Russian Verb Prefixes: A Guide to Meaning and Usage
Russian verbs often add prefixes to create new meanings. With roughly 20 common prefixes, one base verb can become dozens of new verbs — similar to how English uses phrasal verbs (go out, go in, go over). Learning these prefixes is a CEFR B1–B2 vocabulary strategy that will hugely expand your comprehension and speaking ability.
- How verb prefixes work in Russian
- The most important prefixes with examples
- How prefixes combine with motion verbs
- Tips for learning prefixes efficiently
How Prefixes Work
Russian has about 20 common verb prefixes (в-, вы-, при-, у-, за-, от-, пере-, до-, про-, and more) that change a verb's meaning, often indicating direction, completion, or manner. They work much like English phrasal verbs — just as "go" becomes "go out," "go in," "go over," Russian ходить becomes выходить, входить, переходить.
Start with a verb, often of motion or action:
- ходить (to go on foot, round trip)
- писать (to write)
- читать (to read)
Add a prefix → new verb with a more specific meaning:
- приходить (to arrive on foot)
- подписать (to sign)
- прочитать (to read through, finish reading)
The Most Important Prefixes
В- (into, in)
- входить — to enter (в + ходить)
- входить в комнату — to enter the room
Вы- (out, completion)
- выходить — to exit
- выписать — to write out, copy out
Want to master Russian prefixes in real conversation? Book a free trial lesson and see how a native teacher makes prefixes click.
При- (arrival, attachment)
- приходить — to arrive (on foot)
- приехать — to arrive (by transport)
- приклеить — to glue (attach)
У- (away, removal)
- уходить — to leave (on foot)
- уехать — to leave (by transport)
- удалить — to remove, delete
За- (begin, behind, transitivity)
- заходить — to drop in, stop by
- записать — to write down, record
- закрыть — to close
От- (away, completion of an action)
- отходить — to step away
- открыть — to open
- ответить — to answer
Пере- (across, re-, over)
- переходить — to cross (on foot)
- переписать — to rewrite
- перевести — to translate
До- (to completion, up to)
- дойти — to reach (on foot)
- дописать — to finish writing
- дочитать — to finish reading
Про- (through, past, for a period)
- пройти — to pass (by), to go through
- прочитать — to read (through)
- проспать — to sleep through
Prefix + Motion Verbs
Many prefixes pair with verbs of motion like идти/ходить (foot) or ехать/ездить (transport):
| Prefix | On foot | By transport |
|---|---|---|
| при- | прийти | приехать (arrive) |
| у- | уйти | уехать (leave) |
| вы- | выйти | выехать (exit) |
| пере- | перейти | переехать (cross, move) |
Tips for Learning Prefixes
- Learn one prefix at a time with 2–3 verbs you use often.
- Notice the direction: в = in, вы = out, при = toward, у = away.
- Use them in sentences so you remember the meaning, not just the prefix.
Adding a prefix also affects verbal aspect — most prefixed verbs become perfective. If you want to accelerate your progress, focusing on prefixes is one of the best ways to learn Russian quickly.
Prefixes are easiest to learn when you hear them in context. Our teachers build your prefix vocabulary through structured conversations and exercises. Try a Russian lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verb prefixes are there in Russian?
There are roughly 20 common prefixes that you'll encounter regularly. Some sources list more when including less frequent or specialized prefixes, but mastering the core 10–12 (в-, вы-, при-, у-, за-, от-, пере-, до-, про-, под-) will cover the vast majority of prefixed verbs you'll see.
Do prefixes change a verb's aspect?
Yes — adding a prefix to an imperfective verb almost always makes it perfective. For example, писать (imperfective, "to write") becomes написать (perfective, "to write and finish"). To get the imperfective version of a prefixed verb, Russian uses suffixation: записать → записывать.
What's the best way to learn prefixes?
Learn them one at a time, paired with 2–3 verbs you already know. Focus on the spatial meaning first (в = into, вы = out of, при = toward) — this core meaning extends metaphorically to most uses. Practice in full sentences, not in isolation.
Practice with Native Speakers
Prefixes become natural when you hear and use them in context. At VividRussian School we build vocabulary through real conversations and structured exercises. Start with a free trial lesson on our homepage and see how we teach prefixes in practice.