пробовать vs попробовать
probovat vs poprobovat — try/taste repeatedly or in progress vs try once
Register: neutral
What it really means
Пробовать is imperfective for trying, tasting, or testing as a process or repeated experience. Попробовать is perfective for making one attempt or trying something once. Both can mean “taste” food as well as “attempt” an action.
The perfective imperative попробуй is a very common friendly suggestion: “try it.”
Examples in natural speech
Я пробую говорить по-русски каждый день.
I try to speak Russian every day.
Ребёнок пробует суп.
The child is tasting the soup.
Попробуй этот пирог.
Try this pie.
Я попробовал позвонить, но никто не ответил.
I tried calling, but nobody answered.
Давай попробуем ещё раз.
Let's try once more.
Common mistakes
Do not assume пробовать only means “attempt.” With food and drink it often means taste. Use попробовать for one concrete attempt, even if that attempt does not succeed.
Memory tip
По- frames one try: попробуй = give it a try.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between пробовать and попробовать?
Пробовать is ongoing or repeated trying/tasting; попробовать is one bounded attempt or taste.
How do you say try this in Russian?
Use “Попробуй это” or “Попробуйте это.” The perfective imperative invites one trial.
Does попробовать mean succeed?
No. It means make an attempt. “Я попробовал, но не получилось” means “I tried, but it did not work.”
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