уезжать vs уехать

uyezzhát' vs uyékhat' — leave by transport regularly vs leave once

What it really means

Уезжать describes departure by transport as a process, habit, or plan. Уехать is perfective and presents one departure as completed, with the person now leaving or already gone.

Examples in natural speech

Он уезжает по понедельникам.
He leaves on Mondays.
Она уехала вчера.
She left yesterday.
Я не хочу уезжать.
I do not want to leave.
Когда вы уедете?
When will you leave?
Поезда уезжают с другой платформы.
Trains leave from another platform.

Common mistakes

Do not substitute уехать for an ongoing plan or routine: Я уезжаю завтра can describe the planned departure, whereas Я уеду завтра focuses on completing it. Both involve transport; for leaving on foot, use уходить / уйти.

Memory tip

The prefix у- carries someone away from the place: уезжать shows the departure in motion, while уехать leaves them on the other side of it.

Frequently asked questions

How is «уехать» different from «уйти»?

Уехать means leave by vehicle or transport; уйти means go away on foot or simply leave. Он уехал на поезде, but Он ушёл из комнаты.

Can «уезжаю завтра» refer to the future?

Yes. Russian uses the imperfective present for an arranged or expected future departure. Уеду завтра is also correct but stresses the completed future departure.

What does «он уже уехал» imply?

It says the departure has happened and he is no longer here. The perfective result is important, not the process of getting ready to leave.

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