
List the 30 most common irregular Russian verbs to memorize
The 30 most common irregular Russian verbs to memorize are mainly those that do not follow regular conjugation patterns and often have stem changes or irregular endings. Among these, five verbs are considered truly irregular, and others have notable irregularities or mixed conjugations.
Here is a list of the 30 most common irregular Russian verbs to memorize:
- быть (to be)
- есть (to eat)
- дать (to give)
- бежать (to run)
- хотеть (to want)
- идти (to go)
- пить (to drink)
- мочь (to be able/can)
- знать (to know) - irregular stem changes
- брать (to take) - irregular present tense forms
- писать (to write) - irregular stem alternations
- жить (to live) - irregular stem alternations
- видеть (to see)
- любить (to love)
- сидеть (to sit)
- стоять (to stand)
- делать (to do/make)
- говорить (to speak/say)
- класть (to lay/put)
- лечь (to lie down)
- обидеть (to offend)
- забыть (to forget)
- расти (to grow)
- петь (to sing)
- сесть (to sit down)
- гнать (to drive/urge on)
- знать (to know) - irregular in past tense
- ехать (to ride/go by vehicle)
- лить (to pour)
- мять (to crumple)
These verbs often have irregular endings, vowel or consonant stem changes, or mixed conjugation patterns that differ from the standard first and second conjugations. Learning these verbs early is helpful since many are frequently used in everyday speech. Some verbs derived from these irregular verbs share the irregularities as well. 1, 2, 3, 4
If needed, detailed conjugation tables can be consulted to master each verb’s forms.