Thread: difference between "навещать", "посещать"

hello everybody,

can you tell me what is the difference between навещать, посещать

девочка навещает свою бабушку
семья посещает Рим

is the verb "посещать" using just with cities and towns ?

================================================

waiting for your answers

навещать usually means visiting relatives (not necessarily old and sick, but it very often refers to elderly or sick) or visiting the sick in the hospital. Навещать usually implies that the person whom you visit is unable to come to your place (old, sick, has a baby, or similar circumstances). To visit smb's grave could also be translated as навестить могилу.

посещать is neutral. It just generally means 'to visit' (but more often places, like exhibitions, museums, gallery, might be a city or town, or classes and lectures; usually посещать means going to see something on purpose). Still, one can also use посещать referring to people. But with closer relatives навещать would be more common.

Навещать generally has a more personal connotation.

I'd say that "навещать" means to visit someone or something you already know well in order to refresh memories or like. And yes, "посещать" is of very formal style while"навещать" is of personal informal style.

alexsm,it-ogo---- thanks alot for your answers
==============
and if I want to invite someone to visit me, I must use "навестить меня" or what??

if you want to invite someone to visit me....

it's better to use "приезжай ко мне" (come to my place) or "приходи ко мне" (this one is used when the physical distance between you is not big).

if you are to choose between навестить and посетить you must use "навестить меня"

 "посетить меня" is awkward, too formal, and is not likely to be used referring to self.

alexsms ------ спасибо большое))))