Из vs С vs От: How to Choose the Right "From" in Russian

In Russian, movement is often expressed through natural prepositional pairs. If something moves toward a place, person, or surface, Russian usually uses a matching preposition for movement away from it.

For example:

• в / из — movement into and out of a place seen as an inside space
• на / с — movement onto and off a surface or place
• к / от — movement toward and away from a person or object

This is why Russian uses different prepositions where English often uses just one: from.

из = “from” (out of, from inside)

Use из when something comes from inside a place. The preposition из is followed by the Genitive case (кого? чего?).

To learn how to form the Genitive case, read this article: Genitive Case: Basics – Nouns and Personal Pronouns.

If you say в, you use из for the opposite direction.

• в дом → из дома
• в школу → из школы

Examples:

• выйти из дома — to leave the house
• прийти из школы — to come back from school
• приехать из России — to come from Russia
• вернуться из магазина — to come back from the store
• взять из коробки — to take from the box

с = “from” (from a surface or place)

Use с when something comes from a surface or from a place that is not seen as an enclosed space. The preposition с is also followed by the Genitive case (кого? чего?).

If you say на, you use с for the opposite direction.

• на стол → со стола
• на работу → с работы

Examples:

• взять со стола — to take from the table
• убрать чашку со стола — to remove a cup from the table
• прийти с работы — to come from work
• вернуться с концерта — to come back from a concert
• уехать с дачи — to leave from the country house

от = “from” (from a person, source, distance)

Use от when talking about:

• a person
• receiving something
• moving away

Like the previous two prepositions, от is also followed by the Genitive case (кого? чего?).

If you say к, you use от for the opposite direction.

• к врачу → от врача
• к другу → от друга

Examples:

• получить письмо от друга — get a letter from a friend
• подарок от мамы — a gift from mom
• уйти от врача — leave the doctor
• отойти от окна — move away from the window