Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "to sit" 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.

сидеть

Meaning: to sit, be perched, to fit, to be imprisoned, to be inactive, to be idle

Pronunciation: [see-DYEHT']

Part of speech: verb (imperfective aspect)

Rank: #125 (see frequency list)

Two men are sitting in front of a store.

Example sentences:

Али́са сиди́т на сту́ле.
Alisa is sitting on a chair.
Ба́бочка до́лго сиде́ла на цветке́.
The butterfly was sitting on a flower for a long time.
Это пальто́ хорошо́ сиди́т на тебе́.
This coat fits you well. (informal)
literal This coat sits well on you.
Пиджа́к пло́хо сиди́т на Вас.
The jacket does not fit you. (polite)
literal The jacket sits badly on you.
Мы бу́дем сиде́ть в пе́рвом ряду́.
We will be sitting in the front row.
Я люблю́ сиде́ть во́зле окна́.
I love to sit near the window.
Пти́ца сиди́т на ве́тке.
The bird is sitting on a branch.
Сади́тесь, пожа́луйста.
Sit down, please.
Учителя́ сидя́т без рабо́ты.
The teachers are unemployed.
literal Teachers sit without work.
Престу́пник сиди́т в тюрьме́.
The criminal is serving a term of imprisonment.
literal The criminal sits in prison.
Я сижу́ на остано́вке и жду авто́бус.
I'm sitting at the bus stop and waiting for a bus.
Друзья́ пью́т чай, си́дя за столо́м.
The friends are drinking tea sitting at the table.
Он сиди́т без де́ла.
He has nothing to do.
literal He sits without work.
Сиде́ли бы Вы и пома́лкивали!
You better sit there and keep quiet! (formal, but rather offensive)
Он всегда́ здесь сиди́т, когда́ я прохожу́ ми́мо.
He always sits here when I pass by.

Idioms and set expressions:

сидеть без дела = to have nothing to do
literal to sit without work / business
сидеть без денег = to have no money; to be broke
literal to sit without money
сидеть в тюрьме = to be imprisoned; to do time
literal to sit in prison
сидеть под арестом = to be under arrest
хорошо сидеть = to fit well (about clothes)
literal to sit well
плохо сидеть = to not fit well (about clothes)
literal to sit badly
сидеть сложа руки = to idle one’s time away
literal to sit having folded the hands
сидеть взаперти = to be shut up
сидеть как на иголках = be on tenterhooks
literal to sit as on needles
сидеть на хлебе и воде = to live on bread and water
сидеть до вторых петухов = to burn the midnight oil
literal to sit till the second cock
сидеть на пороховой бочке = to sit on a keg of powder
сидеть на чемоданах = to be packed and waiting to go
literal to sit on suitcases
сидеть дома = to stay at home; to be at home
literal to sit at home
сидеть на диете = to be on a diet
literal to sit on a diet
сидеть на яйцах = to brood; to sit (on eggs)
сидеть над уроками = to do homework; to study one's lessons
literal to sit over lessons

Proverbs and sayings:

Не руби сук, на котором сидишь.
Don't cut the bough you are sitting on.

Verb conjugation:

Present Tense

I	сижу́
you (singular)	сиди́шь
he, she, it	сиди́т
we	сиди́м
you (plural)	сиди́те
they	сидя́т

Past Tense

I, you (singular), he	сиде́л
she	сиде́ла
it	сиде́ло
we, you (plural), they	сиде́ли

Future Simple Tense

The imperfective verb сидеть is not used in the Future Simple Tense. Use the perfective verb сесть instead.

Future Compound Tense

I	буду сиде́ть
you (singular)	будешь сиде́ть
he, she, it	будет сиде́ть
we	будем сиде́ть
you (plural)	будете сиде́ть
they	будут сиде́ть

Imperative Mood (Command Form)

you (singular)	сиди́
you (plural)	сиди́те

View full conjugation table for the verb pair сидеть/сесть

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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