Russian

Prefix

под- • ‎(pod-) (подо- ‎(podo-) is used before certain consonant clusters)

1. (used with verbs) upwards (describing an action of moving from the bottom up)

   • бро́сить‎ ― brósitʹ ― (pf.) to throw
   • подбро́сить‎ ― podbrósitʹ ― (pf.) to throw upwards

2. (used with verbs) closer (describing an action of approaching to an entity)

   • идти́‎ ― idtí ― (impf.) to go (by walking)
   • подойти́‎ ― podojtí ― (pf.) to walk up to, to approach (by walking)

3. (used with verbs) adding (describing an action of adding more entity)

   • бавить‎ ― bavitʹ ― an archaic causative form of быть that depends on verbal prefixes in contemporary usage
   • подба́вить‎ ― podbávitʹ ― (pf.) to add, replenish

4. (used with verbs) (describing a meaning that shows a finished action or an obtainment of a result)

   • стричь‎ ― stričʹ ― (impf.) to cut
   • подстри́чь‎ ― podstríčʹ ― (pf.) to cut
   • писа́ть‎ ― pisátʹ ― (impf.) to write
   • подписа́ть‎ ― podpisátʹ ― (pf.) to sign, to subscribe (in the sense of writing one's name with a result)

5. (used with verbs) (describing an action of copying or following someone's action)

   • да‎ ― da ― yes
   • подда́кивать‎ ― poddákivatʹ ― (impf.) to say yes, assent (in the sense echoing "yes")

6. (used with verbs) (describing an existence of the certain action that is weak, invisible, hidden or incomplete)

   • уста́ть‎ ― ustátʹ ― (pf.) to get tired
   • подуста́ть‎ ― podustátʹ ― (pf.) to get tired slightly or lightly
   • слать‎ ― slatʹ ― (pf.) to send, dispatch
   • подосла́ть‎ ― podoslátʹ ― (pf.) to send something (secretly)

Prefix

под- • ‎(pod-) (подо- ‎(podo-) is used before certain consonant clusters)

1. (used with nouns) (resulting in nouns or adjectives; describing an existence of being under or beneath something)

   • земля́‎ ― zemljá ― ground
   • подзе́мный‎ ― podzémnyj ― underground

2. (used with nouns) sub

   • гру́ппа‎ ― grúppa ― group
   • подгру́ппа‎ ― podgrúppa ― subgroup

3. (used with nouns) (resulting in nouns or adjectives; describing an influence under something)

   • власть‎ ― vlastʹ ― authority, control
   • подвла́стный‎ ― podvlástnyj ― subjected, dependant

4. (used with nouns) (resulting in nouns or adjectives; describing an existence of being around something)

   • Карпа́ты‎ ― Karpáty ― Carpathians (mountains)
   • Подкарпа́тский‎ ― Podkarpátskij ― Subcarpathian (cf. Подкарпатье / Subcarpathia)

5. (used with nouns) (resulting in nouns; describing an title or position below the superior)

   • ма́стер‎ ― máster ― master
   • подмасте́рье‎ ― podmastérʹje ― apprentice

6. (used with adjectives) (adverbs; describing completeness)

   • чи́стый‎ ― čístyj ― clean
   • подчисту́ю‎ ― podčistúju ― without remainder

Usage notes

• In the meaning of closer, only use под- when the subject is in the sight range of the object of interest, and then moves even closer towards it.

• Я подошла к памятнику.‎

  Ja podošla k pamjatniku.

  I walked up to the statue. (I already was in the same room or space with it, and then walked closer to it.)

• Я пришла к памятнику.‎

  Ja prišla k pamjatniku.

  I arrived at the statue. (I came to the statue from somewhere further.)

Antonyms

• от- ‎(ot-)