also means 'to go to bed' in a general sense. In certain contexts, a command to drop down could be mistaken for an instruction to sleep if the urgency is not clear.
- In Russian, the command ложись is strictly used for horizontal movement toward the ground. If you wanted someone to duck their head to avoid a low branch, you would use a different verb, 'пригнись', rather than the word for laying down.
- Using the polite plural form ложитесь in a genuine life-or-death emergency is extremely rare, as the social requirement for politeness is overridden by the need for speed.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, опуститесь по этой лестнице.Please, get down using this staircase.
- Спускайся с горки!Get down from the slide!
- Ложись! Там осколки!Lozhis'! Tam oskolki!Get down! There are fragments over there!
- Быстрее, ложись на пол!Bystreye, lozhis' na pol!Faster, get down on the floor!
- Ложись и не поднимай головы!Lozhis' i ne podnimay golovy!Get down and do not lift your head!
Example conversation
A construction site where a heavy object suddenly falls nearby.
- Александр AleksandrОльга, ложись!Ol'ga, lozhis'!Olga, get down!
- Ольга OlgaЧто случилось, Александр?Chto sluchilos', Aleksandr?What happened, Alexander?
- Александр AleksandrТам что-то упало, ложись!Tam chto-to upalo, lozhis'!Something fell there, get down!
- Ольга OlgaОй, я упала!Oy, ya upala!Oh, I fell down!
