Which prepositions trigger the genitive case in Russian?

In Russian, a wide variety of prepositions trigger (or are followed by) the genitive case. These include some prepositions you’ve been using since the very start of learning Russian, like из transcribed ismeaning from and без transcribed byesmeaning without. For example:

prepositiongenitive case

Я из Нью-Йорка.

ya iz nyoo-YORka

I’m from New York.

кофе без сахара

KOfye byes SAkhara

coffee without sugar

So, what are all those prepositions? Let’s see how many you can count!

What are genitive prepositions in Russian?

Genitive prepositions in Russian are prepositions that are typically followed by the genitive case. In the sections that follow, we’ll go through some of the most common ones, with examples. For an exhaustive list, download our genitive prepositions chart at the bottom of this page.

Let’s have a look at some of these genitive prepositions!

Genitive with prepositions of place

Prepositions of place are used to indicate the location of an object or person. The most frequent Russian prepositions of place that are followed by the genitive case are listed below.

*used mainly in high register or formal speech
Preposition	Example with genitive
у Transcription: oo Translation: next to, by	Она долго сидела у окна. Transcription: aNA DOLga siDYEla oo akNA Translation: She was sitting by the window for a long time.
вокруг Transcription: vakROOK Translation: around	Вокруг профессора столпились студенты. Transcription: vaKROOK praFYEsara stalPEElis stooDYENty Translation: Students gathered around the professor.
до Transcription: do Translation: to, at, in	К вечеру мы доехали до Самары. Transcription: k VYEchiroo my daYEkhali da saMAry Translation: By the evening we made it to Samara.
около Transcription: Okala Translation: around, near, next to	Они остановились около моста. Transcription: aNEE astanaVEElis Okala masTA Translation: They stopped next to the bridge.
мимо Transcription: MEEma Translation: past	Он несколько раз прошёл мимо меня. Transcription: on NYEskalka ras praSHOL MEEma miNYA Translation: He walked past me several times.
из Transcription: is Translation: from	Я вернулась из Москвы во вторник. Transcription: ya virNOOlas iz maskVY va FTORnik Translation: I came back from Moscow on Tuesday.
из-под Transcription: EESpat Translation: from under	Он достал из-под подушки конверт. Transcription: on dasTAL EESpat paDOOSHki kanVYERT Translation: He took an envelope from under the pillow.
c/со Transcription: s/so Translation: from	Прямо с вокзала он поехал в офис. Transcription: PRYAma s vakZAla on paYEkhal v Ofis Translation: He went to the office right from the station.
(не)далеко от Transcription: (ni)daliKO at Translation: (not) far from	Мы жили недалеко от пекарни. Transcription: my ZHEEli nidalyeKO at piKARni Translation: We were living not far from a bakery.
слева/справа от Transcription: SLYEva/SPRAva at Translation: to the left/to the right from	Справа от библиотеки находился музей. Transcription: SPRAva at bibliaTYEki nakhaDEELsya mooZYEY Translation: To the right from the library there was a museum.
позади Transcription: pazaDEE Translation: behind	Она спряталась позади офицера. Transcription: aNA SPRYAtalas pazaDEE afiTSEra Translation: She hid behind the officer.
напротив Transcription: naPROtif Translation: opposite/across from	Я стоял напротив входа и не решался войти. Transcription: ya staYAL naPROtif FKHOda i nye ryeSHALsya vayTEE Translation: I was standing across from the entrance and did not dare to come in.
посреди Transcription: pasriDEE Translation: among/in the middle of/between	Прямо посреди комнаты стоял рояль. Transcription: PRYAma pasriDEE KOMnaty staYAL raYAL Translation: Right in the middle of the room, there was a grand piano.
вдоль Transcription: vdol Translation: along	Вдоль дороги продавали фрукты и ягоды. Transcription: vdol daROgi pradaVAli FROOKty i YAgady Translation: Along the road, fruits and berries were being sold.
вне* Transcription: vnye Translation: out of, outside, beyond	Через час он был уже вне досягаемости. Transcription: CHEryes chas on byl ooZHE vnye dasiGAyemasti Translation: In an hour, he was already beyond reach.
внутри Transcription: vnooTREE Translation: inside	Никто не знал, что внутри коробки. Transcription: niKTO ni znal shto vnooTREE kaROPki Translation: No one knew what was inside the box.
снаружи Transcription: snaROOzhi Translation: outside	Где-то снаружи стадиона играла музыка. Transcription: GDYEta snaROOzhi stadiOna igRAla MOOzyka Translation: Music was playing somewhere outside of the stadium.

Genitive with prepositions of manner

Prepositions of manner describe how something is done. Here are the most common ones that take the genitive case:


Preposition	Example with genitive
без Transcription: byes Translation: without	Он сдал экзамен без единой ошибки. Transcription: on zdal igZAmyen byez yeDEEnay aSHEEPki Translation: He passed the exam without a single mistake.
вместо Transcription: VMYESta Translation: instead of	Ты не мог бы завтра поработать вместо меня? Transcription: ty ni mog by ZAFTra paraBOtat VMYESta miNYA Translation: Could you please work tomorrow instead of me?
кроме Transcription: KROmye Translation: beside, except	Я никого не знал там, кроме Натальи. Transcription: ya nikaVO nye znal tam KROmye naTAlyee Translation: I didn’t know anybody there except Natalia.
против Transcription: PROtif Translation: against	Они были категорически против поправок. Transcription: aNEE BYli katigaREEcheski PROtif papRAvak Translation: They were totally against the amendments.

Genitive with prepositions of purpose

The genitive case is often used to talk about the intended purpose of a thing or action. For example, after the following prepositions:


Preposition	Example with genitive
для Transcription: dlya Translation: for	Это приложение для садоводов. Transcription: Eta prilaZHEniye dlya sadaVOdaf Translation: This app is for gardeners.
ради Transcription: RAdi Translation: for often implies some sacrifice	Ради счастья ребенка родители готовы сделать многое. Transcription: RAdi SHCHAstya riBYONka raDEEtyeli gaTOvy SDYElat MNOgaye Translation: For their child’s happiness, parents are ready to do a lot.
с целью Transcription: s TSElyoo Translation: with the purpose of, for formal	Похищение с целью выкупа - это уголовное преступление. Transcription: pakhiSHCHEniye s TSElyoo VYkoopa Eta oogaLOVnaye pristoopLYEniye Translation: Kidnapping for ransom is a criminal offense.

Genitive with prepositions of reason

To explain the reasons behind something, or what caused it, use the genitive case after these prepositions:


Preposition	Example with genitive
из-за Transcription: EEZza Translation: because of	Они поссорились из-за какой-то ерунды. Transcription: aNEE pasSOrilis IZza kaKOYta yeroonDY Translation: They fell out because of some nonsense.
от Transcription: at Translation: because of, from	Он заплакал от счастья. Transcription: on zaPLAkal at SHCHAstya Translation: He started crying from happiness.
по причине Transcription: pa priCHEEnye Translation: as a result of, due to formal	Компания обанкротилась по причине отсутствия спроса. Transcription: kamPAniya abankROtilas pa priCHEEnye atSOOTStvia SPROsa Translation: The company went bankrupt due to the absence of demand.

Genitive with prepositions of time

Prepositions help to describe relationship with time, and some require the genitive case to follow them:


Preposition	Example with genitive
с/co Transcription: c/so Translation: from, since до Transcription: do Translation: until, by, to	Он живёт в Москве с ноября. Transcription: on zhiVYOT v maskVYE s nayabRYA Translation: He’s been living in Moscow since November. Библиотека открыта с восьми до пяти. Transcription: bibliaTYEka atkRYta s vasMEE da piTEE Translation: The library is open from 8 to 5. Этот проект нужно завершить до Нового года. Transcription: Etat praYEKT NOOZHna zavyerSHEET da NOvava GOda Translation: This project should be finished by the New Year.
после Transcription: POSlye Translation: after	Увидимся после праздников! Transcription: ooVEEdimsya POSlye PRAZnikaf Translation: See you after the holidays!
накануне Transcription: nakaNOOnye Translation: the day before	Накануне рождества в магазинах всегда много людей. Transcription: nakaNOOnye razhdistVA v magaZEEnakh fsigDA MNOga lyooDYE Translation: On the day before Christmas there are always a lot of people in the shops.
во время Transcription: va VRYEmya Translation: during formal	Во время нашей прогулки началась гроза. Transcription: va VRYEmya NAshey praGOOLki nachaLAS graZA Translation: During our walk a thunderstorm started.
в течение Transcription: f tiCHEnii Translation: during formal	В течение всей жизни она коллекционировала монеты. Transcription: f tiCHEnii fsey ZHEEzni aNA kaliktsiaNEEravala maNYEty Translation: During all her life she was collecting coins.

Conclusion

As you have seen, the genitive case must be used after quite a few prepositions in Russian. While it may seem overwhelming to try to remember them all, it is important to memorize the most popular ones and, with practice, it will eventually come to you easily!