How to Translate the English Preposition for into Russian

How to Translate the English Preposition for into Russian

In English, the preposition for can have many meanings: purpose, benefit, exchange, substitution, time, etc. In Russian, there is no universal equivalent – each meaning requires a specific construction. Let’s go through the main cases.

1. For – meaning “purpose, intended use, benefit”

In Russian, we use different prepositions and cases:

Example	Translation	Explanation
I paid for the coffee	Я заплатил за кофе	за + accusative – payment, exchange
I have money for a ticket	У меня есть деньги на билет	на + accusative – intended use
I went for bread	Я пошёл за хлебом	за + instrumental – movement to get something
A cream for hands	Крем для рук	для + genitive – purpose, benefit
There is a letter for you	Вам письмо / О, это письмо вам	dative case – recipient

Important: never translate for directly. First, understand the meaning: benefit, purpose, exchange, substitution, time.

2. Different meanings of for with “за + accusative”

За + accusative is often used to express:

Substitution

Я сделал это за брата – I did it instead of my brother
Он поработал за меня – He worked in my place

Gratitude

Спасибо за помощь – Thank you for your help
Благодарю за внимание – I am grateful for your attention

Punishment

Его наказали за ложь – He was punished for lying
Штраф за парковку – Fine for parking

Support

Голосовать за кандидата – To vote for a candidate
Болеть за команду – To cheer for a team

Responsibility

Я отвечаю за этот проект – I am responsible for this project

Toast

Пить за здоровье – To toast to health
Поднять бокал за молодожёнов – To raise a glass to the newlyweds

3. За + instrumental after verbs of motion

Used to show that an action is done to get something:

Я пошёл за хлебом – I went to get bread
Поехать за ребёнком – To go pick up a child
Пойти за билетами – To go for tickets

4. На + accusative for money, time, or material

Used when talking about the intended purpose of something:

Деньги на покупку – Money for a purchase
Время на работу – Time for work
Ткань на костюм – Fabric for a suit

Also used for scheduling or planning time:

Задание на завтра – Assignment for tomorrow
Я купил билет на 5 января – I bought a ticket for January 5
Я записался к врачу на пятницу – I made an appointment for Friday

5. Ради + genitive – “for the sake of”

Used when an action is done for someone else’s benefit or for a goal:

Я сделал это ради тебя – I did it for you / for your sake
Он работает усердно ради успеха – He works hard for success

6. Чтобы + infinitive – “in order to”

The preposition для cannot be used with an infinitive. If the action is expressed by a verb, use чтобы + infinitive:

Я учусь, чтобы получить диплом – I study in order to get a diploma
Он работает, чтобы зарабатывать деньги – He works to earn money

7. Time meanings of for

a) Duration (imperfective aspect)
If we talk about how long an action lasts, no preposition is used:

Я живу здесь 3 года – I have been living here for 3 years
Она ждала час – She waited for an hour

b) Planned duration with a clear end (accusative)

Мы поехали на неделю – We went for a week (planning to return after a week)
Взял книгу на 2 дня – I took the book for 2 days
Я приехал на год – Came for a year

c) Time taken to complete something (perfective aspect, за + accusative)

Он сделал это за 3 дня – He completed it in 3 days
Я выучила слова за вечер – I learned the words in one evening
Долетели за 7 часов – It took 7 hours to fly

Summary

In Russian, English for is translated differently depending on:

Meaning: purpose, benefit, substitution, gratitude, punishment, responsibility, toast
Verb type: action or movement
Time: duration, planned time, time to complete

Rule: first, determine the meaning, then choose the correct preposition or case.

Examples for practice

Он поехал за хлебом. – за + instrumental (movement to get something)
Я буду жить в Москве год. – no preposition (duration)
Спасибо за помощь. – за + accusative (gratitude)
Учебник для начинающих. – для + genitive (purpose)
Я приехал в Москву на год. – на + accusative (planned duration)
Я накопил деньги на дом. – на + accusative (intended use)
Подарок маме. – dative (recipient)
Я пришёл, чтобы купить цветы. – чтобы + infinitive
Мы купили билет на субботу. – на + accusative (plan)
Я пью за ваше здоровье. – за + accusative (toast)

MAY, 16 / 2026