Thread: Too many 'use's

I wanted to learn the verb ' to use' as it's quite useful, but when I was looking in the dictionary I found loads of different verbs, but there was no differenciation between them here are the verbs I found, can someone please explain when each one can be used, if they are interchangable and if there are any more that I haven't found:

пользоваться

использовать

употреблять

Thanks in advance

My Russian teacher said that for all practical purposes #1 and #2 are interchangeable (but you use different cases for the object).

#3 is similar, but closer to how we might use "utilise" or "make application". Really, though, you just have to listen to Russian and/or read books to see where they use it.

OK, now the Russians can correct me

Originally Posted by начало

I wanted to learn the verb ' to use' as it's quite useful, but when I was looking in the dictionary I found loads of different verbs, but there was no differenciation between them here are the verbs I found, can someone please explain when each one can be used, if they are interchangable and if there are any more that I haven't found:

пользоваться

пользоваться

употреблять

Thanks in advance

In some forms, like 'пользоваться успехом" "употреблять в пищу" they are definitely not interchangeable. Online lingvo.rudisplays a lot of such forms for пользоваться/пользоваться/ etc.
One more translation for 'use' is (из)расходовать, i.e. consume ( perf./imperf. ), not interchangeable with 3 above.

использовать
use, utilize

пользоваться
1) (make) use (of); profit (by); avail oneself (of)
2) (обладать) enjoy, have

употреблять
use, make use (of); (о лекарствах и т.п.) take, apply