Comparing Russian Phrases: Я плачу (плакать) vs. Я плачу (платить). Russian Homographs.

Today we are going to explore an interesting aspect of the Russian language – homographs. Я плачу translates as I'm crying. This is the first person singular form of the verb плакать in the present tense, which means to cry. Я плачу, потому что фильм грустный. I'm crying because the movie is set. Я плачу means I'm paying. This is the first person singular form of the verb платить in the present tense, which means to pay. Я плачу за ужин. I'm paying for dinner. These verbs coincide in the form of the first person singular in the present tense, but differ in pronunciation. In Я плачу, the stress is on the first syllable – плачу, while in Я плачу, the stress is on the second syllable – плачу. In writing, however, they look identical, so the context is the key. If you enjoyed this video, don't forget to like, share and subscribe for more language tips. Thank you!