Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| кататься | katatʹsja | [kɐˈtat͡sːə] (narrow) | imperfective |
| перекатываться | perekatyvatʹsja | [pʲɪrʲɪˈkatɨvət͡sə] (narrow) | imperfective |
The verb Катиться is often used to describe the rolling motion of objects or people. Other related terms include Свернуться to describe the action of rolling up or curling, and Рулон which refers to a roll of paper, tape or other similar cylindrical objects.
Which one should you use?
The two imperfective forms used for rolling have different nuances. Use кататься for the act of rolling or riding around for pleasure, such as on skates, a bicycle or a sled. Use перекатываться when you want to specifically emphasize the repetitive motion of turning over and over, like a ball or a person rolling on the ground.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective counterpart to the imperfective кататься is покататься, which is used for a completed instance of rolling or riding.
How do you pronounce it?
katatʹsja
Did you know?
- To describe a 'roll' in sushi, Russians use the word ролл, which is a phonetic borrowing from English rather than a translation of the action of rolling.
- To say someone is 'rolling' in their eyes, Russian uses a different verb entirely, as кататься would imply the eyes are physically traveling across a surface.
- The reflexive suffix -ся in these verbs doesn't just mean 'self', it indicates that the subject is performing the action upon themselves or that the action is intransitive.
Examples in context
- Мяч катится.The ball is rolling.
- Давай съедим роллы вместе!Let's eat sushi rolls together!
- Сверни ковер.Roll up the carpet.
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are at a park with a dog.
- Сергей SergeyСмотри, как пёс решил кататься в траве!Smotri, kak pyos reshil katat'sya v trave!Look how the dog decided to roll in the grass!
- Екатерина EkaterinaОн очень рад прогулке, Сергей.On ochen' rad progulke, Sergey.He is very happy with the walk, Sergey.
- Сергей SergeyТеперь он весь в грязи.Teper' on ves' v gryazi.Now he is all covered in mud.
- Екатерина EkaterinaНам придётся его помыть, Екатерина говорит.Nam pridyotsya ego pomyt', Ekaterina govorit.We will have to wash him, Ekaterina says.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roll” translations and entries кататься, перекатываться, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries кататься, перекатываться, CC BY-SA 4.0.
