привыкать vs привыкнуть

privykát' vs privýknut' — get used to gradually vs become accustomed

What it really means

Привыкать describes the process or repeated experience of becoming accustomed. Привыкнуть is perfective: it marks the point at which someone has become used to something. Both verbs take к + dative.

Examples in natural speech

Я привыкаю к новому графику.
I am getting used to a new schedule.
Я уже привык к шуму.
I have already got used to the noise.
Дети быстро привыкают к школе.
Children quickly get used to school.
Ты привыкнешь к этому со временем.
You will get used to this over time.
Она ещё не привыкла к холодному климату.
She has not got used to the cold climate yet.

Common mistakes

Do not use привыкнуть for the adjustment that is still unfolding: Я привыкаю к работе по ночам means the adaptation is in progress. Я привык работать по ночам says that adaptation has been achieved; remember that the complement is к работе, not *на работу.

Memory tip

Привыкать is wearing in a new pair of shoes; привыкнуть is the day you stop noticing them.

Frequently asked questions

Which case follows «привыкать»?

Use к + dative: привыкать к шуму, привыкнуть к новым правилам. With an activity, use a noun or infinitive: привыкнуть к работе ночью or привыкнуть работать ночью.

Can «привыкнуть» mean “be used to” in the present?

Yes. Я привык к шуму literally marks a completed adaptation, but in English it is often translated “I am used to the noise.”

How is «привыкнуть» different from «привычка»?

Привыкнуть is the verb for acquiring adaptation. Привычка is a noun meaning a habit, which may be a repeated behavior rather than a response to something new.

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