Russian

Verb

пасть • ‎(pastʹ) pf ‎(imperfective па́дать)

1. (dated, literary) to fall
2. (of а decision, especially by lot) to fall on an option

   На́ш вы́бор па́л на пе́рвый вариа́нт.‎ ― Náš výbor pál na pérvyj variánt. ― Our choice fell on the first option.

3. (figuratively, high register) to fall, die on the battlefield, be killed in action
4. (figuratively, formal, of historical states, governments) to fall, lose power, cease to exist, be toppled
5. (figuratively, formal, of historical cities, castles) to fall, give way under siege

   Прошло́ ме́ньше ве́ка, и непристу́пный за́мок всё-таки́ пал под уда́рами каза́цкой ко́нницы.‎

   Prošló ménʹše véka, i nepristúpnyj zámok vsjó-takí pal pod udárami kazáckoj kónnicy.

   After less than a century, even the impenetrable castle fell to the blows of the Cossack cavalry.

6. (figuratively, formal) to stoop, lower one's morals

   До како́й сте́пени на́до так ни́зко па́сть, что́бы пресмыка́ться перед тира́ном-захва́тчиком, кото́рый мечта́ет поста́вить весь ми́р на коле́ни?‎

   Do kakój stépeni nádo tak nízko pástʹ, štóby presmykátʹsja pered tiránom-zaxvátčikom, kotóryj mečtájet postávitʹ vesʹ mír na koléni?

   To what extent would one have to stoop so low as to grovel before the tyrant conqueror who wants to put the whole world under his thumb?

Conjugation

Usage notes

• Note that this verb has two past participle forms: падший in the religous/morale sense, and павший for all other senses

Synonyms

• упа́сть pf ‎(upástʹ)
• поги́бнуть pf ‎(pogíbnutʹ)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Attested since 1731. From Proto-Slavic *pastь, from *pasti ‎(“to fall”) + *-tь.

Noun

пасть • ‎(pastʹ) f inan ‎(genitive па́сти, nominative plural па́сти, genitive plural па́стей)

1. mouth, maw, jaws (of an animal, reptile or fish)
2. (pejorative) mouth, piehole

   закро́й пасть!‎ ― zakrój pastʹ! ― shut up!, shut your piehole!

3. throat
4. wide inlet on a device, structure or construction
5. trap, snare

Declension

Synonyms

• рот ‎(rot)
• зев ‎(zev)

References

• Fasmer, Maks (1964–1973), “паду”, in Etimologičeskij slovarʹ russkovo jazyka [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), translated from German and supplemented by Trubačev O. N., Moscow: Progress
• Fasmer, Maks (1964–1973), “пасть”, in Etimologičeskij slovarʹ russkovo jazyka [Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), translated from German and supplemented by Trubačev O. N., Moscow: Progress
• Černyx, P. Ja. (1999), “пасть”, in Istoriko-etimologičeskij slovarʹ russkovo jazyka [Historical-Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language] (in Russian), volume 2, 3rd reprint edition, Moscow: Russkij jazyk, page 11