лечь
lečʹ[lʲet͡ɕ]perfective
To lie down in Russian is лечь (lečʹ). Wiktionary also lists ложи́ться (ložítʹsja).
Meaning: assume a horizontal position (verb)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ложи́ться | ložítʹsja | imperfective | |
| лечь | lečʹ | [lʲet͡ɕ] (narrow) | perfective |
The verb is used to describe the act of assuming a horizontal position.
Which one should you use?
There are two forms to distinguish based on the aspect of the action. The imperfective form ложиться describes the process of lying down or a habitual action. The perfective form лечь is used for a completed, single act of lying down.
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective form лечь is an irregular verb and does not follow standard conjugation patterns for its stem in the past tense.
How do you pronounce it?
lečʹ
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the verbs for the act of lying down, лечь or ложиться, with the verb for the state of being in a lying position, лежать.
Did you know?
- In Russian, the verb лечь can be used metaphorically to describe a color or a pattern that is applied smoothly to a surface, such as paint 'lying down' on a canvas.
- When talking about the weather, Russians use a related form of the root in лечь to describe how fog 'settles' or 'lies' over a city.
- The Russian word лечь is used in the common expression лечь на this to mean 'to be just right' or 'to fit perfectly' in a metaphorical sense.
Examples in context
- Я хотел бы лечь.I'd like to lie down.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to lie down using лечь.Tatoeba #7998491 by marafon, translation #1936413 by CK
- Ты можешь лечь здесь.You can lie down here.This sentence is useful for stating permission to lie down here using лечь.Tatoeba #2992319 by odexed, translation #10013092 by ddnktr
- Я могу лечь на диван?Can I lie down on the couch?This sentence is useful for asking permission to lie down on a couch using лечь.Tatoeba #5789770 by marafon, translation #11600372 by ddnktr
- Пожалуйста, ложитесь на эту кровать.Please, lie down on this bed.
- Откинься на диване и отдохни.Stretch out on the couch and relax.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Aleksandr are in the living room during a rest break.
- Екатерина EkaterinaТы можешь лечь на этот коврик?Ty mozhesh' lech' na etot kovrik?Can you lie down on this mat?
- Александр AleksandrДа, я очень устал.Da, ya ochen' ustaal.Yes, I am very tired.
- Екатерина EkaterinaТогда тебе нужно лечь и отдохнуть.Togda tebe nuzhno lech' i otdokhnut'.Then you need to lie down and rest.
- Александр AleksandrСпасибо, Екатерина.Spasibo, Ekaterina.Thanks, Ekaterina.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lie down” translations and entries лечь, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
