Prepositions and Case (Предлоги)
Russian prepositions are short and very frequent: в, на, с, у, к, о, по, за, из, от, для. Each one sets the case of the noun after it, so learning a preposition means learning its case too. The good news: a handful of combinations (в / на + place, у меня, с тобой) cover most of everyday speech.
Measured in spoken Russian
About 8 of every 100 words are prepositions (в, на, с, у), and each one sets the case of the next noun.
в and на: in, on, at, to
Both mean "in / at" with the prepositional and "to / into" with the accusative. Some places take на for no clear reason: на работе, на улице, на почте, на вокзале. Learn them as pairs.
Я в магазине.
I'm at the store.
Я иду в магазин.
I'm going to the store.
Он на работе.
He's at work.
у: at someone's place, and "to have"
у + genitive means "at someone's" (у мамы = at mom's) and builds "to have": У меня есть машина (I have a car).
Я у друга.
I'm at a friend's place.
У тебя есть время?
Do you have time?
с: with, and from
с + instrumental = "with" (с тобой). с + genitive = "from / off" (с работы, from work). Before some consonant groups it becomes со: со мной.
Пойдем со мной.
Come with me.
Я только с работы.
I just got back from work.
Examples
Я думаю о тебе.
I'm thinking about you.
о + prepositional
Иди к маме.
Go to mom.
к + dative: to a person
Это для тебя.
This is for you.
для + genitive
Спасибо за помощь.
Thanks for the help.
за + accusative
| Preposition | Case | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| в / на | prepositional | in, at (where) | в школе, на работе |
| в / на | accusative | to, into (where to) | в школу, на работу |
| у | genitive | at someone's; to have | у меня, у мамы |
| с | instrumental | with | с тобой, с другом |
| из / с / от | genitive | from | из Москвы, с работы, от мамы |
| к | dative | to (a person), toward | к врачу |
| о / об | prepositional | about | о тебе, об этом |
| для | genitive | for | для тебя |
| по | dative | along, by, on (phone, TV) | по телефону |
| за | accusative | for (thanks, pay) | спасибо за всё |
Common mistakes
- ✗ Я иду к магазину (to mean "into the store"). к = toward. Say Я иду в магазин.
- ✗ в работе → ✓ на работе (some places take на)
- ✗ Я иду к Москве. → ✓ Я еду в Москву. (cities take в; к is for people)
Lookup tips
- Learn each preposition with one example noun: в школе / в школу, у меня, с тобой.
- к is for people (к маме), в / на are for places.
Frequently asked questions
When do I use в and when на?
Most enclosed places take в (в доме, в школе, в Москве). Open spaces, events and some fixed places take на (на улице, на концерте, на работе). Learn the на places as a short list.
How do I say "I have"?
Use у + the person in the genitive + есть + the thing: у меня есть машина. In the negative: у меня нет машины.