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Russian
Vocabulaire
посылать

A2 verb 9 min de lecture

посылать

to cause to be moved somewhere

At the A1 level, 'посылать' is introduced as a basic action verb. Learners focus on its most literal meaning: sending physical objects like letters or postcards. The primary goal is to master the present tense conjugation: 'я посылаю', 'ты посылаешь', etc. At this stage, learners should understand that the object being sent is in the Accusative case (e.g., 'письмо', 'подарок') and the person receiving it is in the Dative case (e.g., 'маме', 'другу'). Simple sentences like 'I send a letter to my friend' are the foundation. The concept of 'sending' is tied closely to the post office and simple digital actions like sending an SMS. Vocabulary is kept concrete, avoiding metaphorical or complex idiomatic uses. The focus is on the repetitive nature of the imperfective aspect, even if the learner doesn't yet fully grasp the perfective/imperfective distinction in depth. Exercises usually involve matching subjects with the correct verb form or identifying the object in a sentence. Visual aids often include icons of envelopes or gift boxes to reinforce the meaning. By the end of A1, a student should be able to say what they are sending and to whom in a basic conversation.

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At the A2 level, the usage of 'посылать' expands to include sending people and more digital contexts. Learners are introduced to the aspect pair 'посылать/послать', though they mainly practice the imperfective 'посылать' for habits and ongoing actions. You will learn to send someone for a purpose, using the 'за + Instrumental' construction (e.g., 'посылать за врачом' - sending for a doctor). The context moves from just letters to emails, photos, and messages on social media. Grammatically, students start using plural forms more confidently ('посылать сообщения'). This level also introduces the idea of sending someone *to* a place using 'в' or 'на' + Accusative. For example, 'The company sends us to Moscow.' Learners begin to see 'посылать' in short dialogues about office work or travel. The distinction between 'посылать' and 'отправлять' is briefly touched upon, noting that 'отправлять' is more common for official mail. Exercises involve completing sentences with the correct case and choosing the right verb in a simple context. The student's ability to describe daily routines involving 'sending' (like checking and sending emails) is a key milestone at this level.

At the B1 level, 'посылать' is used in more abstract and professional contexts. Learners are expected to handle the verb in all three tenses (past, present, future) and understand the nuances of the imperfective aspect (process, duration, habit). The vocabulary expands to include 'sending signals', 'sending help', and 'sending invitations'. Students learn to use the verb in more complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses (e.g., 'He sends letters to those who live far away'). The metaphorical use of 'sending'—such as sending a smile or sending regards—becomes more common. At this stage, the learner should be comfortable with the word family, recognizing related nouns like 'посылка' (parcel) and 'посыльный' (messenger). Professional Russian starts to play a role, with 'посылать' appearing in contexts like 'sending a request' or 'sending a report'. The contrast with synonyms like 'пересылать' (to forward) becomes important for digital literacy. Exercises at B1 often involve transforming sentences from active to passive or using the verb in a narrative context. Students also start learning common idioms like 'посылать воздушный поцелуй' (to blow a kiss).

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At the B2 level, 'посылать' is understood within a wider range of registers, from very formal to quite informal. Learners explore the nuances of prefixes in the 'посылать' family, such as 'отсылать' (to send away/back), 'высылать' (to dispatch/deport), and 'рассылать' (to distribute/broadcast). The focus shifts to stylistic choices—when is 'посылать' better than 'слать' or 'отправлять'? Students handle the verb in complex grammatical constructions, such as participles ('посылаемый', 'посылающий') and gerunds ('посылая'). The usage in media and literature is analyzed, where 'посылать' might describe a country sending a diplomatic mission or a character sending a silent prayer. Colloquialisms and mild slang are introduced, such as 'посылать к черту' (to send to the devil/tell to get lost), with a focus on understanding the social context and appropriateness. Learners are expected to produce long-form writing, such as a business email or a descriptive essay, using the verb correctly and naturally. Exercises focus on word choice, aspectual nuances in complex narratives, and the correct use of prepositions in diverse settings.

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At the C1 level, the learner masters the deep idiomatic and stylistic layers of 'посылать'. This includes understanding its use in classical literature, where it can carry a sense of fate or divine action ('Судьба посылает испытания' - Fate sends trials). The student can differentiate between the subtle shades of meaning provided by different prefixes and can use them to describe specific logistical or administrative processes with high precision. At this level, the focus is on 'register flexibility'—the ability to use 'посылать' in a casual text message and then switch to 'отправлять' or 'препровождать' in a formal legal document. The student understands the historical etymology of the root '-сыл-' and how it relates to words like 'ссылка' (exile/reference). C1 learners can analyze the rhetorical effect of using 'посылать' in political speeches or persuasive writing. Exercises involve high-level tasks like summarizing academic texts, participating in debates about logistics or communication, and identifying subtle errors in high-level prose. The use of the verb in irony and sarcasm is also a key area of study.

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At the C2 level, 'посылать' is used with the fluidity and nuance of a native speaker. The learner is sensitive to the rhythmic and phonetic qualities of the word in poetry and prose. They can interpret and use the most obscure idioms and archaic forms. C2 speakers understand the sociolinguistic implications of 'посылать' in various Russian dialects or specialized jargon (e.g., military, scientific, or underworld slang). They can engage in deep literary analysis, discussing how an author uses the verb to establish a character's authority or lack thereof. The learner can effortlessly navigate the most complex grammatical environments, including archaic passive constructions or highly technical descriptions of data transmission. At this level, the distinction between 'посылать' and its synonyms is not just about 'correctness' but about 'flavor' and 'intent'. The speaker can use the verb to create specific emotional atmospheres in storytelling. Exercises at this level are often creative or analytical, such as writing a parody of a bureaucratic document or analyzing the use of 'sending' metaphors in 19th-century Russian philosophy. Mastery is shown through perfect intuition and the ability to play with the language.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

посылать en 30 secondes

Core meaning: To send objects, people, or information from one point to another.
Grammar: Imperfective verb, 1st conjugation; usually takes Accusative (object) and Dative (recipient).
Usage: Common in mail, digital communication, office tasks, and directing people.
Aspect: Pair is посылать (imperfective) / послать (perfective).

The Russian verb посылать is a versatile and essential part of the Russian lexicon, primarily categorized as an imperfective verb of the first conjugation. At its core, it describes the action of causing something or someone to be moved from one location to another, usually through an intermediary or a specific delivery system. Whether you are dropping a postcard in a mailbox, transmitting a digital file, or directing a subordinate to perform a task in another room, this is the verb you need. It corresponds to the English 'to send,' but its nuances vary depending on the context of the delivery and the nature of the object being sent.

Physical Objects: When dealing with tangible items like parcels, letters, or gifts, посылать implies the process of dispatching them. For example, sending a care package to a student in another city.

Каждую неделю она посылает родителям свежие газеты и журналы.

Every week she sends her parents fresh newspapers and magazines.

In the digital age, the usage has expanded significantly. We now use посылать for emails, text messages, and signals. It captures the repetitive or ongoing nature of communication. If you are in the middle of a conversation and say 'I am sending it now,' you would use the imperfective form to describe the action in progress. In contrast, the perfective counterpart, послать, would be used once the 'send' button has been clicked and the action is complete.

Directing People: The verb is frequently used when a person is tasked with going somewhere. A boss might send an employee on a business trip, or a teacher might send a student to the library.

Директор часто посылает нас в командировки в другие города.

The director often sends us on business trips to other cities.

Beyond simple logistics, the verb carries metaphorical weight. One can send signals of distress, send a smile across a room, or even send someone to a metaphorical 'hell' in slang expressions. It implies an intentionality of direction. Understanding the case system is vital here: the object being sent is in the Accusative case, the recipient is in the Dative case, and the destination is usually preceded by 'в' or 'на' plus the Accusative case. This grammatical structure ensures clarity in who is getting what and where it is going.

Abstract Concepts: Used for sending thoughts, prayers, or energy. It denotes a mental projection toward another person.

Мы посылаем вам наши самые тёплые пожелания.

Using посылать correctly requires a firm grasp of Russian syntax and the relationship between the sender, the object, and the destination. Because this is an imperfective verb, it is used to describe actions that are habitual, ongoing, or emphasize the process rather than the final result. In this section, we will explore various sentence structures that demonstrate its versatility across different communicative needs.

Habitual Actions: When you do something regularly, you use the imperfective. For example, sending monthly reports or weekly letters.

Обычно я посылаю открытки всем своим друзьям на Новый год.

Usually, I send postcards to all my friends for the New Year.

Notice the grammatical components: 'открытки' (postcards) is in the Accusative plural, and 'всем друзьям' (to all friends) is in the Dative plural. This 'What to Whom' pattern is the most common application of the verb. If you want to specify the method of sending, you can add an instrumental construction like 'по почте' (by mail) or 'курьером' (by courier).

Ongoing Processes: Use this verb when the action is happening right now or is being interrupted. 'Stop sending me these messages!' would use the imperfective because the action is repeated.

Перестань посылать мне эти странные ссылки!

Stop sending me these strange links!

When sending people, the logic remains the same. You send a person (Accusative) to a place (Prepositional/Accusative direction) or to perform a task (Infinitive). For instance, 'The mother sends the son to buy bread.' Here, 'сына' (son) is Accusative, and 'за хлебом' (for bread) uses 'за' + Instrumental to indicate the purpose of the trip.

Digital Contexts: In IT and daily phone use, this verb is ubiquitous for sending files, photos, and messages.

Система автоматически посылает уведомление на ваш телефон.

Finally, consider the use of the verb in the passive voice or impersonal constructions. 'Letters are being sent' would be 'Письма посылаются.' While less common in casual speech, it is vital for technical documentation or news reporting where the sender is not the focus of the sentence.

The word посылать is a staple of Russian daily life, echoing through post offices, corporate boardrooms, and family dining rooms. Its prevalence makes it one of the most heard verbs for learners. By understanding where it appears most frequently, you can better anticipate its meaning and nuances in real-world conversations.

The Post Office (Почта): In any 'Почта России' branch, you will hear this word constantly. Clerks will ask what you are sending, and customers will discuss their packages.

— Что вы посылаете? — Я посылаю подарок сестре.

— What are you sending? — I am sending a gift to my sister.

In the corporate environment, the word is used for the flow of information. Managers 'send' tasks, IT systems 'send' logs, and employees 'send' reports. It often appears in the context of deadlines and bureaucratic procedures. If you are working in a Russian-speaking office, you will likely see this verb in your email subject lines and hear it during morning briefings.

The Workplace: Used for delegating and transmitting data. It is a functional word that keeps the workflow moving.

Наш отдел регулярно посылает данные в главный офис.

Our department regularly sends data to the main office.

In casual social settings, 'посылать' can take on a more colloquial or even aggressive tone. The phrase 'посылать куда подальше' (to send someone far away) is a common euphemism for telling someone to get lost or using profanity to dismiss them. While you should be careful with this usage, recognizing it is essential for understanding the emotional temperature of a conversation.

News and Media: Journalists use it when discussing diplomatic signals, humanitarian aid, or military deployments.

Страна посылает гуманитарную помощь в пострадавшие регионы.

Finally, in literature and film, you will hear it used for 'sending' characters on quests or 'sending' messages of love. It is a foundational verb that spans across all levels of formality and subject matter, making it indispensable for any learner aiming for fluency.

Even for intermediate learners, посылать can be a source of confusion due to Russian's complex system of verbal aspects and prepositional requirements. Avoiding these common pitfalls will make your Russian sound more natural and precise. Let's break down the most frequent errors made by English speakers.

Confusing Aspect (Посылать vs. Послать): English uses 'send' for both 'I am sending' and 'I sent.' In Russian, you must distinguish. Using 'посылать' when the action is finished and successful is a common error.

Wrong: Я посылал письмо вчера (unless you mean the process took all day). Correct: Я послал письмо вчера.

The second most common mistake involves prepositions. When sending something *to a person*, you use the Dative case without a preposition. However, many learners mistakenly use 'к' (towards). 'К' is used for people when you are *going* to them, but for *sending* an object, the Dative case alone is standard. Similarly, for destinations like 'to the office,' you must use 'в' or 'на' + Accusative, not the Dative.

Mixing with 'Отправлять': While often interchangeable, 'отправлять' is preferred for formal departures of trains, planes, or official documents. Using 'посылать' for a train departing is incorrect.

Wrong: Поезд посылается в пять. Correct: Поезд отправляется в пять.

Another nuance involves the word 'посылка' (parcel). While they share a root, learners sometimes use 'посылать посылку' redundantly. While not grammatically 'wrong,' Russians often prefer 'отправлять посылку' to avoid the repetitive sound of 'pos-pos'. Furthermore, be careful with the slang use of 'посылать'. If you accidentally use it in a context where you meant to say you 'referred' someone to a specialist, it might sound like you told them to go away rudely.

Incorrect Case for Purpose: When sending someone *for* something, use 'за' + Instrumental. Beginners often use 'для' + Genitive, which sounds unnatural.

Correct: Она посылает его за водой. (She sends him for water).

Russian is rich with verbs that describe movement and delivery. Choosing the right alternative to посылать depends on the level of formality, the medium of transmission, and the specific nuance you wish to convey. Here is a comparison of the most common synonyms and related words.

Отправлять / Отправить: This is the closest synonym. It is slightly more formal and is the standard term for official dispatches, shipping cargo, or the departure of vehicles. In digital contexts (emails/SMS), it is used almost interchangeably with посылать.
Слать / Послать: Слать is the imperfective root without the prefix 'по-'. It is often used in poetic, colloquial, or brief contexts. For example, 'Шлю привет!' (Sending greetings!). It feels more direct and less clinical than посылать.

Я шлю тебе лучи добра и счастья!

I am sending you rays of kindness and happiness!

When the focus is on *forwarding* something that has already been received, the verb пересылать (to forward/resend) is used. This is essential for email etiquette and logistics. If you are returning an item, you might use отсылать обратно (to send back).

Доставлять / Доставить: This means 'to deliver.' While посылать focuses on the start of the journey, доставлять focuses on the end. A courier посылается by the company but доставляет the pizza to your door.

For more specialized actions, consider высылать (to send out/deport/issue). It is used when an authority sends a document to a citizen or when a country deport someone. Рассылать means 'to send to many recipients,' like a newsletter or a mass invitation. Choosing the correct prefix (пере-, вы-, рас-, от-) allows for surgical precision in your Russian communication, transforming a simple 'send' into a detailed description of the action's nature.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

"Просим Вас посылать ежемесячные отчеты в установленной форме."

Neutre

"Я посылаю вам ссылку на наш сайт."

Informel

"Шлю тебе огромный привет из отпуска!"

Child friendly

"Давай пошлём бабушке красивую открытку!"

Argot

"Да пошли его уже, он тебе не нужен."

Le savais-tu ?

The root '-сыл-' is also found in the word 'ссылка' (ssylka), which today means a 'link' on the internet, but historically referred to being 'sent away' into exile in Siberia.

Guide de prononciation

UK /pə.sɨ.ˈlatʲ/

US /pə.sɨ.ˈlatʲ/

The stress is on the third syllable: по-сы-лАть.

Rime avec

желать (to wish) писать (to write) читать (to read) мечтать (to dream) играть (to play) летать (to fly) кричать (to shout) молчать (to be silent)

Erreurs fréquentes

Stressing the first syllable (PO-sylat) - Incorrect.
Pronouncing the first 'o' clearly like 'o' in 'go' - It should be reduced.
Forgetting the soft sign (ь) at the end.
Confusing 'ы' with 'и'.
Using an English aspirated 'p'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts due to frequent use.

Écriture 3/5

Requires knowledge of conjugation and case endings.

Expression orale 3/5

Must distinguish between imperfective and perfective aspects.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation, though the 'ы' can be tricky for some.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

письмо почта идти давать куда

Apprends ensuite

послать отправлять получать пересылать сообщение

Avancé

делегация уведомление трансляция командировка экспедиция

Grammaire à connaître

Aspectual Pairs

Посылать (Imp) vs Послать (Perf). Use Imp for 'I am sending' or 'I send often'.

Dative Case for Recipient

Я посылаю письмо (Acc) брату (Dat).

Accusative for Destination

Она посылает его в (prep) школу (Acc).

Instrumental for Purpose

Послать за (prep) врачом (Inst).

1st Conjugation Endings

-аю, -аешь, -ает, -аем, -аете, -ают.

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Exemples par niveau

Я посылаю письмо.

I am sending a letter.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Ты посылаешь подарок?

Are you sending a gift?

Present tense, 2nd person singular question.

Он посылает маме цветы.

He is sending flowers to his mom.

Dative case for 'маме'.

Мы посылаем СМС.

We are sending an SMS.

Accusative case for 'СМС' (inanimate).

Она посылает открытку из Москвы.

She is sending a postcard from Moscow.

Genitive case with 'из' for origin.

Вы посылаете посылку?

Are you (plural/formal) sending a parcel?

Present tense, 2nd person plural.

Они посылают деньги.

They are sending money.

Accusative plural for 'деньги'.

Я часто посылаю письма.

I often send letters.

Adverb 'часто' indicates habit, requiring imperfective.

Мама посылает сына в магазин.

Mom is sending her son to the store.

Accusative 'сына' and direction 'в магазин'.

Она посылает документы по почте.

She is sending documents by mail.

Instrumental 'по почте' for method.

Мы посылаем вам фотографии.

We are sending you the photos.

Dative 'вам' (recipient).

Учитель посылает ученика за мелом.

The teacher is sending the student for chalk.

'За' + Instrumental for purpose.

Друг посылает мне ссылку на видео.

A friend is sending me a link to a video.

Dative 'мне'.

Они всегда посылают приглашения заранее.

They always send invitations in advance.

Imperfective for habitual 'всегда'.

Я посылаю файл сейчас.

I am sending the file now.

Present continuous meaning.

Директор посылает его в командировку.

The director is sending him on a business trip.

Directional 'в командировку'.

Компания посылает помощь в Африку.

The company is sending aid to Africa.

Abstract object 'помощь'.

Корабль посылает сигнал SOS.

The ship is sending an SOS signal.

Technical usage for signals.

Он посылает ей воздушный поцелуй.

He is blowing her a kiss.

Idiomatic expression.

Мы посылаем запросы в разные архивы.

We are sending requests to various archives.

Professional context.

Она посылает проклятия своим врагам.

She is sending curses to her enemies.

Metaphorical/Emotional use.

Система посылает уведомления автоматически.

The system sends notifications automatically.

Adverb 'автоматически'.

Я посылаю тебе свои мысли и поддержку.

I am sending you my thoughts and support.

Abstract nouns as objects.

Почему ты посылаешь его туда одного?

Why are you sending him there alone?

Adverbial 'туда' and 'одного'.

Правительство посылает войска к границе.

The government is sending troops to the border.

Formal/Political context.

Она посылает всё к чёрту и уезжает.

She sends everything to hell and leaves.

Colloquial idiom.

Спутник посылает данные на Землю.

The satellite is sending data to Earth.

Scientific context.

Он посылает резюме в десять компаний.

He is sending his resume to ten companies.

Career context.

Мы посылаем делегацию на конференцию.

We are sending a delegation to the conference.

Institutional context.

Посылая это письмо, я надеюсь на ответ.

By sending this letter, I hope for an answer.

Gerund construction (деепричастие).

Они посылают сигналы о готовности к миру.

They are sending signals about readiness for peace.

Diplomatic metaphor.

Не стоит посылать людей на верную смерть.

One should not send people to certain death.

Moral/Ethical context.

Судьба посылает нам испытания, чтобы мы стали сильнее.

Fate sends us trials so that we become stronger.

Philosophical/Literary context.

Автор посылает своего героя в опасное путешествие.

The author sends his hero on a dangerous journey.

Literary analysis.

Посылаемый сигнал был слишком слабым для приема.

The signal being sent was too weak for reception.

Passive participle 'посылаемый'.

Она посылает невербальные знаки своего недовольства.

She is sending non-verbal signs of her dissatisfaction.

Psychological context.

Институт посылает запрос на получение гранта.

The institute is sending a grant application request.

Academic/Administrative.

Посылать проклятья в пустоту бессмысленно.

Sending curses into the void is meaningless.

Existential context.

Он посылает вызов всему обществу своим поведением.

He sends a challenge to the whole of society with his behavior.

Sociological context.

Природа посылает нам предупреждения о климате.

Nature is sending us warnings about the climate.

Environmental context.

В своих стихах поэт посылает упрёки уходящей эпохе.

In his poems, the poet sends reproaches to the passing era.

Highly stylistic/Literary.

Эволюция посылает случайные мутации в геном.

Evolution sends random mutations into the genome.

Scientific/Theoretical.

Он посылает свою волю на подавление восстания.

He sends his will to suppress the uprising.

Abstract power dynamics.

Посылать мысли в космос — это форма медитации.

Sending thoughts into space is a form of meditation.

Esoteric context.

Зритель посылает свою энергию артисту на сцене.

The audience sends its energy to the artist on stage.

Performance art context.

Каждый кадр фильма посылает зрителю особый месседж.

Every frame of the film sends a specific message to the viewer.

Cinematic analysis.

Посылаемая им ирония осталась незамеченной.

The irony he was sending went unnoticed.

Nuanced social interaction.

История посылает нам эхо прошлых трагедий.

History sends us the echo of past tragedies.

Metaphorical/Historical.

Collocations courantes

посылать письмо

посылать сообщение

посылать подарок

посылать запрос

посылать привет

посылать в командировку

посылать за помощью

посылать уведомление

посылать сигнал

посылать проклятия

Phrases Courantes

посылать по почте

— To send via the postal service.

Я посылаю документы по почте.

посылать за врачом

— To send someone to fetch a doctor.

Срочно посылайте за врачом!

посылать воздушный поцелуй

— To blow a kiss.

Она послала ему воздушный поцелуй.

посылать на три буквы

— A common euphemism for a very rude dismissal (slang).

Он разозлился и послал всех на три буквы.

посылать куда подальше

— To tell someone to get lost/go far away.

Она просто послала его куда подальше.

посылать импульс

— To send an impulse (physical or nervous).

Мозг посылает импульс мышцам.

посылать вызов

— To send a challenge or a call.

Герой посылает вызов злодею.

посылать луч надежды

— To send a ray of hope (metaphorical).

Эта новость посылает нам луч надежды.

посылать в нокаут

— To knock someone out (in boxing).

Боксер посылает соперника в нокаут.

посылать приглашение

— To send an invitation.

Мы посылаем приглашения на свадьбу.

Souvent confondu avec

посылать vs отправлять

More formal, used for transport departures.

посылать vs доставлять

Means 'to deliver' (arrival), while посылать is 'to dispatch' (start).

посылать vs давать

Means 'to give' (hand-to-hand), while посылать implies distance.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Посылать к чёрту"

— To tell someone to go to hell; to dismiss rudely.

Я послал все свои проблемы к чёрту.

Informal/Slang

"Бог послал"

— Something that came by chance or as a blessing.

Чем бог послал, тем и угощаем.

Traditional/Proverbial

"Посылать лучи добра"

— To wish someone well (modern internet slang).

Посылаю тебе лучи добра в этот трудный день.

Informal

"Посылать на все четыре стороны"

— To set someone free to go anywhere (often after a breakup or firing).

Я его уволил и послал на все четыре стороны.

Neutral

"Посылать в глубокий тыл"

— To send someone far away from the action/danger.

Его послали в глубокий тыл.

Military/Historical

"Посылать проклятия на голову"

— To wish great harm upon someone.

Она посылала проклятия на его голову.

Literary

"Посылать как за смертью"

— To send someone who takes a very long time to return.

Я тебя послал за хлебом, а ты как за смертью ходил!

Colloquial

"Посылать по ложному следу"

— To send someone on a wild goose chase/wrong path.

Преступник послал полицию по ложному следу.

Neutral

"Посылать на верную гибель"

— To send someone to certain death.

Генерал не хотел посылать солдат на верную гибель.

Formal/Dramatic

"Посылать сигнал бедствия"

— To send a distress signal.

Тонущее судно посылало сигнал бедствия.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

посылать vs посол

Looks like the past tense of 'послать'.

'Посол' is a noun meaning 'ambassador'. 'Послал' is the past tense verb.

Посол послал письмо.

посылать vs ссылка

Same root.

'Ссылка' is a noun meaning 'link' or 'exile'.

Он прислал мне ссылку.

посылать vs посылка

Same root.

'Посылка' is the physical parcel itself.

Я посылаю посылку.

посылать vs послание

Same root.

'Послание' is a formal or poetic message/epistle.

Президент зачитал послание.

посылать vs присылать

Prefix difference.

'Присылать' means to send *to* the speaker's location.

Присылай мне фото!

Structures de phrases

Я посылаю [Accusative].

Я посылаю подарок.

Я посылаю [Accusative] [Dative].

Я посылаю письмо другу.

Он посылает [Accusative] в [Accusative].

Он посылает сына в школу.

Мы посылаем [Accusative] за [Instrumental].

Мы посылаем его за хлебом.

Она посылает [Accusative] по [Dative].

Она посылает документы по почте.

Вы посылаете [Accusative], чтобы [Infinitive].

Вы посылаете сигнал, чтобы помочь.

Посылая [Accusative], я [Verb].

Посылая деньги, я волнуюсь.

[Noun] посылает нам [Accusative].

Судьба посылает нам шанс.

Famille de mots

Noms

посылка parcel/package

посыльный messenger/courier

посыл message/premise/thrust

отправитель sender

пересылка forwarding/shipping

Verbes

послать to send (perfective)

пересылать to forward

высылать to dispatch/deport

отсылать to send back/away

рассылать to distribute

Adjectifs

посылочный related to parcels

посланный sent (past passive participle)

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Extremely high in both spoken and written Russian.

Erreurs courantes

Я посылал письмо вчера. → Я послал письмо вчера.
Unless the process was repetitive or lasted all day, use the perfective aspect for a completed past action.
Я посылаю к тебе подарок. → Я посылаю тебе подарок.
The recipient should be in the Dative case without 'к'.
Поезд посылается в 10:00. → Поезд отправляется в 10:00.
Vehicles 'depart' (отправляются), they are not 'sent' in this context.
Он посылает её для хлеба. → Он посылает её за хлебом.
Use 'за' + Instrumental to indicate the purpose of sending someone to fetch something.
Я посылаю сообщение на тебя. → Я посылаю тебе сообщение.
Recipients are Dative, not 'на' + Accusative.

Astuces

Aspect Choice

Use 'посылать' when the action is repeated (every day) or in progress (right now).

Formal Alternative

In business, use 'отправлять' to sound more professional.

Greetings

Russians love 'sending greetings' (посылать привет). It's a key social habit.

Watch the 'Hell'

Be careful with 'послать' in arguments; it's stronger than the English 'send away'.

The 'ы' Sound

Think of the 'ы' in 'посылать' as the sound of a heavy parcel hitting the floor.

No 'к' for Objects

Don't say 'посылать к маме' for a gift. Just 'посылать маме'.

'За' + Instrumental

When sending someone to get something, use 'за'. 'Послать за пивом' (send for beer).

Forwarding

Use 'пересылать' for forwarding emails or forwarding messages in Telegram.

Participle

The passive participle 'посланный' (sent) is useful for formal descriptions.

Soft Sign

Ensure you soften the final 't' in 'посылать'—it's not a hard 't'.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Pose' and 'Lat'. You 'Pose' the package and then it's 'Lat' (late) if you don't 'посылать' it now!

Association visuelle

Imagine a giant Russian 'ы' (y) acting as a slingshot, sending a letter across a map of Russia.

Word Web

посылка (parcel) почта (post) письмо (letter) адрес (address) марка (stamp) курьер (courier) сообщение (message) e-mail

Défi

Try to use 'посылать' in three different contexts today: sending an email, sending a person for groceries, and blowing a kiss.

Origine du mot

Derived from the Old East Slavic 'сълати' (slati), which comes from the Proto-Slavic root '*sylati'. It is related to the concept of 'putting' or 'setting' something in motion.

Sens originel : To set in motion, to dispatch a messenger.

Indo-European > Balto-Slavic > Slavic > East Slavic > Russian.

Contexte culturel

Be careful with 'посылать' in heated arguments; it can quickly escalate into a very offensive 'sending' to specific anatomical or vulgar locations.

English speakers often over-use 'посылать' for 'sending' a train or bus, where 'отправлять' is required. Also, the English 'send' doesn't have the same rude 'go to hell' weight unless followed by specific words.

The phrase 'Чем бог послал' from traditional hospitality. Soviet-era songs about sending letters to the front lines. Modern Russian memes about 'посылать' people to 'the forest' (в лес).

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Digital Communication

посылать файл
посылать ссылку
посылать смайлик
посылать СМС

Post Office

посылать бандероль
посылать заказным письмом
посылать авиапочтой
посылать наложенным платежом

Socializing

посылать привет
посылать приглашение
посылать подарок
посылать поцелуй

Office/Work

посылать отчет
посылать запрос
посылать в командировку
посылать на курсы

Conflict

посылать к черту
посылать подальше
посылать всех
послать на...

Amorces de conversation

"Как часто ты посылаешь настоящие бумажные письма?"

"Ты когда-нибудь посылал подарок анонимно?"

"Что ты обычно посылаешь друзьям в мессенджерах?"

"Тебя когда-нибудь посылали в командировку в другую страну?"

"Как ты думаешь, стоит ли посылать открытки из каждого путешествия?"

Sujets d'écriture

Опишите последнюю вещь, которую вы посылали по почте. Кому она была и почему?

Если бы вы могли послать сообщение самому себе в прошлое, что бы вы написали?

Как технологии изменили то, как мы посылаем информацию друг другу?

Расскажите о случае, когда вы посылали кого-то за помощью.

Напишите о том, какие сигналы мы посылаем окружающим своим внешним видом.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Посылать is imperfective (process/habit), while отправить is perfective (result/one-time). Отправить is also slightly more formal.

Yes, it is very common. 'Я посылаю тебе имейл' is perfectly natural.

Only in specific idiomatic contexts like 'посылать к чёрту'. In general, it is a neutral verb meaning 'to send'.

Use the Dative case without any preposition. Example: 'Я посылаю (кому?) другу'.

Use the perfective past: 'Я послал' (masculine) or 'Я послала' (feminine).

Yes, it means to dispatch them somewhere, like sending a child to bed or a soldier to the front.

The most common word is 'посылка' (parcel) or 'письмо' (letter).

Yes, usually 'в' or 'на' plus the Accusative case. Example: 'в Москву', 'на почту'.

'Слать' is more colloquial and poetic. 'Посылать' is the standard, more common form.

Use the imperfective: 'Перестань посылать мне это!'

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