Ukrainian language (ukrayins’ka mova) is the official language of Ukraine. It is one of the East Slavic languages like Russian and Belorussian. These languages use the Cyrillic alphabeth. Ukrainian language is currently emerging from a long period of decline. But it is mostly prevalent in Western Ukraine (where it undergone some Polish influence).
In Kiev (Kyiv), both languages Ukrainian and Russian are spoken. Actually, this is a notable shift from the recent past when the city was primarily Russian speaking. The shift is caused, largely, by an influx of migrants from the western regions of Ukraine but also by some Kievans' turning to use the language they speak at home more widely in everyday matters. In northern and central Ukraine, Russian is the language of the urban population, while in rural areas Ukrainian or a mix of Ukrainian and Russian (called "surzhik") is much more common. This is also true of much of the south and the east. But you can hardly find anybody speaking Ukrainian in Crimea.
Speak Ukrainian!
Words and phrases of everyday use. Pronouns. Family. Travel words and phrases. Directions. Numbers.
Remember: English pronoun "You" translates into Ukrainian in two ways: "Vy" as a polite form and "Ty" - familiar.
Words and phrases of everyday use.
English |
Ukrainian |
Hello! |
Vitayu |
Hi! |
Pryvit |
Goodbye! |
Do pobachennya |
Bye! |
Pa-pa! |
Good morning |
Dobrogo rankoo |
Good afternoon |
Dobryy' den' |
Good evening |
Dobryy' vechir |
Good night |
Dobranich |
Yes |
Tak |
No |
Ni |
Thank you |
Dyakuyu |
Thank you very much |
Duzhe dyakuyu |
You're welcome |
Proshu, bud' laska |
Please |
Proshu, bud' laska |
Excuse me |
Pereproshuyu, vybachte |
I am sorry |
Vybachte |
Okey! |
Harazd, dobre |
How are you? |
Yak spravy? |
Good |
Dobre |
Bad |
Pohano |
So-so |
Tak sobi |
Just a moment |
Khvylynku |
I do not understand |
Ya ne rozumiyu |
Do you undersand? |
Rozumiyesh? |
How do you say this in (Ukrainian) (Russian)? |
Yak vy tse skazhete po (ukrayins'ky)? |
Do you speak (English)? |
Chy vy hovoryte po anglyis'ki? |
Nice to meet you |
Pryyemno z vamy poznayomytys' |
What is your name? |
Yak vas zvut'? (Yake vashe imya?) |
My name is |
Mene zvaty.... (Moye imya) |
Where are you from? |
Zvidky Vy? |
I love you! |
Ya tebe kohayu! Ya tebe lyublyu! (informal) |
I like you! |
Ty meni podobayeshsya! (formal) |
How old are you? |
Skil'ky tobi (vam) rokiv? |
How much (does it cost)? |
Skil'ky tse koshtuye? |
I want (to know)! |
Ya hochu (znaty)! |
I need |
Meni treba |
Where is a bathroom (toilet)? |
De tut uborna (tualet) |
Let's go |
Pishly |
I don't have..! (time) |
V mene nemaye..! (Ya ne mayu!) (chasu) |
Cheers! (when drinking) |
Bud'mo! |
I would like a beer please |
Meni, bud' laska pyva |
Do you have a menu in English? |
U vas ye menyu na anliis'kyi? |
Today |
Syohodni |
Tomorrow |
Zavtra |
Yesterday |
Vchora |
Pronouns / Interrogative Pronouns
English |
Ukrainian |
I |
Ya |
You (singular) |
Ty (familiar) Vy (formal) |
He |
Vin |
She |
Vona |
It (it is) |
Vono (tse) |
We |
My |
You (plural) |
Vy |
They |
Vony |
English |
Ukrainian |
Where? |
De? |
When? |
Koly? |
Who? |
Khto? |
What? |
Chsho? |
Which? |
Yakyy? (m), Yaka? (f) Yake? (mid) |
How? |
Yak? |
How many (much)? |
Skil'ky? |
Why? |
Chomu? |
What for? |
Dlya choho? Chogo? |
Family
English |
Ukrainian |
Mother |
Maty, mama |
Father |
Bat'ko, tato |
Sister |
Sestra |
Brother |
Brat (like broccolli) |
Wife |
Druzhyna |
Husband |
Cholovik |
Son |
Syn |
Daughter |
Dochka |
Friend |
Pryyatel', drug (male); Pryyatel'ka, podruga (female) |
Travel words and phrases
English |
Ukrainian |
Map |
Karta, mapa |
Tourist Information |
Informatsiya dlya turystiv |
Ticket |
Kvytok |
One ticket to |
Odyn kvytok do |
Train |
Potyah |
Train station |
Zaliznychna stantsiya (zhd vokzal) |
Bus |
Avtobus |
Bus station |
Avtovokzal |
Bus stop |
Avtobusna zupynka |
Metro, Subway |
Metro, pidzemka |
Departure |
Vidyizd |
Arrival |
Pryyizd, pryboottya |
Departure (airplane) |
Vidlit |
Arrival (airplane) |
Prylit |
Airport |
Aeroport |
Plane |
Litak |
Hotel |
Hotel' |
Room |
Kimnata |
No vacancies |
Nemaye vilnykh kimnat |
Passport |
Pasport |
Quickly |
Shvydko |
Slowly |
Povil'no |
Interesting |
Tsikavo |
Post office |
Poshta |
Bank |
Bank (like baunk) |
Pharmacy, Chemists |
Apteka ('a' like 'awe') |
Hospital |
Likarnya, shpytal' |
Restaurant |
Restoran |
Store, Shop |
Kramnytsya |
Street |
Vulytsya |
Square |
Ploshcha |
River |
Richka, rika |
Sea |
More ('e' like 'a' in map) |
Bridge |
Mist |
Directions & Numbers
English |
Ukrainian |
Right |
Napravo |
Left |
Nalivo |
Straight |
Pryamo |
Up |
Vhoru |
Down |
Vnyz |
Near |
Blyz'ko, bilya, kolo |
Far |
Daleko |
Short |
Korotkyy, korotka |
Long |
Dovhyy, dovha |
There |
Tam |
Here |
Toot |
Under |
Pid |
On |
Na |
In |
V |
English |
Ukrainian |
One |
Odyn |
Two |
Dva |
Three |
Tri |
Four |
Chotyry |
Five |
Pjat' |
Six |
Shist' |
Seven |
Sim |
Eight |
Visim |
Nine |
Dev'jat' |
Ten |
Desjat' |
Twenty |
Dvadtsjat' |
Fifty |
P'jat'desjat |
One hundred (gramms) |
Sto (gram) ('a' like in gracias) |