иметь
imet'
In Russian, the phrase 'to have' is expressed by the verb иметь (imet').
The verb иметь is used to express the possession or ownership of something. However, it is primarily used in formal, official or abstract contexts. In everyday conversation, especially when talking about physical possessions, Russian speakers typically use the construction 'у + genitive pronoun + есть'.
Which one should you use?
While иметь is a direct translation of 'to have', it is not the most common way to express possession in daily life. For standard, everyday speech, the construction у меня есть is the preferred method. For a more formal sense of ownership or mastery, you might encounter the verb обладать.
How does it change in a sentence?
иметь is an imperfective verb, which means it describes a continuous state of possession or a repeated action.
How do you pronounce it?
imet'
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid over-using иметь in casual speech, such as saying Я имею машину to mean 'I have a car'. A native speaker would almost always use the construction У меня есть машина instead.
Did you know?
- While иметь means 'to have', in certain slang contexts it can be used as a vulgar euphemism for sexual intercourse.
- Using иметь to describe people, such as 'having friends', can sound like you view them as objects or commodities rather than human beings.
- When Russian speakers want to say they 'have to' do something, they do not use иметь but instead use a completely different construction involving должен meaning 'must'.
Examples in context
- Мы хотим её иметь.We want to have it.This sentence is useful for practicing the verb иметь.Tatoeba #12696812 by marafon, translation #12696845 by Babelball
- Я хочу иметь семью.I want to have a family.Tatoeba #5661721 by odexed, translation #11277453 by ddnktr
- Я хотел иметь детей.I wanted to have children.Tatoeba #3703755 by odexed, translation #2012489 by CK
- У меня есть книга. (U menya yest' kniga.)I have a book.
- Он обладает большим талантом. (On obladayet bol'shim talantom.)He has a great talent.
- Я владею этой компанией. (Ya vladeyu etoy kompaniyey.)I own this company.
- У меня есть кошка. (U menya yest' koshka.)I have a cat.
- У него есть дом. (U nego yest' dom.)He has a house.
- У нее есть красивая машина. (U neye yest' krasivaya mashina.)She has a beautiful car.
- 149 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Dmitry are talking about their goals for the future.
- Ольга OlgaЯ хочу иметь собственный бизнес.Ya khochu imet' sobstvennyy biznes.I want to have my own business.
- Дмитрий DmitryЭто отличная цель, Ольга.Eto otlichnaya tsel', Ol'ga.That is a great goal, Olga.
- Ольга OlgaА что ты хочешь иметь?A chto ty khochesh' imet'?And what do you want to have?
- Дмитрий DmitryЯ мечтаю иметь дом у моря.Ya mechtayu imet' dom u morya.I dream of having a house by the sea.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
