Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

How to say "to" in Russian

This Russian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

Meaning: to, towards, for, by, on the occasion of

Pronunciation: [k]

Part of speech: preposition

Rank: #19 (see frequency list)

The train is moving towards the observer. Photo by cooldudeandy01 CC BY 2.0

Example sentences:

По́езд éдет к нам.
The train is moving towards us.
Пойдëм к Петрóвым в гóсти - кóфе попьëм.
Let's go to the Petrov's house for a cup of coffee.
Петербу́рг нахóдится в семистáх киломéтрах к сéверу от Москвы́.
Saint Petersburg is situated 700 kilometers north of Moscow.
Сергéй Петрóвич, к Вам пришли́!
Sergey Petrovich, you have a visitor! (polite)
literal Sergey Petrovich, [they] came to you!
Ты хóчешь тóрта к чáю?
Do you want some cake with the tea?
Они́ приду́т к шести́ часáм.
They'll come by six o'clock.
Какóй подáрок ты хóчешь ко дню рождéния?
What present do you want for your birthday?
Мне ну́жно идти́ к врачу́: у меня́ боли́т зу́б.
I have to go to the doctor, I've got toothache.
Любóвь к дéтям -- э́то прекрáсно!
Love for children, it's wonderful!
Он прислони́лся к стенé.
He leaned against the wall.
Скóлько бу́дет прибáвить три к восьми́?
How much is three plus eight?
Любóвь к дéтям -- э́то прекрáсно!
Love for children, it's wonderful!
Он прислони́лся к стенé.
He leaned against the wall.

Idioms and set expressions:

Ко мне! = come here (dog command)
переходи́ть/перейти́ от отцá к сы́ну = to descend from father to son
к слóву = by the way
к тому́ же = besides
это ни к чему́ = it's no use
к Вáшим услу́гам = at your service

Related words:

ко = to, towards (used for easier pronunciation in certain situations)

Proverbs and sayings:

Лицóм к лицу́ лицá не увидáть.
Face close to face you can't see the face.
Своя́ рубáшка бли́же к тéлу.
One's own shirt is closer to the body.

Vocabulary lesson: By Russificate blog exclusively for MasterRussian

Phrase recordings: Copyright(c) 2011 MasterRussian.com. All rights reserved.
Word recordings: Copyright(c) 2006 Streit Goulnara, Streit Eric, Vion Nicolas. Copyright(c) 2007 S. Sakhno, N. Vion. Distributed under CC-BY.

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