Russian Prepositions → Cases

Genitive Роди́тельный паде́ж, possession, origin, absence, measurement

Preposition	English meaning	Notes	Example
без	without	Always genitive; без сомне́ния = without doubt	Ко́фе без са́хара, пожа́луйста. Coffee without sugar, please.
вдоль	along	вдоль реки́ = along the river	Мы шли вдоль реки́. We walked along the river.
вме́сто	instead of, in place of	вме́сто меня́ = instead of me	Она́ пришла́ вме́сто него́. She came instead of him.
вокру́г	around	вокру́г стола́ = around the table	Де́ти сиде́ли вокру́г стола́. The children sat around the table.
до	until, up to, before, as far as	до понеде́льника = until Monday; до го́рода = as far as the city	Магази́н рабо́тает до девяти́. The store is open until nine.
для	for, intended for	Purpose/beneficiary only, not used for time spans	Э́то письмо́ для тебя́. This letter is for you.
из / и́зо	from (out of), made of	Paired with в; из го́рода = out of the city	Он вы́шел из ко́мнаты. He walked out of the room.
из-за	because of; from behind	из-за тебя́ = because of you; из-за угла́ = from behind the corner	Я опозда́л из-за про́бки. I was late because of traffic.
кро́ме	except, besides, apart from	кро́ме меня́ = except me / besides me	Все пришли́, кро́ме Ива́на. Everyone came except Ivan.
ме́жду	between (fixed expressions)	INSTstandard usage ме́жду двух огне́й = caught between two fires (frozen idiom); otherwise takes Instrumental	Он оказа́лся ме́жду двух огне́й. He was caught between two fires.
ми́мо	past, by	пройти́ ми́мо до́ма = to walk past the house	Мы прошли́ ми́мо теа́тра. We walked past the theater.
о́коло	near, by; approximately	о́коло часа́ = about an hour; о́коло до́ма = near the house	Он живёт о́коло па́рка. He lives near the park.
от / о́то	from, away from, because of	Paired with к; от челове́ка = from a person	Я получи́л письмо́ от дру́га. I received a letter from a friend.
по́сле	after	по́сле рабо́ты = after work	По́сле у́жина мы погуля́ли. After dinner we went for a walk.
про́тив	against, opposite, versus	про́тив пра́вил = against the rules	Я не про́тив э́той иде́и. I'm not against this idea.
с / со	from (off a surface)	INSTtogether with с кры́ши = off the roof; paired with на. Also takes Instrumental for accompaniment	Кот пры́гнул с дива́на. The cat jumped off the sofa.
у	at, near; possession	у меня́ есть = "I have" (lit. "at me there is")	У меня́ есть вопро́с. I have a question.

Accusative Вини́тельный паде́ж, motion toward, duration, direct objects

Preposition	English meaning	Notes	Example
в / во	into, to (motion)	PREPstatic location е́дем в го́род = we're going to the city. Takes Prepositional for location	Мы е́дем в Москву́. We're going to Moscow.
за	behind (motion); for, in exchange	INSTstatic location зайти́ за у́гол = to go around the corner. Takes Instrumental for location	Зайди́ за у́гол и жди. Go around the corner and wait.
на	onto, to (motion)	PREPstatic location идти́ на рабо́ту = to go to work. Takes Prepositional for location	Иди́ на ку́хню. Go to the kitchen.
по	up to (quantity); each	DATIalong / by / perPREPafter completion по коле́но = up to the knee; по рублю́ = one ruble each. Mostly Dative	Снег по коле́но. Snow up to the knee.
под / по́до	under (motion)	INSTstatic location положи́ть под стол = to put under the table. Takes Instrumental for location	Положи́ кни́гу под поду́шку. Put the book under the pillow.
про	about, concerning (informal)	Informal synonym of о + Prep; про меня́ = about me	Расскажи́ мне про себя́. Tell me about yourself.
че́рез	through, across, in (time), via	че́рез час = in an hour; че́рез ре́ку = across the river	Че́рез час я бу́ду до́ма. In an hour I'll be home.

Dative Да́тельный паде́ж, direction toward, recipient, cause

Preposition	English meaning	Notes	Example
благодаря́	thanks to, owing to	Positive cause only; благодаря́ тебе́ = thanks to you	Благодаря́ тебе́ я не опозда́л. Thanks to you I wasn't late.
вопреки́	despite, contrary to	вопреки́ ожида́ниям = contrary to expectations	Вопреки́ прогно́зу, вы́глянуло со́лнце. Contrary to the forecast, the sun came out.
к / ко	toward, to, by (a deadline)	Paired with от; к врачу́ = to the doctor; к пя́тнице = by Friday	Иди́ к врачу́. Go to the doctor.
по	along, by, per, according to	ACCUup to / eachPREPafter completion по у́лице = along the street; по расписа́нию = according to schedule	Мы гуля́ем по па́рку. We're walking through the park.
согла́сно	according to, in accordance with	Formal register; согла́сно зако́ну = according to the law	Согла́сно пла́ну, встре́ча в пять. According to the plan, the meeting is at five.

Instrumental Твори́тельный паде́ж, static location, accompaniment, means

Preposition	English meaning	Notes	Example
за	behind (location); fetching	ACCUmotion / purpose стоя́ть за угло́м = to stand behind the corner. Takes Accusative for motion	Кот спит за дива́ном. The cat is sleeping behind the sofa.
ме́жду	between, among	GENIfixed expressions ме́жду на́ми = between us; Gen survives only in frozen idioms	Ме́жду на́ми нет секре́тов. There are no secrets between us.
над	above, over	Location only, no accusative motion form; над го́родом = above the city	Самолёт лети́т над облака́ми. The plane is flying above the clouds.
пе́ред	in front of, before	Space & time: пе́ред до́мом / пе́ред сном	Встре́тимся пе́ред кинотеа́тром. Let's meet in front of the cinema.
под / по́до	under (location)	ACCUmotion toward под столо́м = under the table. Takes Accusative for motion	Ключи́ лежа́т под ко́вриком. The keys are under the mat.
с / со	with, together with	GENIfrom off a surface с друго́м = with a friend. Takes Genitive when meaning "from off" a surface	Я иду́ с друго́м. I'm going with a friend.

Prepositional Предло́жный паде́ж, static location, topic of thought or speech

Preposition	English meaning	Notes	Example
в / во	in, at (location)	ACCUmotion toward в го́роде = in the city. Takes Accusative for motion	Мы живём в Москве́. We live in Moscow.
на	on, at (location)	ACCUmotion toward на рабо́те = at work. Takes Accusative for motion	Кни́га лежи́т на столе́. The book is on the table.
о / об / о́бо	about, concerning	об before vowels; о́бо before мне / всём	Мы говори́ли о пого́де. We were talking about the weather.
по	after (completion of)	DATImain usageACCUup to / each по оконча́нии = upon completion/graduation. Rare, mostly по takes Dative	По оконча́нии шко́лы он уе́хал. Upon finishing school, he left.
при	at the time of, in the presence of	при Петре́ = during Peter's reign; при мне = in my presence	При Петре́ Росси́я си́льно измени́лась. Under Peter, Russia changed greatly.