вести́

very common #287B1

verbunidirectional motion (partner води́ть)imperfective perfective is повести́

1.
to lead, to guide, to take (someone somewhere)
Она́ ведёт ребёнка за ру́ку.
She is leading the child by the hand.
Unidirectional; of a person or animal
2.
to drive, to steer, to pilot
Кто ведёт маши́ну?
Who is driving the car?
Unidirectional; of a car, ship, plane
3.
to conduct, to run, to manage, to hold (talks)
Они́ вели́ перегово́ры три ча́са.
They conducted negotiations for three hours.
Of negotiations, a lesson, a conversation
4.
to behave, to conduct oneself, to act
Почему́ ты так себя́ ведёшь?
Why are you behaving like that?
With себя
5.
to keep (a diary), to keep (records), to maintain (accounts)
Она́ ведёт дневни́к уже́ де́сять лет.
She has been keeping a diary for ten years.
Of a diary notes accounts
6.
to lead (of a road), to go, to run
Э́та дорога ведёт в го́род.
This road leads to the city.
Physical direction; also figuratively of consequences

Motion info

вести́/води́ть is a verb of motion pair:

· вести́ is unidirectional → go right now or in a specific single trip.

· води́ть is multidirectional → habitual movement, repeated trips, or there-and-back movement.

вести́/води́ть are both imperfective and thus focus on the process. Use the perfective aspect partner instead if you want to describe a completed action.

Examples

Куда ведёт э́та у́лица?
Where does this street lead to?
Э́та дверь ведёт в кабине́т.
This door leads to the study.
Я никогда не вёл дневни́к.
I've never kept a diary.
Веди́те медленно, пожалуйста.
Please drive slowly.
Я сейчас не рабо́таю и веду́ менее беспоко́йную жизнь.
I don't work now and I lead a less hectic life.
Я веду́ сы́на в зоопа́рк сего́дня днём.
I'm taking my son to the zoo this afternoon.
Мастурба́ция ведёт к безу́мству.
Masturbation leads to insanity.
Э́та дверь ведёт на ку́хню.
This door leads into the kitchen.

Conjugation

	Present	Future
я	веду́	бу́ду вести́
ты	ведёшь	бу́дешь вести́
он/она́/оно́	ведёт	бу́дет вести́
мы	ведём	бу́дем вести́
вы	ведёте	бу́дете вести́
они́	веду́т	бу́дут вести́

Imperative
ты	веди́
вы	веди́те

Past
masculine	вёл
feminine	вела́
neuter	вело́
plural	вели́

Participles

Active present	веду́щий	leading, foremost, principal
Active past	вёдший	leading, conducting, that led, who led
Passive present	ведо́мый	led, guided, conducted
Passive past	ведённый	led, guided
Gerund present	ведя́	while doing (present)
Gerund past	вёдши	while doing (past)

Typical usagePRO

Movement and direction
- вести́ ребёнка за ру́ку
  to lead a child by the hand
- доро́га ведёт к + Dat.
  the road leads to ...
- вести́ маши́ну
  to drive a car
- вести́ гру́ппу за собо́й
  to lead a group along
Conducting, hosting, teaching
- вести́ перегово́ры
  to hold/conduct negotiations
- вести́ уро́к
  to teach a class/lesson
- вести́ програ́мму
  to host a (TV/radio) show
Keeping records and correspondence
- вести́ дневни́к
  to keep a diary
- вести́ блог
  to run a blog
- вести́ учёт
  to keep records; do bookkeeping
- вести́ перепи́ску
  to correspond; to keep up a correspondence

LockedUnlock typical usages

Word familyвести́PRO

ве́стиnews / messages
nounfeminine
ве́домыйknown
adjective

Prefix groupPRO

Verb	Prefix	Meaning
вести́	-	to lead; to drive; to conduct; to behave; to keep (a diary); to lead (of a road)
ввести́	в-	to introduce; to enter; to lead in
взвести́	вз-	to cock (a gun); to impute (to); to lead up
возвести́	воз-	to erect; to raise; to elevate; to raise to a power; to level (an accusation); to trace back