забирать vs забрать

zabirat' vs zabrat' — pick up/take regularly vs collect once

What it really means

Забирать is imperfective for collecting, taking away, or picking someone up as a routine or process. Забрать completes one act of taking or collecting.

It is common for collecting children, orders, documents, and possessions.

Examples in natural speech

Я забираю сына из школы.
I pick up my son from school.
Не забирай мой телефон.
Do not take my phone.
Курьер забирает посылки утром.
The courier collects parcels in the morning.
Забери заказ после шести.
Pick up the order after six.
Она забрала документы из офиса.
She collected the documents from the office.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse забрать with брать: забрать implies taking away or collecting from somewhere. For a habitual pickup use забирать.

Memory tip

Забрать has a completed “take it away/pick it up” result.

Frequently asked questions

How do I say “pick up a child”?

Забрать ребёнка, or забирать regularly.

Can it mean take away?

Yes.

Which aspect fits a one-time instruction?

Забери.

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