раздевать vs раздеваться

razdevát' vs razdevát'sya — undress someone vs get undressed

What it really means

Раздевать is transitive: it means taking clothes off another person. Раздеваться is reflexive: the subject removes their own clothes, including outerwear on arriving somewhere.

Examples in natural speech

Она раздевает малыша.
She undresses the toddler.
Я раздеваюсь в прихожей.
I take my coat off in the hallway.
Раздень ребёнка перед сном.
Undress the child before bed.
Гости начали раздеваться.
The guests started taking their coats off.
Медсестра помогает пациенту раздеться.
The nurse helps the patient get undressed.

Common mistakes

Keep track of who removes the clothes. Я раздеваю ребёнка means “I undress the child,” whereas Я раздеваюсь means “I get undressed.” Do not make the person being undressed the subject of раздевать unless they are undressing somebody else.

Memory tip

Imagine the ending -ся as a changing-room mirror: раздеваться happens to the person in the mirror; раздевать needs someone across from them.

Frequently asked questions

Does раздеваться usually mean taking off all clothes?

Not necessarily. In a hallway, Гости раздеваются commonly means they take off coats and outdoor clothes; context decides how much clothing is removed.

How do I say that someone undressed a child?

Use the transitive past: Она раздела ребёнка. The reflexive Она разделась means that she undressed herself.

Can a person be helped to undress?

Yes. Помочь кому-то раздеться is the normal construction when the person ultimately removes their own clothes with assistance.

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