оставаться
ostavat'sya
The English phrase 'stay' is translated into Russian as оставаться (ostavat'sya).
The verb is used to express the act of continuing to be in a particular place rather than leaving.
How does it change in a sentence?
Russian uses two aspects for this verb. The imperfective form оставаться is used for ongoing processes, habitual actions or to describe the state of staying without focusing on the completion of the act. In contrast, the perfective form остаться is used to describe a completed action or a single instance of staying.
How do you pronounce it?
ostavat'sya
Did you know?
- The verb оставаться can be used to express that something is 'left' in a quantity, such as saying only two tickets остались. In English, this is often translated as 'are left' rather than 'stayed'.
- The word оставаться shares a common root with the Russian word for 'leftover' or 'remnant', остаток. Both stem from the idea of something being left behind after a process is complete.
- Russian uses оставаться to describe the act of staying overnight in a hotel, but if you are staying at a friend's house, you might use остаться в гостях, which literally means 'to stay as a guest'.
Examples in context
- Я хочу оставаться здесь.Ya khochu ostavat'sya zdes'.I want to stay here.
- Она решила оставаться дома.Ona reshila ostavat'sya doma.She decided to stay at home.
- Мы решили оставаться в отеле.My reshili ostavat'sya v otele.We decided to stay in the hotel.
Example conversation
Andrey and Maria are deciding when to leave a party.
- Андрей AndreyМария, ты хочешь уходить?Mariya, ty khochesh ukhodit'?Maria, do you want to leave?
- Мария MariaНет, я хочу оставаться.Net, ya khochu ostavat'sya.No, I want to stay.
- Андрей AndreyЯ тоже останусь с тобой.Ya tozhe de ostanus' s toboy.I will stay with you too.
- Мария MariaОтлично, пойдём танцевать!Otlichno, poydyom tantsevat'!Great, let's go dance!
