вешать vs повесить vs висеть
veshat vs povesit vs viset — hang as an action vs hang up once vs be hanging
Register: neutral
What it really means
Вешать is imperfective and transitive: hang something as a process or routine. Повесить is its perfective transitive partner: hang something up once. Висеть is imperfective and intransitive: be hanging already. The first two answer “what did you do to it?”; висеть answers “where/how is it now?”
Examples in natural speech
Common mistakes
Do not say “картина повесила” for “the picture is hanging.” Повесить needs someone who hangs an object; висеть describes the object’s resulting position.
Memory tip
Вешать/повесить are actions on an object; висеть is the object’s state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between вешать and повесить?
Вешать is imperfective hanging; повесить is one completed act of hanging something up.
What does висеть mean?
Висеть means be hanging: “Ключи висят на стене.”
Which verb should I use for hang up your coat?
Use “Повесь пальто” for one request, or “Вешай пальто” when focusing on the process or instruction.
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