из vs с

iz vs s — from inside/from vs from a surface or activity

What it really means

Both "из" and "с" can translate as "from," but they correspond closely to the location prepositions в and на. Из means out of or from inside a bounded place: из дома (from the house), из России (from Russia). С means off/from a surface, event, activity, or many conventional settings: со стола (from the table), с работы (from work), с концерта (from a concert).

This pairing also changes the case. Из takes the genitive, and с takes the genitive as well. Use из with в-places and с with на-places: в магазин → из магазина; на работу → с работы.

Examples in natural speech

Я пришёл из школы.
I came from school.
Она вернулась из Парижа.
She returned from Paris.
Убери чашку со стола.
Remove the cup from the table.
Он пришёл с работы.
He came from work.
Мы вернулись с концерта поздно.
We returned from the concert late.
Я взял книгу с полки.
I took the book from the shelf.

Common mistakes

Do not choose из or с only by the English word "from." Match the pair: в университет → из университета, на работу → с работы, в магазин → из магазина, на концерт → с концерта. Before some consonant combinations, с becomes со: со стола, со школы, со мной.

Memory tip

В goes with из; на goes with с. If the place is inside, think из; if it is a surface, activity, or на-expression, think с.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between из and с in Russian?

Из means from inside a bounded place and pairs with в. С means from a surface, activity, or conventional на-setting and pairs with на: из магазина, с работы, из Москвы, с концерта.

How do you say from work in Russian?

Say "с работы." Work is expressed with на работе and на работу, so its corresponding "from" preposition is с: с работы.

Why do Russians say из школы but с работы?

Школа is normally framed as a bounded place, so в школу → из школы. Работа is a conventional на-setting, so на работе → с работы. These pairs are best learned together.

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