Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| отпра́вить | otprávitʹ | perfective | |
| посыла́ть | posylátʹ | imperfective | |
| слать | slatʹ | [sɫatʲ] (narrow) | imperfective |
| посла́ть | poslátʹ | perfective | |
| отправля́ть | otpravljátʹ | imperfective |
Depending on the context, you may use different verbs: пересылать is suitable for sending items such as packages or emails, while направить is a formal term meaning to send in the sense of redirecting or directing something. In very informal contexts, the verb кинуть is used metaphorically to mean sending something quickly.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb depends on whether you are describing an ongoing process or a completed action. The imperfective forms посыла́ть, слать and отправля́ть describe the process of sending or repeated actions. Specifically, посыла́ть is used for regular or ongoing sending, while отправля́ть carries a nuance of 'dispatching' or 'setting something on its way', such as a shipment, a train or a ship. The perfective forms отпра́вить and посла́ть focus on the completed act of sending, such as a specific dispatch of a package or a formal letter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective form посла́ть is often used in idiomatic expressions that mean to 'send someone away' or to dismiss someone rudely.
How do you pronounce it?
otprávitʹ
Did you know?
- While посла́ть means 'to send', using it in the phrase посла́ть куда-нибудь is a polite way to tell someone to go to hell or get lost.
- The informal verb кинуть literally means 'to throw', but in modern slang it is used to describe sending a digital file or a link via a messenger app.
- The verb слать is the root of the word посла́ние, which refers specifically to a formal or solemn 'epistle' or 'missive' rather than a common letter.
Examples in context
- Не надо слать мне письма, я всё равно не смогу их прочитать.There's no need to send me letters. I can't read them, anyway.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the verb слать.Tatoeba #6594757 by odexed, translation #7801218 by AlanF_US
- Я отправил вам электронное письмо с документами.I sent you an email with the documents.
- Кинь мне ссылку на эту статью, пожалуйста.Send me the link to this article, please.
- Я должен отпра́вить этот пакет сегодня.Ya dolzhen otpravit' etot paket segodnya.I must send this package today.
- Вы можете отпра́вить мне документы по почте?Vy mozhete otpravit' mne dokumenty po pochte?Can you send me the documents by mail?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “send” translations and entries слать, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
