Entering and exiting (входить, выходить)

Entering Spaces: The Prefix В- / Во-

To describe moving into a space, Russian adds the prefix в- (or во- before certain sound clusters) to verbs of motion.

The perfective verb for entering on foot is войти. Because it describes a single, completed action, you will frequently use it in the past tense. Its past tense forms are вошёл (masculine), вошла (feminine), and вошли (plural).

When specifying the destination you are entering, use the preposition в (into) followed by the accusative case. (This is also the preposition used with the verb постучать, meaning "to knock" on a door).

For ongoing, habitual, or forbidden entries, use the imperfective verb входить (to enter). It conjugates just like the base verb ходить (вхожу, входишь, etc.).

Exiting Spaces: The Prefix Вы-

To describe moving out of a space, use the prefix вы-.

The imperfective verb for exiting is выходить. When specifying where you are exiting from, use the preposition из (out of) plus the genitive case.

The perfective counterpart is выйти (to exit). A helpful rule to remember is that in perfective verbs with the prefix вы-, the stress always falls on the prefix (e.g., future tense вы́йду, past tense вы́шел, вы́шла, вы́шли).

Notice the prepositions used for the destination: while entering enclosed spaces uses в, stepping out onto open surfaces (like a balcony) requires the preposition на (onto) plus the accusative case.