получать vs получить

poluchat vs poluchit — receive regularly/in progress vs receive once

What it really means

Получа́ть is imperfective: receiving is ongoing, repeated, habitual, or described generally. Получи́ть is perfective: one item, answer, result, or permission has been received. Both can mean receive, get, obtain, or earn depending on context.

Use получать for a regular salary or messages as a habit. Use получить for a completed event: получить письмо, визу, ответ, подарок.

Examples in natural speech

Я получаю письма каждый день.
I receive letters every day.
Она получает зарплату первого числа.
She gets her salary on the first.
Я получил твоё сообщение.
I received your message.
Мы получили визу вчера.
We got the visa yesterday.
Когда вы получите ответ?
When will you receive an answer?

Common mistakes

Do not use получить for a habitual salary: Я получаю зарплату, not Я получу зарплату, unless you mean one future payment. Perfective получить cannot describe an action currently in progress.

Memory tip

Получать is receiving over time; получить is having received one result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between получать and получить?

Получать is imperfective for a process, routine, or repeated receiving. Получить is perfective for one completed receipt.

Which verb is used with salary?

Use получать зарплату for a regular salary. Получить зарплату refers to receiving one particular payment.

Can получить mean get a good grade?

Yes. Получить пятёрку means get a top grade, and получить результат means get a result.

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