вести vs водить

vesti vs vodit — lead or take in one direction vs lead/take regularly or drive

What it really means

Вести́ is the unidirectional motion verb for leading or taking someone/something in one direction: "Я веду́ ребёнка в школу" (I am taking the child to school). Води́ть is multidirectional: taking someone back and forth or regularly, showing someone around, and driving a vehicle as a skill or habit. With vehicles, вести́ машину can describe driving a particular car in progress, while води́ть машину means driving generally or knowing how to drive.

These verbs are used with people and vehicles, while нести́/носи́ть are used for carrying objects. A prefixed perfective form such as привести́ means bring or lead someone to a destination once; повести́ means lead or take someone off on one occasion.

Examples in natural speech

Я веду ребёнка в школу.
I am taking the child to school.
Собака ведёт хозяина домой.
The dog is leading its owner home.
Она водит детей в музей по выходным.
She takes the children to a museum on weekends.
Мой брат водит машину.
My brother drives a car.
Мы часто водим гостей по городу.
We often show guests around the city.
Он привёл друга на праздник.
He brought his friend to the party.

Common mistakes

Do not use водить for a single one-way trip happening now: "Я вожу ребёнка в школу сейчас" sounds habitual; say "Я веду ребёнка в школу." With a vehicle, "Я веду машину" can describe driving this car now, while "Я вожу машину" means I drive or know how to drive generally.

Memory tip

Вести leads/takes one way now; водить takes repeatedly, shows around, or drives.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between вести and водить in Russian?

Вести describes leading or taking someone in one direction. Водить describes repeated or back-and-forth trips, showing someone around, and driving a vehicle.

How do you say take a child to school in Russian?

Use "вести ребёнка в школу" for the journey happening now and "водить ребёнка в школу" for a regular routine.

What is the difference between водить машину and вести машину?

Водить машину means to drive as a skill or regular activity. Вести машину can describe driving a particular car in progress, keeping the unidirectional focus of вести.

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