уходить vs уйти

ukhodit vs uyti — leave regularly/in progress vs leave once

What it really means

Уходи́ть is imperfective and describes leaving as an ongoing action, a repeated routine, or a general fact. Уйти́ is perfective and presents one departure as completed. The prefix у- marks movement away from a place or person.

Use уходить for schedules and actions in progress: "Я ухожу с работы в пять" (I leave work at five). Use уйти when the departure is a single bounded event: "Он ушёл домой" (He left for home).

Examples in natural speech

Я ухожу из дома в восемь.
I leave home at eight.
Почему ты уходишь так рано?
Why are you leaving so early?
Он ушёл на работу.
He left for work.
Не уходи пока.
Do not leave yet.
Гости уже ушли.
The guests have already left.

Common mistakes

Do not choose уйти simply because the departure is happening once. "Я ухожу сейчас" is natural when you announce that you are leaving now; it presents the departure as beginning or unfolding. Уйти emphasizes the completed fact that you have gone.

Memory tip

Уходить is the act of heading away; уйти is being gone after one departure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between уходить and уйти?

Уходить is imperfective for leaving as a process, routine, or schedule. Уйти is perfective for one completed departure.

How do you say I am leaving now in Russian?

Say "Я ухожу." The imperfective form is a normal announcement of a departure that is starting now.

What does у- mean in уйти?

The prefix у- commonly marks movement away from a place or person. Уйти therefore means go away or leave, while the aspect makes the departure bounded.

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