Prepositions

Russian Lesson 4 (Prepositions and Directions)

Duration: 30 mins

Lessons Russian Lessons
Linguistic Russian Vocabulary
Culture Russian Phrases
Structure Russian Grammar

This first lesson teaches many important aspect of Russian like prepositions, vocabulary list about directions and finally common phrases about how to introduce yourself. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Russian Classes.

Prepositions

Prepositions are used in almost every sentence. They can be a great tool to link words with each other. For example by simply knowing how to use "to", "with", "from", "after" you can expand your conversation scope. In short, a preposition describes a relationship between words in a sentence, for example: I agree with you.

Below is a list of 27 prepositions that you might come across or use very often. The table contains 3 columns (English, Russian, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.

Prepositions List in Russian

Prepositions Russian Audio
In front ofперед
pered
Behindза
za
Beforeдо
do
Afterпосле
posle
Insideвнутри
vnutri
Withс
s
Withoutбез
bez
Outsideза пределами
za predelami
On top ofсверху
sverhu
Underпод
pod
About (in regards to)о
o
Againstпротив
protiv
Andи
i
As (similar to)как
kak
Betweenмежду
mezhdu
Butно
no
Forдля
dlja
Fromот
ot
Inв
v
Instead ofвместо
vmesto
Nearоколо
okolo
Ofпредлог родительного падежа
predlog roditel'nogo padezha
Orили
ili
Sinceс (каких-то пор)
s (kakih-to por)
Soтак
tak
Toк
k
Untilдо
do

Now we will try to implement some of the prepositions above into full Russian sentences. That way you will be able to use the word not only by itself but embedded in a structure.

Russian Prepositions in a Sentence

English Russian Audio
Can I practice Italian with you?Можно ли попрактиковаться в итальянском с тобой?
Mozhno li popraktikovat'sja v ital'janskom s toboj?
I speak French but with an accentЯ говорю по-французски, но с акцентом
Ja govorju po-francuzski, no s akcentom
I was born in MiamiЯ родился в Майами
Ja rodilsja v Majami
I'm from JapanЯ из Японии
Ja iz Japonii
The letter is inside the bookЭто письмо в книге
Jeto pis'mo v knige
The pen is under the deskЭта ручка под столом
Jeta ruchka pod stolom
Directions
Can I help you?Могу ли я вам помочь?
Mogu li ja vam pomoch'?

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact me If you simply want to ask a question, please Russian contact form on the header above.

Vocabulary List about Directions

Below is a list of 28 words and sentences related to directions that you might need when lost or asking for help. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to travel from point A to point B by following directions.

Giving Directions in Russian

Directions Russian Audio
Can you help me?Вы можете мне помочь?
Vy mozhete mne pomoch'?
Can you show me?Не могли бы Вы мне показать?
Ne mogli by Vy mne pokazat'?
Come with me!Идите со мной!
Idite so mnoj!
Downtown (city center)Центр города
Centr goroda
Excuse me! (to ask someone)Простите ...
Prostite ...
Go straightИдите прямо
Idite prjamo
How can I get to the museum? Как мне добраться до музея?
Kak mne dobrat'sja do muzeja?
How long does it take to get there?За какое время туда можно добраться?
Za kakoe vremja tuda mozhno dobrat'sja?
I'm lostЯ потерялся
Ja poterjalsja
I'm not from hereЯ не отсюда
Ja ne otsjuda
It's far from hereЭто далеко отсюда
Jeto daleko otsjuda
It's near hereЭто рядом
Jeto rjadom
One moment please!Минуточку!
Minutochku!
Turn leftПоверните налево
Povernite nalevo
Turn rightПоверните направо
Povernite napravo
FarДалеко
Daleko
Hereздесь
zdes'
LeftНалево, левый, левая, левое, левые
Nalevo, levyj, levaja, levoe, levye
RightНаправо, правый, правая, правое, правые
Napravo, pravyj, pravaja, pravoe, pravye
NearНедалеко
Nedaleko
StraightПрямо, прямой, прямая, прямое, прямые
Prjamo, prjamoj, prjamaja, prjamoe, prjamye
Thereтам
tam
To driveВести машину, ехать
Vesti mashinu, ehat'
To turnПовернуть
Povernut'
To walkИдти пешком
Idti peshkom
Traffic lightсветофор
svetofor
TransportationПроезд
Proezd

Daily Conversation in Russian

Finally, a couple sentences to help you know how to introduce yourself in Russian. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Russian Phrases page. Enjoy!

Common Expressions in Russian

English Russian Audio
Do you speak English?Вы говорите по-английски?
Vy govorite po-anglijski?
Just a littleНемного
Nemnogo
What's your name?Как вас зовут?
Kak vas zovut?
My name is (John Doe)Меня зовут (Джон Доу)
Menja zovut (Dzhon Dou)
Mr... / Mrs. ... / Miss...господин, госпожа, девушка
gospodin, gospozha, devushka
Nice to meet you!Приятно с вами познакомиться
Prijatno s vami poznakomit'sja
You're very kind!Вы очень любезны!
Vy ochen' ljubezny!

Fun Facts

Language Quote: The language of a society changes slowly but steadily with the result that an educated person will not be able to read or understand words in his language written 500 years ago. Do you feel like you can't talk to your parents? Maybe it's because you belong to the Niger-Congo family. More than 1,400 languages are spoken by different members of this family from Africa..

Congratulations! You finished your 4th lesson in Russian about prepositions, and directions. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Russian Lesson 5. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Russian homepage.

Lessons Russian Lessons
Linguistic Russian Vocabulary
Culture Russian Phrases
Structure Russian Grammar