Q: How do I pronounce опаздываешь and where is the stress?

It’s pronounced [a-paz-DY-vay-esh] with the stress on the third syllable: опаздЫваешь.

Question 1

What does Почему mean?

Accepted Answer

Почему is the Russian word for “why,” used to ask for a reason or cause.

Question 2

What is опаздываешь?

Accepted Answer

Опаздываешь is the second-person singular, present-tense, imperfective form of опаздывать, which means “to be late.” Together it means “you are being late” or simply “you’re late.”

Question 3

Why is the verb in the present tense here?

Accepted Answer

Because the speaker is asking about something happening right now or habitually. If you wanted to ask “Why were you late?” you’d use the past­-tense perfective почему ты опоздал?

Question 4

What’s the difference between опаздывать (imperfective) and опоздать (perfective)?

Accepted Answer

• Опаздывать (imperfective) describes an ongoing or habitual action: “to be late” (I keep being late, I’m late right now).  
• Опоздать (perfective) describes a single completed event: “to have been late” or “to end up late.”

Question 5

Why is ты included here? Isn’t the ending ­–ешь enough to tell who is late?

Accepted Answer

Russian verb endings do show the subject. Ты is optional and adds emphasis or clarity, especially in questions or when contrasting people. Without ты the sentence Почему опаздываешь? is grammatically fine but sounds more abrupt or poetic.

Question 6

Could I change the word order, like Ты почему опаздываешь?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Russian word order is flexible.  
• Почему ты опаздываешь? is neutral.  
• Ты почему опаздываешь? emphasizes ты (“Why are YOU late?”).  
• Почему опаздываешь ты? sounds poetic or confrontational.

Question 7

How do I pronounce опаздываешь and where is the stress?

Accepted Answer

It’s pronounced [a-paz-DY­-vay­-esh] with the stress on the third syllable: опаздЫваешь.

Question 8

How would I ask the same question politely or formally?

Accepted Answer

Replace ты with вы and adjust the ending:  
Почему вы опаздываете?  
This uses the second-person plural/formal conjugation of опаздывать.

Question 9

How do I specify what someone is late for, e.g. “Why are you late for the meeting?”

Accepted Answer

Use на + accusative for events or appointments. For example:  
Почему ты опаздываешь на встречу? (Why are you late for the meeting?)  
Or with к + dative for people or places:  
Почему ты опаздываешь к врачу? (Why are you late for your doctor’s appointment?)

Почему ты опаздываешь?

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