знать
znatʹ[znatʲ]imperfective
The Russian verb for 'know' is знать (znatʹ).
знать is used to express being acquainted or familiar with something. To emphasize that you truly know something, you can use the word отлично before знать.
Meaning: be acquainted or familiar with (verb)
Which one should you use?
The default form знать is the imperfective, which is used to describe a continuous state of knowing or a general fact.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the present tense, the first-person singular is знаю (I know) and the second-person singular is знаешь (you know). For the past tense, the masculine singular form is знал (knew) and the feminine singular form is знала (knew).
How do you pronounce it?
znatʹ
Did you know?
- The word знать is not just a verb meaning 'to know', but it is also a noun used to describe the 'nobility' or 'aristocracy'.
- Russian distinguishes between knowing a fact or a person and knowing how to do something. While знать is used for facts, the verb уметь is used for skills.
- The Russian verb знать shares the same ancient Indo-European root as the English word 'ken', as in the phrase 'beyond one's ken'.
Examples in context
- Я дам им знать.I'll let them know.This sentence is useful for saying 'I'll let them know' using the form знать.Tatoeba #4632847 by odexed, translation #3913544 by CH
- Я дам ей знать.I'll let her know.This sentence is useful for saying 'I'll let her know' using the form знать.Tatoeba #6686793 by marafon, translation #3913546 by CH
- И знать не хочу.I don't even want to know.This sentence is useful for saying 'I don't even want to know' using the form знать.Tatoeba #2729870 by marafon, translation #2012416 by CK
- Я знаю эту информацию.I know this information.
- Я отлично знаю этот город.I know this city really well.
- Я имею представление о проблеме.I have an understanding of the problem.
- Она владеет информацией о рынке акций.She has knowledge about the stock market.
- Я знаю эту песню.I know this song.
- Я шарю в компьютерах.I know my way around computers.
- 1571 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Aleksandr are talking about a mutual friend.
- Ольга OlgaТы знаешь Максима?Ty znayesh Maksima?Do you know Maksim?
- Александр AleksandrНет, я не знаю этого человека.Net, ya ne znayu etogo cheloveka.No, I don't know this person.
- Ольга OlgaОн мой коллега по работе.On moy kollega po rabote.He is my colleague at work.
- Александр AleksandrТеперь я хочу знать его.Teper ya khochu znat' yego.Now I want to know him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “know” translations and entries знать, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries знать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
