с vs от

s vs ot — from/off vs from/away from

What it really means

С means from off a surface, from an event, or from a higher point; it takes genitive for origin. От means from a person, source, or point of separation.

Choose с after being on/at an activity (с работы, со стола), and от for a sender or distance (от друга, от дома).

Examples in natural speech

Я пришёл с работы.
I came from work.
Возьми книгу со стола.
Take the book from the table.
Она вернулась с концерта.
She returned from the concert.
Сообщение от брата.
A message from my brother.
Аптека далеко от дома.
The pharmacy is far from the house.

Common mistakes

Do not say письмо с друга for “a letter from a friend”: use от друга. С работы is idiomatic because work is treated as an activity/place attended.

Memory tip

С is off/from an occasion; от is away from a source.

Frequently asked questions

How do I say “from the table”?

Со стола.

Which is used for a sender?

От.

What case follows both?

Genitive.

Note: This site uses JavaScript for interactive drills, audio playback, and progress tracking. Please enable JavaScript for the full experience.