ложи́ться спать
ložítʹsja spatʹimperfective
To go to bed in Russian is ложи́ться спать (ložítʹsja spatʹ). Wiktionary also lists лечь спать (lečʹ spatʹ).
Meaning: to lie down to sleep (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ложи́ться спать | ložítʹsja spatʹ | imperfective | |
| лечь спать | lečʹ spatʹ | [lʲet͡ɕ spatʲ] (word by word, narrow) | perfective |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ложи́ться спать is composed of the verb ложиться (to lie down) and the infinitive спать (to sleep).
Which one should you use?
ложи́ться спать is the imperfective form, used to describe the general habit of going to bed or the process of the action itself. лечь спать is the perfective form, used to describe a single, completed action or the specific moment of deciding to go to bed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb ложиться is reflexive, indicated by the suffix -ся and must be conjugated according to the subject. The perfective form лечь is an irregular verb that changes significantly when conjugated in different tenses.
How do you pronounce it?
ložítʹsja spatʹ
When do people say it?
In Russia, it is common to say Спокойной ночи to wish someone a good night's sleep.
Did you know?
- In some Russian households, the phrase баиньки is used as a cute or childish way to suggest it is time to go to bed.
- In Russian folklore and nursery rhymes, the act of going to bed is often associated with the баюки sounds, which are rhythmic humming sounds used to soothe infants.
- The Russian verb for 'sleep' спать is a distant relative of English words like 'soporific' and 'somnolent'.
Examples in context
- Я хочу лечь спать.I want to go to bed!This sentence is useful for expressing a personal desire to use лечь спать.Tatoeba #3264866 by Inego, translation #628769 by BraveSentry
- Том решил лечь спать.Tom decided to go to bed.This sentence shows how someone might use лечь спать to describe a decision.Tatoeba #10001354 by marafon, translation #9230669 by CK
- Я устал и хочу лечь спать.I am tired and I want to go to bed.This sentence uses лечь спать to connect a physical state to the intention of going to bed.Tatoeba #1991471 by marafon, translation #261411 by CK
- Если вы так устанете, сэр, то рекомендую вам пойти поскорее спать.If you get tired like this, sir, I recommend you go to bed soon.
- Иди спать, дружище. Утром будет новый день.Go to bed, buddy. Tomorrow will be a new day.
- Да спи уже, утро вечера мудренее.Just sleep already, the morning is wiser than the evening.
- Сейчас пора спать, иначе завтра будет трудно проснуться.It's time to sleep now, otherwise, it will be hard to wake up tomorrow.
- Иди спать, доброй ночи и сладких снов.Go to bed, good night and sweet dreams.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “go to bed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (лечь, спать) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries лечь, спать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
