Adding a prefix to a verb of motion changes its meaning, often in predictable ways.
Common prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example с идти / ходить |
|---|---|---|
| в-/во- | into | войти (enter) |
| вы- | out of | выйти (exit) |
| при- | arrival | прийти (arrive) |
| у- | departure | уйти (leave) |
| под- | approach | подойти (approach) |
| от- | departure from | отойти (step away) |
| про- | past/by | пройти (go past, pass through) |
| пере- | across | перейти (cross) |
| за- | stop by, behind | зайти (drop by) |
| до- | up to | дойти (reach) |
Note
Prefixed motion verbs form a complete perfective/imperfective pair (the prefixed unidirectional form serves as perfective, and the prefixed multidirectional form serves as imperfective). E.g.: войти (perf.) / входить (imperf.) — to enter.
Related Topics
Accusative Case
Prepositional Case
Genitive Case
Dative Case
Basic Instrumental Case
Verb Aspect: Imperfective and Perfective
Future Tense: Imperfective and Perfective
Verbs of Motion: идти/ходить, ехать/ездить
Reflexive Verbs
Modal Words: можно, нужно, надо, нельзя
Comparative Forms: лучше, хуже, больше, меньше
Complex Sentence Connectors: потому что, поэтому, когда, если