Russian Prepositions → Cases

Preposition	English meaning	Case	Notes	Example
Genitive Родительный падеж — possession, origin, absence, measurement
без	without	Genitive	Always genitive; без сомнения = without doubt	Кофе без сахара, пожалуйста. Coffee without sugar, please.
вдоль	along	Genitive	вдоль реки = along the river	Мы шли вдоль реки. We walked along the river.
вместо	instead of, in place of	Genitive	вместо меня = instead of me	Она пришла вместо него. She came instead of him.
вокруг	around	Genitive	вокруг стола = around the table	Дети сидели вокруг стола. The children sat around the table.
до	until, up to, before, as far as	Genitive	до понедельника = until Monday; до города = as far as the city	Магазин работает до девяти. The store is open until nine.
для	for, intended for	Genitive	Purpose/beneficiary only — not used for time spans	Это письмо для тебя. This letter is for you.
из / изо	from (out of), made of	Genitive	Paired with в; из города = out of the city	Он вышел из комнаты. He walked out of the room.
из-за	because of; from behind	Genitive	из-за тебя = because of you; из-за угла = from behind the corner	Я опоздал из-за пробки. I was late because of traffic.
кроме	except, besides, apart from	Genitive	кроме меня = except me / besides me	Все пришли, кроме Ивана. Everyone came except Ivan.
между	between (fixed expressions)	Genitivefixed expressions Instrumentalstandard usage	между двух огней = caught between two fires (frozen idiom); otherwise takes Instrumental	Он оказался между двух огней. He was caught between two fires.
мимо	past, by	Genitive	пройти мимо дома = to walk past the house	Мы прошли мимо театра. We walked past the theater.
около	near, by; approximately	Genitive	около часа = about an hour; около дома = near the house	Он живёт около парка. He lives near the park.
от / ото	from, away from, because of	Genitive	Paired with к; от человека = from a person	Я получил письмо от друга. I received a letter from a friend.
после	after	Genitive	после работы = after work	После ужина мы погуляли. After dinner we went for a walk.
против	against, opposite, versus	Genitive	против правил = against the rules	Я не против этой идеи. I'm not against this idea.
с / со	from (off a surface)	Genitivefrom off a surface Instrumentaltogether with	с крыши = off the roof; paired with на. Also takes Instrumental for accompaniment	Кот прыгнул с дивана. The cat jumped off the sofa.
у	at, near; possession	Genitive	у меня есть = "I have" (lit. "at me there is")	У меня есть вопрос. I have a question.
Accusative Винительный падеж — motion toward, duration, direct objects
в / во	into, to (motion)	Accusativemotion toward Prepositionalstatic location	едем в город = we're going to the city. Takes Prepositional for location	Мы едем в Москву. We're going to Moscow.
за	behind (motion); for, in exchange	Accusativemotion / purpose Instrumentalstatic location	зайти за угол = to go around the corner. Takes Instrumental for location	Зайди за угол и жди. Go around the corner and wait.
на	onto, to (motion)	Accusativemotion toward Prepositionalstatic location	идти на работу = to go to work. Takes Prepositional for location	Иди на кухню. Go to the kitchen.
по	up to (quantity); each	Accusativeup to / each Dativealong / by / per Prepositionalafter completion	по колено = up to the knee; по рублю = one ruble each. Mostly Dative	Снег по колено. Snow up to the knee.
под / подо	under (motion)	Accusativemotion toward Instrumentalstatic location	положить под стол = to put under the table. Takes Instrumental for location	Положи книгу под подушку. Put the book under the pillow.
про	about, concerning (informal)	Accusative	Informal synonym of о + Prep; про меня = about me	Расскажи мне про себя. Tell me about yourself.
через	through, across, in (time), via	Accusative	через час = in an hour; через реку = across the river	Через час я буду дома. In an hour I'll be home.
Dative Дательный падеж — direction toward, recipient, cause
благодаря	thanks to, owing to	Dative	Positive cause only; благодаря тебе = thanks to you	Благодаря тебе я не опоздал. Thanks to you I wasn't late.
вопреки	despite, contrary to	Dative	вопреки ожиданиям = contrary to expectations	Вопреки прогнозу, выглянуло солнце. Contrary to the forecast, the sun came out.
к / ко	toward, to, by (a deadline)	Dative	Paired with от; к врачу = to the doctor; к пятнице = by Friday	Иди к врачу. Go to the doctor.
по	along, by, per, according to	Dativemain usage Accusativeup to / each Prepositionalafter completion	по улице = along the street; по расписанию = according to schedule	Мы гуляем по парку. We're walking through the park.
согласно	according to, in accordance with	Dative	Formal register; согласно закону = according to the law	Согласно плану, встреча в пять. According to the plan, the meeting is at five.
Instrumental Творительный падеж — static location, accompaniment, means
за	behind (location); fetching	Instrumentalstatic location Accusativemotion / purpose	стоять за углом = to stand behind the corner. Takes Accusative for motion	Кот спит за диваном. The cat is sleeping behind the sofa.
между	between, among	Instrumentalstandard usage Genitivefixed expressions	между нами = between us; Gen survives only in frozen idioms	Между нами нет секретов. There are no secrets between us.
над	above, over	Instrumental	Location only — no accusative motion form; над городом = above the city	Самолёт летит над облаками. The plane is flying above the clouds.
перед	in front of, before	Instrumental	Space & time: перед домом / перед сном	Встретимся перед кинотеатром. Let's meet in front of the cinema.
под / подо	under (location)	Instrumentalstatic location Accusativemotion toward	под столом = under the table. Takes Accusative for motion	Ключи лежат под ковриком. The keys are under the mat.
с / со	with, together with	Instrumentaltogether with Genitivefrom off a surface	с другом = with a friend. Takes Genitive when meaning "from off" a surface	Я иду с другом. I'm going with a friend.
Prepositional Предложный падеж — static location, topic of thought or speech
в / во	in, at (location)	Prepositionalstatic location Accusativemotion toward	в городе = in the city. Takes Accusative for motion	Мы живём в Москве. We live in Moscow.
на	on, at (location)	Prepositionalstatic location Accusativemotion toward	на работе = at work. Takes Accusative for motion	Книга лежит на столе. The book is on the table.
о / об / обо	about, concerning	Prepositional	об before vowels; обо before мне / всём	Мы говорили о погоде. We were talking about the weather.
по	after (completion of)	Prepositionalafter completion Dativemain usage Accusativeup to / each	по окончании = upon completion/graduation. Rare — mostly по takes Dative	По окончании школы он уехал. Upon finishing school, he left.
при	at the time of, in the presence of	Prepositional	при Петре = during Peter's reign; при мне = in my presence	При Петре Россия сильно изменилась. Under Peter, Russia changed greatly.