-ять

See also: ять and -ать

Russian

Pronunciation

-я́ть: IPA^(key): [ˈʲætʲ]
-ять: IPA^(key): [ʲɪtʲ]

Suffix

-я́ть or -ять • (-játʹ or -jatʹ)

The infinitive suffix for many verbs. Usually indicates an imperfective verb. Often used to derive imperfective verbs from prefixed perfective verbs in -ить (-itʹ), and triggers iotation.
пра́вить (právitʹ, “to drive, to steer”) impf → напра́вить (naprávitʹ, “to direct”) pf → направля́ть (napravljátʹ) impf

Usage notes

Usually stressed. Occurs unstressed in certain verbs whose root ends in /j/ (e.g. се́ять (séjatʹ), та́ять (tájatʹ), чу́ять (čújatʹ)) and those with a stressed prefix вы́- (vý-) (e.g. вы́менять (výmenjatʹ), вы́ровнять (výrovnjatʹ)).

Derived terms

► <a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Russian_words_suffixed_with_-%D1%8F%D1%82%D1%8C'>Russian words suffixed with -ять</a>