с vs из

s vs iz — from a surface/with vs from inside

What it really means

С (also written со before some consonant clusters) marks movement away from a surface, an elevated place, or an event, and it can mean “with” in accompaniment: с крыши is “from the roof,” and с друзьями is “with friends.” It answers the idea of leaving or coming down from a place or joining a person.

Из marks movement out of an enclosed space or from within a place, and it also identifies origin: из комнаты is “out of the room,” and из России is “from Russia.” The contrast is physical or conceptual: с стола is impossible in standard usage because a table is treated as a surface, while со стола is correct; из стола would mean from inside the table.

Examples in natural speech

Кот спрыгнул с дивана.
The cat jumped down from the sofa.
Она вернулась с работы поздно.
She returned from work late.
Мы вышли из комнаты.
We left the room.
Он приехал из Казани.
He came from Kazan.
Я иду в кино с друзьями.
I am going to the cinema with friends.

Common mistakes

Do not use из for a surface or event: с полки means “from the shelf,” while из шкафа means “from inside the cupboard.” Do not forget the form со before difficult clusters: со стола, со мной, and со второго этажа.

Memory tip

С comes off a surface or accompanies someone; из comes out from inside.

Frequently asked questions

Why is it со стола rather than с стола?

Russian inserts о for easier pronunciation before some consonant clusters: со стола, со мной, and со станции.

Does с always mean “from”?

No. It also means “with” when it marks accompaniment, as in с сестрой.

Which preposition goes with a country?

Use из for origin from most countries: из Франции, из Японии. The paired destination is usually в.

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