How do you say "pay" in Russian?

платить

platit'

Verb Cyrillic

In Russian, "pay" is платить (platit').

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Pronunciation

English speakers can read it as platit', putting emphasis on "it", and the rest comes out fairly flat. Try whispering it first, then say it at normal speed.

Writing and usage

платить is written using cyrillic. It's a verb, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

Он предложил оплатить обед.

On predlozhil oplatit' obed.

He offered to pay for lunch.

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How to remember платить

Notice how "plat" echoes something like the syllable "plat" in everyday English speech — a small bridge to remembering "pay".

Related words

Browse all Russian words in the glossary.

Questions about платить

How do you pronounce платить?

English speakers can read it as platit', putting emphasis on "it", and the rest comes out fairly flat. Try whispering it first, then say it at normal speed.

Is платить formal or casual?

платить is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is платить used in Russian?

платить is used the same way as the equivalent English verb. For example: Он предложил оплатить обед. (He offered to pay for lunch.).

Where can I practice Russian words for free?

You can play free Russian minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Russian glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Pay" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Russian language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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