Russian Vocabulary: Prepositions and Conjunctions

Below is an alphabetical list of prepositions and conjunctions found in Russian records. Each word is generally listed first in its modern form, followed by relevant variants, including some with archaic spelling. If the word you are looking for is not found here, consider looking at our other word lists or the FamilySearch Wiki Russian Genealogical Word List. If you're still struggling to find the right word, it may be a person's or place name. Follow the guidelines listed under Practical Suggestions and use other resources on our site such as those found on the Names page.

Using the keyboard commands Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac) can be helpful when searching through word lists. Simply type the first few letters or a part of the word you know, and the search function will highlight any words in the list that contain that sequence of letters.

Not all conjunctions and prepositions in Russian have direct translations in English. Sometimes a Russian preposition or conjunction will have multiple meanings and correspond to several English words. In other cases, several Russian words may all translate as one English word which itself has multiple meanings. This list focuses on meanings relevant to the documents on the Script Tutorial site and does not cover all possible meanings. Context, including links to the source documents for some examples, is provided to help differentiate between the various uses and meanings.

Russian	English	Examples
а	and, while, yet, but Denotes a subtle contrast	а воспріемниками - and the godparents In this case, the conjunction "а" denotes a change of thought.
в (во, arch. въ)	[+acc] into, at (a time) [+prep] in; at (a place)	въ брачный союзъ - into a marriage union въ четыре часа - at four o'clock въ деревнѣ - in the village въ январѣ - in January
для	[+gen] for (in the sense of recipient or intended audience; regarding the purpose of an action)	для лицъ, обязанныхъ припискою - for persons required to register
если	if
за	[+acc] for [+instr] due to; for what reason/purpose	за какимъ винословiемъ - for what reason
и	and
из (arch. изъ)	[+gen] from; of; originally born, nee	изъ села - from the village изъ коихъ - of which Маріанны изъ Адамковъ - Marianna nee Adamkov
или	or
к (ко, arch. къ)	[+dat] to	препятствіяхъ къ бракосочетанію - obstacles to marriage
ли	Interrogative particle, indicates that the statement is uncertain or hypothetical	Родился-ли ЗДѢСЬ - was [this person] born here
на	[+acc] for [+prep] on, at	на 1910 годъ - for the year 1910 на Варшавско-Вольскомъ православномъ кладбищѣ - at the Warsaw-Wola cemetery на литургiю - at liturgy
но	but
о (об, arch. объ, ѡ)	[+prep] about	ѡ оумершихъ - about the deceased
от (arch. отъ, ѿ)	[+gen] from	лѣтъ отъ роду - years from birth (years old) Ѿ чегѡ оумеръ - from what [did this person] die
по	[+dat] along, by	по железным дорогам - by railroad по желанїю - by desire (optional)
после (arch. послѣ)	[+gen] after
перед (пред, arch. предъ)	[+instr] before, in front of	предъ народомъ - before the people
при	[+prep] at the time of	при святомъ крещеніи - at the time of the holy baptism
с (со, arch. съ)	[+gen] from [+instr] with	съ обѣихъ сторонъ - from both sides съ псаломщиками - with the parish clerks
у	[+gen] at; often use to denote possession	У Евграфа жена Пелагія - Yevgraf has a wife, Pelagiya
через (arch. чрезъ)	through	чрезъ покаяніе - through repentance

To view translations of specific words and phrases you may encounter in a certain document type, visit the corresponding Document Types page of this tutorial.

1. Isaac Levitan, Мостик. Саввинская слобода, 1884, Oil on canvas. Wikimedia Commons.(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zbvenigorod_Savvinskaja_Sloboda_Levitan1884.jpg : accessed 27 August 2024). This image is in the public domain.