How to Say "For" in Russian - для, за, на

English uses "for" much more broadly than Russian, but you usually cannot translate “for” automatically with one word. Here are the prepositions Russian uses instead, and when to use them:

для = “for” + purpose, recipient, intended use

Use для when something is meant or intended for someone/something, function of it, suitability. Для is followed by Genitive case (кого? чего?):

• пода́рок для ма́мы - a gift for mom
• это кни́га для дете́й - this is a book for children
• ча́шка для чая - a cup for tea

Very often, English does not use the word “for” in translation, even though Russian uses для:

• крем для рук - hand cream
• щётка для воло́с - hairbrush
• очки́ для чте́ния - reading glasses
• ко́мната для госте́й - guest room

за = “for” in exchange, in support of, because of

За is followed by Accusative case (кого? что?). Use за in several common situations:

1. In exchange for / price

Russian uses за after verbs like pay, buy, thank, apologize, reward, punish:

• купи́ть за 10 е́вро - buy for 10 euros
• спаси́бо за по́мощь - thanks for the help
• извини́ за опозда́ние - sorry for being late
• заплати́ть за у́жин - pay for dinner

2. In support of / on someone's side 

• я за тебя́ - I’m for you / on your side
• голосова́ть за кандида́та - vote for a candidate
• Ты за или про́тив? - Are you for it or against it?
• Он всегда́ за справедли́вость. - He is always for justice.

3. Because of / on account of

Here за gives the reason someone is praised, blamed, punished, respected, loved, remembered, etc:

• уважа́ть за че́стность - to respect for honesty
• люби́ть за чу́вство ю́мора - to love someone for their sense of humor
• критикова́ть за реше́ние - to criticize for decision

на = often “for” with duration, purpose of use, destination of effort/resources

На is also followed by Accusative case (кого? что?). Use на when talking about purpose of spending allocation of time, money, energy, etc.what a resource will be used on or lasting for some time.

1. For a period of time

• уе́хать на неде́лю - leave for a week
• прийти́ на час - come for an hour

2. For use in/on something, for a purpose

• де́ньги на еду́ - money for food
• биле́т на конце́рт - ticket for the concert
• копи́ть на маши́ну - to save money for a car
• вре́мя на о́тдых - time for rest

Quick comparison:

• пода́рок для ма́мы - a present for mom (mom is a recipient)
• спаси́бо за пода́рок - thanks for the present (present is the reason for thanks)
• де́ньги на пода́рок - money for a present (money allocated to buy a present)

Prepositions are one of the trickiest parts of Russian. If you've worked through для, за and на, the next confusing set is из, с and от — here's how to say "from" in Russian. 

Ready to practice? Reading about grammar is one thing — using it is where it really clicks. I've put together free Russian exercises on all sorts of topics: cases, verbs, numbers, vocabulary and more. Pick whatever you're working on, give it a try, and check your answers as you go.