Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ждать | ždatʹ | [ʐdatʲ] (narrow) | imperfective |
| подожда́ть | podoždátʹ | perfective | |
| ожида́ть | ožidátʹ | imperfective | |
| чека́ть | čekátʹ | Russia, Southern, Ukraine, imperfective |
The verb 'wait' is used to describe the act of delaying an action until a certain event occurs. Related nouns include ожида́ние and задержка, which both mean 'a delay'.
Which one should you use?
The imperfective form ждать is used for the ongoing process of waiting or for habitual waiting. In contrast, the perfective form подожда́ть is used for a completed action or when requesting to wait for a short, specific duration. The word ожида́ть is an imperfective synonym that is more formal or literary and is often used in the sense of 'expecting' something to happen.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form чека́ть is used in Russia, Southern Russia and Ukraine.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you wait for someone or something concrete, the verb ждать requires the object to be in the accusative case (ждать кого/что). However, when waiting for something abstract or non-existent, the verb can take the genitive case (ждать чего).
How do you pronounce it?
ždatʹ
Did you know?
- The Russian word ждать shares a prehistoric root with the Old High German word gīt, which refers to 'avarice'. This suggests an ancient linguistic link between the act of waiting and the act of longing or greed.
- In Russian, waiting for a person is grammatically different from waiting for a concept. Using the genitive case instead of the accusative can subtly signal that the person you are waiting for might never actually arrive.
- The prefix по- in подожда́ть transforms the verb from a general state of waiting into a specific, limited request for time, which is essential for sounding polite in Russian shops or offices.
Examples in context
- Я не хочу ждать.I don't want to wait.This sentence uses ждать to express a personal desire.Tatoeba #3682285 by Selena777, translation #2012073 by CK
- Нам её не ждать?Shouldn't we wait for her?This sentence uses ждать to form a question about waiting for a person.Tatoeba #5504126 by marafon, translation #3917051 by CH
- Нам их не ждать?Shouldn't we wait for them?This sentence uses ждать to form a question about waiting for a group of people.Tatoeba #5504129 by marafon, translation #3917049 by CH
- Подождите, пожалуйста.Please wait.
- Ожидайте меня здесь.Wait for me here.
- Подожди меня, пожалуйста.Please wait for me.
- Жди здесь, я скоро вернусь.Wait here, I'll be back soon.
- Потерпи немного, я приду.Wait a little bit, I'll come.
- Я пока занят. Подождите меня несколько минут, пожалуйста.I'm busy at the moment. Please wait for me a few minutes.
- Ты уже ушел? Подожди меня, я еду сейчас.Have you already left? Wait for me, I'm on my way.
- 1054 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Olga and Sergey are at a bus stop.
- Ольга OlgaСергей, мы долго будем ждать автобус?Sergey, my dolgo budem zhdat' avtobus?Sergey, are we going to wait for the bus for a long time?
- Сергей SergeyЯ думаю, нам придётся ждать ещё десять минут.Ya dumayu, nam pridyotsya zhdat' eshchyo desyat' minut.I think we will have to wait another ten minutes.
- Ольга OlgaЯ не хочу ждать на холоде.Ya ne khochu zhdat' na kholode.I don't want to wait in the cold.
- Сергей SergeyНе волнуйся, Ольга, он скоро приедет.Ne volnuysya, Ol'ga, on skoro priyedet.Don't worry, Olga, it will arrive soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations and entries ждать, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ждать, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
