Log inSign up

Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста.

Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста.
Please come to the cash desk.
FromLesson 28inHardcore Russian
……

Breakdown of Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста.

к
to
пожалуйста
please
касса
the cash desk
подойти
to approach

Questions & Answers about Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста.

What exactly does the word “кассе” refer to here— the person or the place?
It refers to the place: the checkout counter/cash register/ticket window. So к кассе means “to the checkout (counter).” If you wanted to point to the person, you’d say к кассиру (“to the cashier”).
What form is Подойдите? Who is being addressed?

Подойдите is the 2nd person plural imperative. It’s used:

  • to address more than one person, or
  • to address one person politely (the formal “Вы”). Informal singular would be Подойди (“Come up/Approach,” said to a friend, child, etc.).
Why is к used, and what case is кассе?
К means “to/toward” and always takes the dative case. Касса (nom.) becomes кассе (dat. sing.). So к кассе = “toward the checkout.”
Why isn’t it кассу?
Кассу is the accusative (used after many verbs/prepositions like в or на). Because the preposition here is к, you need the dative: к кассе, not к кассу.
Why use the perfective подойти in the imperative, not the imperfective?
Perfective подойти focuses on a single, completed action (“come up once and reach the counter”). Imperfective подходить in the imperative (Подходите) stresses ongoing/repeated action and is used more like “keep coming up” or a general invitation (e.g., vendors calling out to passers-by).
Is Подходите к кассе wrong?
Not wrong, but different in nuance. Подходите к кассе can sound like “come on up (people), keep moving toward the counter”—an ongoing invitation to whoever’s next. For one specific request to a specific customer, Подойдите к кассе is more natural.
How is Пройдите к кассе different from Подойдите к кассе?
  • Подойдите = “come up/approach” (focus on reaching the counter).
  • Пройдите = “proceed/walk over” (focus on making your way there).
    Both are polite service phrases; Пройдите can sound a bit more formal/instructional.
Where can I put пожалуйста, and do I need commas?

All of these are standard:

  • Пожалуйста, подойдите к кассе.
  • Подойдите, пожалуйста, к кассе.
  • Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста.
    Because пожалуйста is a parenthetical politeness marker, it’s normally set off by a comma when inside the sentence. At the end, a comma before it is customary.
How polite is this? Would it be rude without пожалуйста?

With пожалуйста it’s a polite, customer-service style request. Without it (Подойдите к кассе.) it can sound more curt/instructional. Softer alternatives:

  • Будьте добры, подойдите к кассе.
  • Не могли бы вы подойти к кассе?
How do I pronounce the sentence and where is the stress?

Stress:

  • подойдИте (stress on -ди-),
  • к кАссе (stress on ка-),
  • пожАлуйста (stress on -жа-).
    IPA: [pədɐjˈdʲitʲe k ˈkasʲe pɐˈʐalʊjstə]
    Tips:
  • й = “y” in “yes” (so доЙ).
  • д/т before е/и are soft (palatalized).
  • к кассе is pronounced with a long [k] (the two k’s run together).
  • сс in кассе is long and soft before е ([sʲː]).
Can I say ко кассе instead of к кассе?
No; standard speech uses к кассе. The variant ко appears before certain words for euphony (e.g., ко мне, ко всем, ко входу, ко вторнику), but ко кассе sounds odd.
Can I drop the preposition and say Подойдите кассе?
No. Подойти requires к to mark the goal of motion. Подойдите кассе is ungrammatical. You need Подойдите к кассе.
Is в кассу or на кассу ever correct?
  • В кассу (acc.) = “into/at the cashier (office)” is used in set phrases about payment: Оплатите в кассу (“Pay at the cashier”). But for physically approaching from outside, you say к кассе.
  • На кассу is colloquial in workplace talk (employees: “I’m going to the register to work”), not what you say to customers.
Could I say к кассиру instead of к кассе?

Yes, but it changes the focus:

  • к кассе = to the counter/checkout area.
  • к кассиру = to the cashier (the person).
    Both are possible; service staff often prefer к кассе since it points you to the location.
What’s the difference between Подойдите and Идите сюда?
  • Подойдите (к кассе) = “Come up (to the counter)”—specific location, polite.
  • Идите сюда = “Come here” (to where the speaker is). It doesn’t specify the counter unless the speaker is standing there. It can also sound a bit more direct.
How do I avoid confusing подойдИте (imperative) with подойдЁте (future “you will come up”)?

Forms:

  • Imperative polite/plural: подойдИте (ending -ите).
  • Future 2nd pl.: подойдЁте (ending -ёте; often printed without dots as подойдете, but pronounced with “yo”).
    Example: Вы подойдёте к кассе? = “Will you come to the register?” vs. Подойдите к кассе = “Please come to the register.”

More from this lesson

пешкомЯ часто хожу пешком до метро.поздноуснутьбудильникразбудитьПожалуйста, разбуди меня утром.Вчера я поздно уснул, и будильник меня не разбудил.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Russian grammar?”
Russian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Russian

Master Russian — from Подойдите к кассе, пожалуйста to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Russian freeBrowse the full course