Expressing 'Let's' — Russian Grammar

English makes suggestions with let's. Russian has two ways, both very common in everyday speech, and the choice of verb form depends on aspect.

дава́й (daváy) + Perfective "We" Form

For one specific action, use (daváydaváj) (to someone you address as (ty)) or (daváytedavájte) (to several people, or politely) followed by the "we" form of a perfective verb. The verb form looks like a future, but here it means let's.

Дава́й ку́пим но́вую.
Daváy kúpim nóvuyu.Daváj kúpim nóvuju.
Let's buy a new one.
Дава́й поеди́м пи́ццу.
Daváy poyedím pítstsu.Daváj pojedím píccu.
Let's eat pizza.
Дава́йте посчита́ем.
Daváyte poschitáyem.Davájte posčitájem.
Let's count.

дава́й (daváy) + Imperfective Infinitive

For an activity rather than one completed action, (daváydaváj) is followed by an imperfective infinitive.

Дава́й игра́ть.
Daváy igrát'.Daváj igrátʹ.
Let's play.
Дава́йте танцева́ть.
Daváyte tantsevát'.Davájte tancevátʹ.
Let's dance.

The "We" Form Alone

With verbs of motion and a few others, the perfective "we" form on its own is a suggestion. (PoydyómPojdjóm) means let's go; (posmótrim) can mean let's see.

Мне жа́рко. Пойдём на пляж.
Mne zhárko. Poydyóm na plyazh.Mne žárko. Pojdjóm na pljaž.
I'm hot. Let's go to the beach.
Дава́йте пойдём пла́вать.
Daváyte poydyóm plávat'.Davájte pojdjóm plávatʹ.
Let's go swimming.

Colloquial пошли́ (poshlí)

In relaxed speech (poshlípošlí) - formally a past tense of (poytípojtí) - is used as let's go!. It has no past meaning here.

Э́то ме́сто ску́чное. Пошли́ домо́й.
Éto mésto skúchnoye. Poshlí domóy.Éto mésto skúčnoje. Pošlí domój.
This place is boring. Let's go home.

Agreeing

(Daváy!Daváj!) or (Daváyte!Davájte!) on its own means OK, let's!.

Дава́й сде́лаем так.
Daváy sdélayem tak.Daváj sdélajem tak.
Let's do it that way.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Russian course

13 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 49. A few of them, with the words “Expressing 'Let's'” is about in bold:

Да. Давай поедим китайскую еду.
Da. Daváy poyedím kitáyskuyu yedú.Da. Daváj pojedím kitájskuju jedú.
Yes. Let's eat Chinese food.
Lesson 127

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