Why Russian aspectual prefixes aren’t empty

Prefix		PRI-
Methodology
iz-
o(b)-
ot-
pere-
pod-
pri-
raz-
u-
v-
v(o)z-
vy-

Submeaning Description Example Example gloss

1. ARRIVE Reach a destination point Vasco da Gama priplyl kogda-to v Indiju Vasco da Gama once sailed to India

2. ATTACH Attach smth smth Ja prišila pugovicu I sewed on a button

3. ADD Add smth to smth/somewhere Potom ja pristroila ešče odnu komnatu i terrasu Then I built on another room and a terrase

4. ATTENUATE Not fully perform an action, make smth slightly Artem primolk i zadumalsja Artem became a bit silent and pondered

Submeaning	Description	Example	Example gloss
1. ARRIVE	Reach a destination point	Vasco da Gama priplyl kogda-to v Indiju	Vasco da Gama once sailed to India
2. ATTACH	Attach smth smth	Ja prišila pugovicu	I sewed on a button
3. ADD	Add smth to smth/somewhere	Potom ja pristroila ešče odnu komnatu i terrasu	Then I built on another room and a terrase
4. ATTENUATE	Not fully perform an action, make smth slightly	Artem primolk i zadumalsja	Artem became a bit silent and pondered

1. ARRIVE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

pribežat’ arrive running bežat’ run n

priblizit’(sja) move closer to smth blizit’(sja) approach n

pribrat’ tidy up brat’ take m

pribyt’ arrive byt’ be n

pričinit’ cause činit’ carry out m

pridumat’ think up, invent dumat’ think m

priexat’ arrive exat’ drive n

priglasit’ invite glasit’ announce m

prigljadet’sja look closely in order to see better gljadet’ watch m

prignat’ bring to a place driving or chasing gnat’ drive, urge on, chase n

prigodit’sja prove useful godit’sja suit m

prijti(s’) come walking idti go, walk n

prikatit’ bring to a place by rolling katit’ roll n

prikurit’ light a cigarette from smth kurit’ smoke m

priletet’ arrive flying letet’ fly n

primčat’(sja) rush to a place mčat’(sja) rush n

primerit’sja aim merit’ measure m

primetit’ notice metit’ mark, label; aim m

prinesti bring nesti carry n

prinjuxat’sja sniff to smth with additional effort and attention njuxat’ sniff m

prinorovit’sja get the hand of, catch the trick, get used to norovit’ be ready, eager to do smth m

priparkovat’ park to parkovat’ park a car n

priperet’(sja) drag to a place peret’(sja) push, make one’s way n

priplyt’ arrive swimming plyt’ swim n

pripolzti arrive crawling polzti crawl to n

pripomnit’(sja) bring to one’s mind (from memory) pomnit’(sja) remember m

priravnjat’ equate to smth, make equal with ravnjat’ equate m

priskakat’ arrive galloping skakat’ gallop n

prislat’ send to a place slat’ send n

prislušat’sja listen with attention, heed slušat’ listen m

prismotret’sja focus on closer view smotret’ watch m

pritaščit’ drag to a place taščit’ drag n

pritjanut’ pull to a place tjanut’ pull n

privezti bring to a place vezti transport, convey n

privleč’ attract to smth vleč’ attract n

privoloč’ drag to a place voloč’ drag n

prizvat’ call to zvat’ call m

Specialized Perfectives (37)

1. ARRIVE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
pribežat’	arrive running	bežat’	run	n
priblizit’(sja)	move closer to smth	blizit’(sja)	approach	n
pribrat’	tidy up	brat’	take	m
pribyt’	arrive	byt’	be	n
pričinit’	cause	činit’	carry out	m
pridumat’	think up, invent	dumat’	think	m
priexat’	arrive	exat’	drive	n
priglasit’	invite	glasit’	announce	m
prigljadet’sja	look closely in order to see better	gljadet’	watch	m
prignat’	bring to a place driving or chasing	gnat’	drive, urge on, chase	n
prigodit’sja	prove useful	godit’sja	suit	m
prijti(s’)	come walking	idti	go, walk	n
prikatit’	bring to a place by rolling	katit’	roll	n
prikurit’	light a cigarette from smth	kurit’	smoke	m
priletet’	arrive flying	letet’	fly	n
primčat’(sja)	rush to a place	mčat’(sja)	rush	n
primerit’sja	aim	merit’	measure	m
primetit’	notice	metit’	mark, label; aim	m
prinesti	bring	nesti	carry	n
prinjuxat’sja	sniff to smth with additional effort and attention	njuxat’	sniff	m
prinorovit’sja	get the hand of, catch the trick, get used to	norovit’	be ready, eager to do smth	m
priparkovat’	park to	parkovat’	park a car	n
priperet’(sja)	drag to a place	peret’(sja)	push, make one’s way	n
priplyt’	arrive swimming	plyt’	swim	n
pripolzti	arrive crawling	polzti	crawl to	n
pripomnit’(sja)	bring to one’s mind (from memory)	pomnit’(sja)	remember	m
priravnjat’	equate to smth, make equal with	ravnjat’	equate	m
priskakat’	arrive galloping	skakat’	gallop	n
prislat’	send to a place	slat’	send	n
prislušat’sja	listen with attention, heed	slušat’	listen	m
prismotret’sja	focus on closer view	smotret’	watch	m
pritaščit’	drag to a place	taščit’	drag	n
pritjanut’	pull to a place	tjanut’	pull	n
privezti	bring to a place	vezti	transport, convey	n
privleč’	attract to smth	vleč’	attract	n
privoloč’	drag to a place	voloč’	drag	n
prizvat’	call to	zvat’	call	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

priblizit’sja approach blizit’sja approach n

pricelit’sja aim, level at (in shooting) celit’sja aim, level at (in shooting) m

pričudit’sja appear in imagination čudit’sja appear in imagination m

prigotovit’(sja) prepare, cook gotovit’(sja) prepare, cook m

prigrezit’sja appear in imagination, dreams grezit’sja appear in imagination, dreams m

prigrozit’(sja) threaten grozit’(sja) threaten m

primereščit’sja appear in imagination, loom mereščit’sja appear in imagination, loom m

prisnit’sja appear in a dream snit’sja appear in a dream m

pristydit’ awaken to a sense of shame, chasten stydit’ awaken to a sense of shame, chasten m

privesti bring (leading) vesti bring (leading) n

prividet’sja appear in imagination videt’sja appear in imagination m

Natural Perfectives (11)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
priblizit’sja	approach	blizit’sja	approach	n
pricelit’sja	aim, level at (in shooting)	celit’sja	aim, level at (in shooting)	m
pričudit’sja	appear in imagination	čudit’sja	appear in imagination	m
prigotovit’(sja)	prepare, cook	gotovit’(sja)	prepare, cook	m
prigrezit’sja	appear in imagination, dreams	grezit’sja	appear in imagination, dreams	m
prigrozit’(sja)	threaten	grozit’(sja)	threaten	m
primereščit’sja	appear in imagination, loom	mereščit’sja	appear in imagination, loom	m
prisnit’sja	appear in a dream	snit’sja	appear in a dream	m
pristydit’	awaken to a sense of shame, chasten	stydit’	awaken to a sense of shame, chasten	m
privesti	bring (leading)	vesti	bring (leading)	n
prividet’sja	appear in imagination	videt’sja	appear in imagination	m

2. ATTACH
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

pribit’(sja) nail to; join accidentally bit’ beat, hit n/m

pričalit’ moor to čalit’ moor n

pridavit’ press down davit’ press n

pridelat’ attach delat’ do n

pridrat’sja nag at drat’ tear, flog m

pridušit’ strangle by pressing down dušit’ strangle m

prigladit’ stroke down to, make smooth gladit’ stroke, iron n

prigovorit’ sentence govorit’ speak, talk m

prigret’ warm against someone’s body gret’ heat, make warm n

prigvozdit’ nail to gvozdit’ nail down to n

prikleit’sja stick onto kleit’sja stick, glue n

prikolot’ pin to kolot’ prick, stab n

prikovat’ chain to, rivet kovat’ forge n

prikrepit’ attach krepit’ fasten n

prikrutit’ screw on krutit’ twist n

priladit’ attach, fit to, adjust ladit’ tune, be on good terms with n

prilepit’(sja) stick to lepit’(sja) mould; cling n

primjat’ trample down, flatten against mjat’ knead, crumple n

primostit’sja nestle mostit’(sja) pave, set to a place n

priniknut’ press oneself close to niknut’ droop n

prinudit’ force nudit’ nag, compel m

pripečatat’(sja) affix a seal to pečatat’ print, seal n

priperet’ press against peret’ push n

prirasti adhere rasti grow n

priščemit’ pinch in between ščemit’ constrict, ache, oppress n

prišit’ sew to šit’ sew n

prisosat’sja latch onto sosat’ suck n

pristavit’ put next to stavit’ put n

prisudit’ condemn, sentence sudit’ judge m

pritisnut’ press against tiskat’ press, squeeze n

priučit’ train, school, make accustomed učit’ teach m

privalit’(sja) lean against valit’ throw down, bring down n

privarit’ weld to varit’ weld n

privintit’ screw onto vintit’ screw n

privjazat’(sja) tie to; become emotionaly attached; pester vjazat’(sja) tie n/m

prižat’(sja) press to, clasp, nestle up žat’(sja) press, squeeze n

prižit’sja become acclimatized, accustomed žit’ live m

priznat’(sja) admit, confess znat’ know m

Specialized Perfectives (38)

2. ATTACH
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
pribit’(sja)	nail to; join accidentally	bit’	beat, hit	n/m
pričalit’	moor to	čalit’	moor	n
pridavit’	press down	davit’	press	n
pridelat’	attach	delat’	do	n
pridrat’sja	nag at	drat’	tear, flog	m
pridušit’	strangle by pressing down	dušit’	strangle	m
prigladit’	stroke down to, make smooth	gladit’	stroke, iron	n
prigovorit’	sentence	govorit’	speak, talk	m
prigret’	warm against someone’s body	gret’	heat, make warm	n
prigvozdit’	nail to	gvozdit’	nail down to	n
prikleit’sja	stick onto	kleit’sja	stick, glue	n
prikolot’	pin to	kolot’	prick, stab	n
prikovat’	chain to, rivet	kovat’	forge	n
prikrepit’	attach	krepit’	fasten	n
prikrutit’	screw on	krutit’	twist	n
priladit’	attach, fit to, adjust	ladit’	tune, be on good terms with	n
prilepit’(sja)	stick to	lepit’(sja)	mould; cling	n
primjat’	trample down, flatten against	mjat’	knead, crumple	n
primostit’sja	nestle	mostit’(sja)	pave, set to a place	n
priniknut’	press oneself close to	niknut’	droop	n
prinudit’	force	nudit’	nag, compel	m
pripečatat’(sja)	affix a seal to	pečatat’	print, seal	n
priperet’	press against	peret’	push	n
prirasti	adhere	rasti	grow	n
priščemit’	pinch in between	ščemit’	constrict, ache, oppress	n
prišit’	sew to	šit’	sew	n
prisosat’sja	latch onto	sosat’	suck	n
pristavit’	put next to	stavit’	put	n
prisudit’	condemn, sentence	sudit’	judge	m
pritisnut’	press against	tiskat’	press, squeeze	n
priučit’	train, school, make accustomed	učit’	teach	m
privalit’(sja)	lean against	valit’	throw down, bring down	n
privarit’	weld to	varit’	weld	n
privintit’	screw onto	vintit’	screw	n
privjazat’(sja)	tie to; become emotionaly attached; pester	vjazat’(sja)	tie	n/m
prižat’(sja)	press to, clasp, nestle up	žat’(sja)	press, squeeze	n
prižit’sja	become acclimatized, accustomed	žit’	live	m
priznat’(sja)	admit, confess	znat’	know	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

pričesat’ comb, do one’s hair česat’ comb, do one’s hair m

prigolubit’ take tender care of golubit’ take tender care of m

prikleit’ stick to kleit’ stick, glue n

pril’nut’ cling to l’nut’ cling to n

prilaskat’(sja) pet, snuggle up laskat’(sja) pet, snuggle up m

prilipnut’ stick to lipnut’ stick to n

primerit’ try on, test fit merit’ try on, test fit n

primirit’(sja) reconcile to mirit’(sja) reconcile to m

prinevolit’ force to nevolit’ force to m

prirevnovat’ be jealous revnovat’ be jealous m

prisovetovat’ advise sovetovat’ advise m

prišvartovat’(sja) moor to švartovat’(sja) moor to n

Natural Perfectives (12)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
pričesat’	comb, do one’s hair	česat’	comb, do one’s hair	m
prigolubit’	take tender care of	golubit’	take tender care of	m
prikleit’	stick to	kleit’	stick, glue	n
pril’nut’	cling to	l’nut’	cling to	n
prilaskat’(sja)	pet, snuggle up	laskat’(sja)	pet, snuggle up	m
prilipnut’	stick to	lipnut’	stick to	n
primerit’	try on, test fit	merit’	try on, test fit	n
primirit’(sja)	reconcile to	mirit’(sja)	reconcile to	m
prinevolit’	force to	nevolit’	force to	m
prirevnovat’	be jealous	revnovat’	be jealous	m
prisovetovat’	advise	sovetovat’	advise	m
prišvartovat’(sja)	moor to	švartovat’(sja)	moor to	n

3. ADD
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

pribrat’ (k rukam) take into posession brat’ take m

pričislit’ add čislit’ count n

pridat’ add dat’ give n

priložit’(sja) put, add, apply, affix klast’, ložit’sja lay n

pripasti add to provisions, supplies pasti herd, store m

pripisat’ add writing; attribute pisat’ write n/m

pripravit’ add seasoning, spices pravit’ correct n

priprjatat’ secrete, put by prjatat’ hide m

prirasti increase rasti grow n

priselit’ add an inhabitant selit’ settle n

pristroit’(sja) build on, in addition stroit’(sja) build n

privit’ inoculate, draft, vaccinate vit’ twist, wind, weave m

Specialized Perfectives (12)

3. ADD
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
pribrat’ (k rukam)	take into posession	brat’	take	m
pričislit’	add	čislit’	count	n
pridat’	add	dat’	give	n
priložit’(sja)	put, add, apply, affix	klast’, ložit’sja	lay	n
pripasti	add to provisions, supplies	pasti	herd, store	m
pripisat’	add writing; attribute	pisat’	write	n/m
pripravit’	add seasoning, spices	pravit’	correct	n
priprjatat’	secrete, put by	prjatat’	hide	m
prirasti	increase	rasti	grow	n
priselit’	add an inhabitant	selit’	settle	n
pristroit’(sja)	build on, in addition	stroit’(sja)	build	n
privit’	inoculate, draft, vaccinate	vit’	twist, wind, weave	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

pripljusovat’ add to pljusovat’ add to n

pritorgovat’ buy smth extra for smb torgovat’ buy smth extra for smb m

Natural Perfective (2)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
pripljusovat’	add to	pljusovat’	add to	n
pritorgovat’	buy smth extra for smb	torgovat’	buy smth extra for smb	m

4. ATTENUATE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m

prideržat’ hold, detain for a short while deržat’ hold m

priglušit’ muffle a bit glušit’ muffle m

prignut’(sja) bend down slightly gnut’(sja) bend m

prigorjunit’sja get slightly upset gorjunit’sja be upset m

prikryt’(sja) cover, shelter without locking kryt’(sja) cover m

primolknut’ become silent molknut’ grow silent m

priščurit’(sja) screw up one’s eyes slightly ščurit’(sja) screw up one’s eyes m

prismiret’ become a little quiet, submissive smiret’ become quiet, submissive m

prisypat’ pour, strew, sift, sprinkle a little sypat’ pour m

pritait’sja hide tait’(sja) hide, lurk m

pritixnut’ calm down tixnut’ become quiet m

pritormozit’ brake slightly tormozit’ break m

pritupit’(sja) blunt slightly tupit’ blunt m

Complex Act Perfectives (13)

4. ATTENUATE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
prideržat’	hold, detain for a short while	deržat’	hold	m
priglušit’	muffle a bit	glušit’	muffle	m
prignut’(sja)	bend down slightly	gnut’(sja)	bend	m
prigorjunit’sja	get slightly upset	gorjunit’sja	be upset	m
prikryt’(sja)	cover, shelter without locking	kryt’(sja)	cover	m
primolknut’	become silent	molknut’	grow silent	m
priščurit’(sja)	screw up one’s eyes slightly	ščurit’(sja)	screw up one’s eyes	m
prismiret’	become a little quiet, submissive	smiret’	become quiet, submissive	m
prisypat’	pour, strew, sift, sprinkle a little	sypat’	pour	m
pritait’sja	hide	tait’(sja)	hide, lurk	m
pritixnut’	calm down	tixnut’	become quiet	m
pritormozit’	brake slightly	tormozit’	break	m
pritupit’(sja)	blunt slightly	tupit’	blunt	m

Natural Perfectives: not attested