насчёт vs по поводу

naschyot vs po povodu — about/regarding vs about/concerning

What it really means

Насчёт is a compact preposition meaning “about” and governs the genitive; it is common in conversation and can also mean “concerning payment/account” in contexts such as «насчёт денег». По поводу is a noun-based prepositional phrase, also with genitive, and sounds somewhat more deliberate or formal.

Examples in natural speech

У меня вопрос насчёт билетов.
I have a question about the tickets.
Что ты думаешь насчёт плана?
What do you think about the plan?
Мы поговорили по поводу ремонта.
We talked about the repairs.
Он позвонил по поводу встречи.
He called about the meeting.
Насчёт оплаты уточните у менеджера.
Ask the manager about payment.

Common mistakes

Write насчёт together when it means “about”; the literal phrase на счёт means “onto the account.” Both constructions take genitive: насчёт встречи, по поводу встречи.

Memory tip

Насчёт is the quick conversational route; по поводу walks around the topic more formally.

Frequently asked questions

Is насчёт rude?

No, it is ordinary and neutral, though a formal letter may prefer относительно or по поводу.

How do I distinguish насчёт from на счёт?

Насчёт means “about”; на счёт refers to an account: «перевести деньги на счёт».

Is there a nuance between them?

Usually little difference, but по поводу can sound weightier and may frame a specific occasion or issue.

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