Learning Russian can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One common area of confusion for learners is understanding the difference between the verbs **звать** (zvat’) and **называть** (nazyvat’). Both verbs can be translated to “call” in English, but they are used in different contexts and carry distinct meanings. This article will delve into the nuances of these verbs, provide definitions, and offer example sentences to help you grasp their proper usage.

Understanding Звать (zvat’)

Звать (zvat’) is a verb used primarily to mean “to call” someone, usually to get their attention or summon them. It is an imperfective verb, which means it describes an ongoing or habitual action.

Звать – to call (a person)
Мама зовёт меня домой.
(Mama zovyot menya domoy.)
Mom is calling me home.

Here are some related forms of **звать**:
– **Позвать** (pozvat’) – to call (perfective aspect)
– **Зовёшь** (zovyosh’) – you call (informal, singular)
– **Зовут** (zovut) – they call

Позвать (pozvat’) is the perfective aspect of **звать**, indicating a completed action. You would use it when you have already called someone, or you are planning to call someone in the future.

Позвать – to call (perfective aspect)
Я позову тебя завтра.
(Ya pozovu tebya zavtra.)
I will call you tomorrow.

Зовёшь (zovyosh’) is the second person singular form of **звать**, used in informal situations.

Зовёшь – you call (informal, singular)
Ты зовёшь свою собаку?
(Ty zovyosh’ svoyu sobaku?)
Are you calling your dog?

Зовут (zovut) is the third person plural form of **звать**. It is often used to say what someone is called by others.

Зовут – they call
Как тебя зовут?
(Kak tebya zovut?)
What is your name? (literally: How do they call you?)

Understanding Называть (nazyvat’)

Называть (nazyvat’) is a verb that means “to name” or “to call something by a name.” It is also an imperfective verb and is used for ongoing or habitual actions.

Называть – to name, to call (something by a name)
Мы называем нашего кота Мурзиком.
(My nazyvayem nashego kota Murzikom.)
We call our cat Murzik.

Similar to **звать**, **называть** has a perfective form:

Назвать (nazvat’) – to name, to call (perfective aspect)
Они назвали свою дочь Анной.
(Oni nazvali svoyu doch’ Annoy.)
They named their daughter Anna.

Here are some related forms of **называть**:
– **Называешь** (nazyvayesh’) – you name (informal, singular)
– **Называют** (nazyvayut) – they name

Называешь (nazyvayesh’) is the second person singular form of **называть**, used in informal situations.

Называешь – you name (informal, singular)
Как ты называешь эту книгу?
(Kak ty nazyvayesh’ etu knigu?)
What do you call this book?

Называют (nazyvayut) is the third person plural form of **называть**.

Называют – they name
Эти цветы называют ромашками.
(Eti tsvety nazyvayut romashkami.)
These flowers are called daisies.

Key Differences Between Звать and Называть

1. **Context of Use**:
– **Звать** is used to call someone to get their attention or summon them.
– **Называть** is used to name someone or something.

2. **Aspect**:
– Both verbs are imperfective, but they also have perfective counterparts: **Позвать** for **звать** and **Назвать** for **называть**.

3. **Formality and Pronouns**:
– The forms **зовёшь** and **называешь** are used in informal, singular contexts.
– The forms **зовут** and **называют** are used in third person plural contexts.

Practical Examples

Let’s look at some practical examples to better understand the differences.

Звать (to call):
Учитель зовёт учеников в класс.
(Uchitel’ zovyot uchenikov v klass.)
The teacher is calling the students into the classroom.

Называть (to name):
Мы называем эту картину “Вечерний закат”.
(My nazyvayem etu kartinu “Vecherniy zakat”.)
We call this painting “Evening Sunset.”

Позвать (to call, perfective):
Я позову тебя на ужин.
(Ya pozovu tebya na uzhin.)
I will call you for dinner.

Назвать (to name, perfective):
Они назвали свою компанию “Успех”.
(Oni nazvali svoyu kompaniyu “Uspekh”.)
They named their company “Success.”

Зовёшь (you call, informal):
Ты зовёшь брата?
(Ty zovyosh’ brata?)
Are you calling your brother?

Называешь (you name, informal):
Как ты называешь этот цвет?
(Kak ty nazyvayesh’ etot tsvet?)
What do you call this color?

Зовут (they call):
Его зовут Иван.
(Ego zovut Ivan.)
His name is Ivan. (literally: They call him Ivan)

Называют (they name):
Эти грибы называют лисичками.
(Eti griby nazyvayut lisichkami.)
These mushrooms are called chanterelles.

Combining Both Verbs

In some sentences, you might find both verbs used to convey complex meanings. Here are a few examples:

Мы зовём его, но он не отвечает. Мы называем его “тихий”.
(My zovyom ego, no on ne otvechayet. My nazyvayem ego “tikhi”.)
We call him, but he doesn’t answer. We name him “quiet.”

Они позвали меня на праздник и назвали своим другом.
(Oni pozvali menya na prazdnik i nazvali svoim drugom.)
They called me to the celebration and named me their friend.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. **Mixing Up the Verbs**: One common mistake is using **звать** when you mean to use **называть** and vice versa. Remember, **звать** is for calling someone to get their attention, while **называть** is for naming someone or something.

2. **Aspect Confusion**: Be mindful of the aspect you use. Use **звать** and **называть** for ongoing actions, and **позвать** and **назвать** for completed actions.

3. **Formal vs. Informal**: Make sure to use the correct form based on the formality of the situation. Use **зовёшь** and **называешь** in informal contexts, and their plural counterparts in formal or plural contexts.

Exercises for Practice

Here are a few exercises to help reinforce what you’ve learned:

1. Translate the following sentences into Russian:
– What do you call this animal?
– I will call you when dinner is ready.
– They named their son Alexei.
– She is calling her friend to come over.

2. Identify whether to use **звать** or **называть** in the following scenarios:
– You want to get your friend’s attention at a party.
– You are telling someone the name of your pet.
– You are completing the action of calling someone for dinner.
– You are explaining what a particular tree is called.

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of **звать** or **называть**:
– Мы ________ его каждый день.
– Как они ________ эту страну?
– Он ________ меня по имени.
– Она ________ его, но он не слышит.

By practicing these exercises and understanding the distinctions between **звать** and **называть**, you will be well on your way to mastering these essential Russian verbs. Happy learning!