locative in -u

The Special Locative in Russian (-у/-ю)

In Russian, the standard ending for masculine nouns in the Prepositional case is -е. However, a specific group of common masculine nouns uses a special ending, -у (or -ю), when following the prepositions в (in) or на (on/at) to indicate a physical location or a state. This is frequently known as the "Second Locative."

1. Rules of Use

This special ending -у/-ю is used only when:

• The noun is masculine.
• It follows the prepositions в or на.
• It indicates where something is (location) or a specific state.

Note: If you use the preposition о/об (about/concerning) to describe the object instead of its location, you must use the regular -е ending.

2. Common Examples

The stress in these forms almost always falls on the -у ending.

• Лес (forest): в лесу (v lesú – in the forest) vs. о лесе (o lése – about the forest)
• Сад (garden): в саду (v sadú – in the garden)
• Аэропорт (airport): в аэропорту (v aeroportú – at the airport)
• Берег (shore/bank): на берегу (na beregú – on the shore)
• Пол (floor): на полу (na polú – on the floor)
• Шкаф (closet/wardrobe): в шкафу (v shkafú – in the closet)
• Мост (bridge): на мосту (na mostú – on the bridge)
• Угол (corner): в углу (v uglú – in the corner)
• Крым (Crimea): в Крыму (v Krymú – in Crimea)

3. Nouns ending in -й or -ь

A few nouns ending in -й or -ь take the -ю ending:

• Бой (battle): в бою (v boyú – in battle)
• Край (edge/region): в краю (v krayú – in the region)
• Рай (paradise): в раю (v rayú – in paradise)

4. Fixed Idiomatic Expressions

Sometimes the -у ending is used in figurative senses or set phrases:

• В носу (v nosú – in the nose)
• На ходу (na khodú – on the go / in motion)
• В быту (v bytú – in everyday life)
• Во рту (vo rtú – in the mouth)

Summary: Use -у/-ю to answer "where?" with certain masculine nouns after в/на; use -е for "about what" or with any other preposition.