из-за

Russian

Etymology

From из (iz, “from”) +‎ за (za, “behind”). Compare Polish zza.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

• Audio

  (file)

Preposition

и́з-за • (íz-za) (+ genitive case)

1. from (behind)
2. over
3. because of

   и́з-за кого́? ― íz-za kovó? ― because of whom?

   и́з-за чего́? ― íz-za čevó? ― because of what?

   и́з-за э́того ― íz-za étovo ― because of this

Usage notes

• The preposition, из-за in the sense of "stating the cause", has a negative connotation pertaining to the noun in question. This is opposite to the preposition, благодаря́ (blagodarjá), that has a positive connotation.
• The preposition из-за in the sense of "stating the cause" has a similar connotation with the prepositions по (po) (with a dative noun). However, each of them has a different sense. For example:

• Аро́н вчера́ опозда́л и́з-за про́бки.

  Arón včerá opozdál íz-za próbki.

  Aaron was late yesterday because of a traffic jam.

(The traffic jam was the cause of Aaron being late. But he was fully aware that the traffic jam is the cause. He actually experienced the traffic jam and he could blame it for his tardiness.)

• Аро́н вчера́ опозда́л по рассе́янности.

  Arón včerá opozdál po rasséjannosti.

  Aaron was late yesterday because of a distraction.

(The distraction was the cause of Aaron being late. But he was not fully aware that the distraction is the cause. His situation was as if the distraction itself actively influenced him to become late, but he didn't notice the distraction that well.)

Related terms

• и́з-за того́ что (íz-za tovó što)
• и́з-за э́того (íz-za étovo)