Verbs of Rolling: Катить and Катать
Like other Russian verbs of motion, rolling and conveying require different verbs depending on the direction of movement. These verbs are used for rolling round objects (like a barrel or a ball) as well as pushing wheeled objects (like a cart, stroller, or bicycle).
- Катить: Unidirectional. Used for rolling or pushing an object in one specific direction, or on a single trip.
- Катать: Multidirectional. Used for rolling an object around aimlessly, back and forth, or habitually.
| Pronoun | Unidirectional (катить) | Multidirectional (катать) | Reflexive (кататься) |
|---|
| Я | качу | катаю | катаюсь |
| Ты | катишь | катаешь | катаешься |
| Он / Она | катит | катает | катается |
| Мы | катим | катаем | катаемся |
| Вы | катите | катаете | катаетесь |
| Они | катят | катают | катаются |
Unidirectional Rolling: Катить
Use катить when you are actively moving a wheeled object or a round item toward a clear destination.
Multidirectional Rolling & Giving Rides: Катать
Use катать for rolling things without a single, defined direction, or as a repeated habit.
Importantly, катать is also the standard verb for "to give someone a ride" (literally, to roll someone around). You will hear this frequently when talking about pushing a child in a stroller, pulling them on a sled, or driving someone around for fun.
Riding and Skating: Кататься
The reflexive form кататься means "to roll oneself." It is the go-to verb for recreational riding, sliding, skiing, or skating. It is usually followed by на + the Prepositional case of the equipment being ridden.
To summarize: you push an object (катить), you give someone else a ride (катать), or you take a ride yourself (кататься). Notice the difference in action between the two subjects below:
