Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'buy'

English Word: buy

Key Russian Translations:

• покупать [pəkʊˈpatʲ] - [Informal, Imperfective]
• купить [kʊˈpʲitʲ] - [Informal, Perfective]

Frequency: High

Difficulty: A2 (Beginner-Intermediate for both translations)

Pronunciation (Russian):

покупать: [pəkʊˈpatʲ]

Note on покупать: Stress on the second syllable. The initial 'по-' is unstressed and pronounced softly.

купить: [kʊˈpʲitʲ]

Note on купить: Stress on the second syllable. The 'и' is pronounced as a soft 'ee' sound due to palatalization.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. To purchase something (general sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• покупать - Used for ongoing or habitual buying actions (imperfective aspect).
• купить - Used for a completed, one-time purchase (perfective aspect).

Usage Examples:

• Я часто покупаю продукты в этом магазине.

  I often buy groceries at this store.

• Вчера я купил новую машину.

  Yesterday, I bought a new car.

• Ты покупаешь подарки на Новый год?

  Do you buy gifts for New Year?

• Она купила билеты на концерт.

  She bought tickets for the concert.

• Мы покупаем одежду только на распродажах.

  We buy clothes only during sales.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

покупать (Imperfective Verb): Regular conjugation in present, past, and future tenses.

купить (Perfective Verb): Used only in past and future tenses, as it denotes a completed action.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms:

• приобретать (more formal, often for significant purchases)
• брать (informal, 'to take' but often used as 'to buy')

Antonyms:

• продавать (to sell)
• отдавать (to give away)

Related Phrases:

• купить в кредит - to buy on credit
• покупать оптом - to buy in bulk
• купить билет в одну сторону - to buy a one-way ticket

Usage Notes:

• The choice between 'покупать' and 'купить' depends on the aspect: use 'покупать' for habitual or ongoing actions, and 'купить' for completed purchases.
• In informal contexts, 'брать' can sometimes substitute for 'покупать/купить,' but it’s less precise and context-dependent.
• Russian verbs of buying often require the accusative case for the object being bought (e.g., 'Я купил машину' - I bought a car).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'покупать' when referring to a one-time completed purchase.
  Incorrect: *Я покупаю машину вчера.*
  Correct: Я купил машину вчера. (I bought a car yesterday.)
  Explanation: 'Покупать' implies an ongoing or habitual action and cannot be used with a specific past time like 'yesterday.'
• Error: Forgetting to use the accusative case for the object.
  Incorrect: *Я купил машина.*
  Correct: Я купил машину.
  Explanation: The noun following 'купить' must be in the accusative case to indicate the direct object.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, bargaining is still common in markets or informal settings when buying goods. The verb 'покупать' might be used in negotiations to imply a process, while 'купить' signals the final decision to purchase.

Related Concepts:

• торговаться (to bargain)
• цена (price)
• магазин (store)