Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "to find" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

найти

Meaning: to find, to discover

Pronunciation: [nigh-TEE]

Part of speech: verb (perfective aspect)

Rank: #217 (see frequency list)

Example sentences:

Я не могу́ найти́ свой бага́ж.
I can't find my luggage.
Постара́йтесь найти́ пра́вильное реше́ние.
Try to find the right solution.
Наско́лько сло́жно найти́ рабо́ту в Москве́?
How difficult is it to find a job in Moscow?
Он до́лго иска́л ключи́, но не нашёл.
I was looking for the keys for a long time but didn't find them.
Мы нашли́ гита́ру на чердаке́.
We found a guitar in the attic.
Юля и Бори́с не мо́гут найти́ о́бщий язы́к.
Yulia and Boris can't find a common language.
Я нашёл сто рубле́й.
I have found one hundred rubles.
Я вошёл в дом и нашёл его́ лежа́щим на полу́.
I entered the house and found him lying on the floor.
Учёные нашли́ но́вый спо́соб получе́ния электри́чества.
Scientists have found a new way to generate electricity.
Найди́те значе́ние незнако́мых слов и переведи́те предложе́ние.
Find the meaning of unfamiliar words and translate the sentence.
Найди́те значе́ние выраже́ния 144 + x, е́сли x = 20.
Find the value of the expression 144 + x, if x = 20.
Он нашёл слу́чай вступи́ть в разгово́р с на́ми.
He found an opportunity to start a conversation with us.
Как найти́ себя́?
How to find yourself?

Idioms and set expressions:

найти выход из положения = come up with a solution
literal to find an exit from a situation
найти решение = to find a solution
днём с огнём не найти = you can't get it for love or money
literal can't find during the day with a fire
найти во что бы то ни стало = to explore every avenue
literal to find for whatever becomes
найти квадратуру круга = to square the circle
literal to find square of a circle

Related words:

обнаружить = to discover, find
выяснить = to find out
встретить = to meet
определить = to detect, identify
выбрать = to choose, select, pick

Proverbs and sayings:

Легче друга потерять, чем найти.
It's easier to lose a friend than to find one.
За худым пойдёшь -- худое и найдёшь.
Не that seeks trouble never misses.
Кто ищет, тот найдёт.
He will find who is searching.
За чем пойдёшь, то и найдёшь.
You will reap what you sowed.
literal You will find what you went for.

Verb conjugation:

Present Tense

The perfective verb найти is not used in the Present Tense. Use the imperfective verb находить instead.

Past Tense

I, you (singular), he	нашёл
she	нашла́
it	нашло́
we, you (plural), they	нашли́

Future Simple Tense

I	найду́
you (singular)	найдёшь
he, she, it	найдёт
we	найдём
you (plural)	найдёте
they	найду́т

Future Compound Tense

The perfective verb найти is not used in the Future Compound Tense. Use the imperfective verb находить instead.

Imperative Mood (Command Form)

you (singular)	найди́
you (plural)	найди́те

View full conjugation table for the verb pair находить/найти

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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