Russian · Verbs & Actions
Есть
yest
To eat
Beginnerverb
Definition
To put food into the mouth and swallow it.
Example
Дети едят суп.
The children are eating soup.
Etymology
The verb "есть" (yest) comes from the Old East Slavic "есть" and is tied to Proto-Slavic *jesti, historically meaning to consume food.
How & Where It’s Used
Used widely in spoken and written contexts across both informal and formal registers. It is a fundamental term understood universally.