Basic Words and Phrases in Ukrainian
Reinier van der Windt
About Ukrainian
Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine. It falls under the East Slavic branch of the Indo European language family, alongside Russian and Belarusian. With a significant number of native speakers amounting to over 30 million, Ukrainian holds immense cultural significance and historical value for the Ukrainian people. What sets Ukrainian apart is its distinct alphabet called the Cyrillic script. Additionally, it shares deep historical and linguistic connections with other East Slavic languages. Over centuries, Ukrainian has evolved through a blend of historical events, cultural exchanges and regional dialects shaping its development.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Так (Tak) |
|---|---|
| No | Ні (Ni) |
| Please | Будь ласка (Bud' laska) |
| Yes, please | Так, будь ласка (Tak, bud' laska) |
| No, thank you | Ні, дякую (Ni, dyakuyu) |
| Thanks | Дякую (Dyakuyu) |
| Thank you | Дякую (Dyakuyu) |
| Thank you very much | Дуже дякую (Duzhe dyakuyu) |
| You're welcome | Будь ласка (Bud' laska) |
| No problem | Без проблем (Bez problem) Немає проблем (Nemaye problem) |
| Excuse me | Вибачте (Vybachte) |
| I’m sorry | Вибачте (Vybachte) |
| Sorry | Вибачте (Vybachte) |
| Cheers! | Будьмо! (Bud'mo!) |
| Okay | Добре (Dobre) |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Привіт (Pryvit) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Вітаю (Vitayu) |
| Good day | Добрий день (Dobryi den) |
| Good morning | Доброго ранку (Dobroho ranku) |
| Good afternoon | Доброго дня (Dobroho dnia) |
| Good evening | Доброго вечора (Dobroho vechora) |
| Good night | Добраніч (Dobranich) |
| Goodbye | До побачення (Do pobachennya) |
| See you later! | До побачення! (Do pobachennya!) |
| Have a nice day! | Гарного вам дня! (frm) (Harnoho vam dnya!) Гарного дня! (inf) (Harnoho dnya!) |
| Bye | Пока (Poka) |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Як справи? (Yak spravy?) |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Я в порядку (frm) (Ya v poryadku) Мені добре (inf) (Meni dobre) |
| Good, thank you! | Добре, дякую! (Dobre, dyakuyu!) |
| And you? | А ви? (A vy?) |
| Nice to meet you! | Приємно познайомитися! (Priyemno poznayomytysya!) |
| Pleased to meet you! | Рада познайомитися! (f) (Rada poznayomytysya!) Радий познайомитися! (m) (Radyi poznayomytysya!) |
| What is your name? | Як вас звати? (frm) (Yak vas zvaty?) Як тебе звати? (inf) (Yak tebe zvaty?) |
| My name is … | Мене звати … (Mene zvaty ...) |
| Where are you from? | Звідки ви? (frm) (Zvidky vy?) Звідки ти? (inf) (Zvidky ty?) |
| I am from … | Я з … (Ya z ...) |
| I don't speak Ukrainian | Я не розмовляю українською (Ya ne rozmovlyayu ukrayinskoyu) |
| Do you speak English? | Ви розмовляєте англійською? (Vy rozmovlyayete anhliys'koyu?) |
| I understand | Я розумію (Ya rozumiyu) |
| I do not understand | Я не розумію (Ya ne rozumiyu) |
| I like it | Мені це подобається (Meni tse podobayet'sya) |
| I don't like it | Мені це не подобається (Meni tse ne podobayet'sya) |
| How is the weather today? | Яка сьогодні погода? (Yaka sohodni pohoda?) |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Чи можете ви порекомендувати які-небудь місцеві визначні пам'ятки? (Chy mozhete vy porekomenduvaty yaki-nebudy' miscevi vyznachni pa) |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Готель (Hotel') |
|---|---|
| Reception | Рецепція (Reception) |
| Reservation | Бронювання (Broniuvannia) |
| Hotel room | Готельний номер (Hotel'nyy nomer) |
| Key | Ключ (Klyuch) |
| Breakfast | Сніданок (Snidanok) |
| I have a reservation | У мене є бронювання (U mene ye bronuvannya) |
| I would like to book a room | Я б хотів забронювати кімнату (Ya b khoviv zabronyuvaty kimnatu) |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Чи є у вас вільні кімнати? (Chy ye u vas vilni kimnati?) |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Ресторан (Restoran) |
|---|---|
| Menu | Меню (Menu) |
| A table for one, please | Стіл на одну особу, будь ласка (Stil na odnu osobu, bud' laska) |
| A table for two, please | Стіл на дві особи, будь ласка (Stil na dvi osoby, bud' laska) |
| I would like a coffee, please | Я б хотів кави, будь ласка (m) (Ya b khoviv kavy, bud' laska) Я б хотівла кави, будь ласка (f) |
| Enjoy your meal! | Смачного! (Smachnoho!) |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Можна рахунок, будь ласка? (Mozhna rakhunok, bud' laska?) |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Можете принести рахунок, будь ласка? (Możete prynesty rakhunok, bud' laska?) |
| I would like to pay, please | Я б хотів розрахуватися, будь ласка (m) (Ya b khoviv rozrakhuvatysya, bud' laska) Я б хотіла розрахуватися, будь ласка (f) (Ya b khotila rozrakhuvatysya, bud' laska) |
| The bill, please | Рахунок, будь ласка (Rakhunok, bud' laska) |
| Can I pay with cash? | Можна розрахуватися готівкою? (Mozhna rozrakhuvatysya hotivkoyu?) |
| Can I pay with card? | Можна розрахуватися карткою? (Mozhna rozrakhuvatysya kartkoyu?) |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Чи можу я заплатити кредитною карткою? (Chy mozhу ya zaplatyty kredytnoyu kartkoyu?) |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Чи можете ви щось порекомендувати мені? (Chy mozhete vy shchos' porekomenduvaty meni?) |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Чи можна мені склянку води, будь ласка? (Chy mozhna meni sklyanku vody, bud' laska?) |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Чи є у вас які-небудь місцеві спеціалітети? (Chy ye u vas yaki-nebudy' miscevi spetsialitety?) |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Сніданок (Snidanok) |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Обід (Obid) |
| Dinner | Вечеря (Vecheria) |
| Food | Їжа (Yizha) |
| Drinks | Напої (Napoyi) |
| Bread | Хліб (Khlib) |
| Sandwich | Сендвіч (Sendvich) |
| Cheese | Сир (Sy'r) |
| Meat | М'ясо (M'yaso) |
| Fish | Риба (Ryba) |
| Vegetables | Овочі (Ovochi) |
| Fruit | Фрукти (Frukty) |
| Vegetarian | Вегетаріанець (Vegetarianets') |
| I am a vegetarian | Я вегетаріанець (Ya vegetarianets') |
| Coffee | Кава (Kava) |
| Tea | Чай (Chay) |
| Beer | Пиво (Pyvo) |
| Wine | Вино (Vyno) |
| Juice | Сік (Sik) |
| Water | Вода (Voda) |
| Milk | Молоко (Moloko) |
| Dessert | Десерт (Desert) |
| Salad | Салат (Salat) |
| Soup | Суп (Sup) |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Банкомат (Bankomat) |
|---|---|
| Bank | Банк (Bank) |
| Beach | Пляжний (Plyazhnyi) |
| Library | Бібліотека (Biblioteka) |
| Park | Парк (Park) |
| Pharmacy | Аптека (Apteka) |
| Post Office | Пошта (Poshta) |
| Tourist Information | Туристична інформація (Turystychna informatsiya) |
| Museum | Музей (Muzei) |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Магазин (Magazin) |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Супермаркет (Supermarket) |
| Grocery store | Продуктовий магазин (Produktovyi mahazyn) |
| Market | Ринок (Rynok) |
| Bakery | Пекарня (Pekarnia) |
| Bookstore | Книгарня (Knyharnia) |
| How much does this cost? | Скільки це коштує? (Skilky tse kostuye?) |
| Can I get a receipt? | Чи можу я отримати квитанцію? (Chy mozhu ya otrymaty kvitantsiyu?) |
| I'm just looking | Я просто дивлюся (Ya prosto dyvlusya) |
| Sunglasses | Сонцезахисні окуляри (Sontsezakhisni okulyary) |
| Umbrella | Парасолька (Parasol'ka) |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Де туалет? (De tualet?) |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Де пляж? (De plyazh?) |
| How do I get to the airport? | Як мені потрапити на аеропорт? (Yak meni potrapity na aeroport?) |
| Left | Ліворуч (Livoruch) |
| Right | Праворуч (Pravoruch) |
| Straight ahead | Прямо (Pryamo) |
| Is it far from here? | Це далеко відси? (Tse daleko vidsy?) |
| Can you show it on the map? | Чи можете ви показати це на мапі? (Chy mozhete vy pokazaty tse na mapi?) |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Скільки часу треба йти туди пішки? (Skilky chasu treba yty tudy pishky?) |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Аеропорт (Aeroport) |
|---|---|
| Plane | Літак (Litak) |
| Train station | Вокзал (Vokzal) |
| Train | Поїзд (Poyizd) |
| Bus station | Автовокзал (Avtovokzal) |
| Bus | Автобус (Avtobus) |
| Taxi | Таксі (Taksi) |
| Ticket | Квиток (Kvytok) |
| Can I get a ticket to Kyiv? | Можна квиток до Києва? (Mozhna kvitok do Kyieva?) |
| I would like a ticket to Kyiv | Я б хотів(ла) квиток до Києва (Ya b khoviv(la) kvitok do Kyieva) |
| I need a ticket to Kyiv | Мені потрібен квиток до Києва (Meni potriben kvitok do Kyieva) |
| A ticket to Kyiv, please | Квиток до Києва, будь ласка (Kvitok do Kyieva, bud' laska) |
| What time is the next train to Kyiv? | На яку годину наступний поїзд до Києва? (Na yaku godynu nastupnyi poyizd do Kyieva?) |
| When is the next train to Kyiv? | Коли наступний поїзд до Києва? (Koly nastupnyi poyizd do Kyieva?) |
| When does the next train to Kyiv leave? | Коли відправляється наступний поїзд до Києва? (Koly vidpravlyayet'sya nastupnyi poyizd do Kyieva?) |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Допомога! (Dopomoha!) |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Допоможіть мені! (Dopomo zhyt' meni!) |
| I need help | Мені потрібна допомога (Meni potribna dopomoha) |
| I need assistance | Мені потрібна допомога (Meni potribna dopomoha) |
| I need a doctor | Мені потрібен лікар (Meni potriben likar) |
| Police | Поліція (Politsiya) |
| Police Station | Поліцейська дільниця (Politsiyska dilnytsya) |
| Hospital | Лікарня (Likarnia) |
| Ambulance | Швидка допомога (Shvydka dopomoha) |
| Doctor | Лікар (Likar) |
| Fire department | Пожежна служба (Pozhezhna sluzhba) |
| Fire! | Пожежа! (Pozhezha!) |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Котра година? (Kotra hodyna?) |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Одна година (Odna hodyna) |
| It is half past two | Дві з половиною години (Dvi z polovynoiu hodyny) |
| Morning | Ранок (Ranok) |
| Afternoon | Полудень (Poluden') |
| Evening | Вечір (Vechir) |
| Night | Ніч (Nich) |
| Today | Сьогодні (S'ohodni) |
| Tomorrow | Завтра (Zavtra) |
| Yesterday | Вчора (Vchora) |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Нуль (Nul) |
|---|---|
| One | Один (Odyn) |
| Two | Два (Dva) |
| Three | Три (Try) |
| Four | Чотири (Chotyry) |
| Five | П'ять (Pyat) |
| Six | Шість (Shist') |
| Seven | Сім (Sim) |
| Eight | Вісім (Visim) |
| Nine | Дев'ять (Devyat') |
| Ten | Десять (Desyat') |
| Eleven | Одинадцять (Odynadtsyat') |
| Twelve | Дванадцять (Dvanadtsyat') |
| Thirteen | Тринадцять (Trynadtsiat') |
| Fourteen | Чотирнадцять (Chotyrnadtsiat') |
| Fifteen | П'ятнадцять (Pyatnadtsiat') |
| Sixteen | Шістнадцять (Shistnadtsiat') |
| Seventeen | Сімнадцять (Simnadtsyat') |
| Eighteen | Вісімнадцять (Visimnadtsyat') |
| Nineteen | Дев'ятнадцять (Dev'yatnadtsiat') |
| Twenty | Двадцять (Dvadtsyat') |
| Twenty-one | Двадцять один (Dvadtsyat' odyn) |
| Twenty-two | Двадцять два (Dvadtsyat' dva) |
| Twenty-three | Двадцять три (Dvadtsyat' try) |
| Twenty-four | Двадцять чотири (Dvadtsyat' chotyry) |
| Twenty-five | Двадцять п'ять (Dvadtsyat' pyat') |
| Twenty-six | Двадцять шість (Dvadtsyat' shist') |
| Twenty-seven | Двадцять сім (Dvadtsyat' sim) |
| Twenty-eight | Двадцять вісім (Dvadtsyat' visim) |
| Twenty-nine | Двадцять дев'ять (Dvadtsyat' dev'yat') |
| Thirty | Тридцять (Trydtsyat') |
| Forty | Сорок (Sorok) |
| Fifty | П'ятдесят (Pyatdesyat') |
| Sixty | Шістдесят (Shistdesyat') |
| Seventy | Сімдесят (Simdesyat') |
| Eighty | Вісімдесят (Visimdesyat') |
| Ninety | Дев'яносто (Dev'yanyosto) |
| Hundred | Сто (Sto) |
| Two hundred | Двісті (Dvisti) |
| One thousand | Тисяча (Tysyacha) |
| Two thousand | Дві тисячі (Dvi tysyachi) |
| Three thousand | Три тисячі (Try tysyachi) |
| Hundred thousand | Сто тисяч (Sto tysyach) |
| Million | Мільйон (Milion) |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Перший (Pershyi) |
|---|---|
| Second | Другий (Druhyi) |
| Third | Третій (Tretii) |
| Fourth | Четвертий (Chetvertyi) |
| Fifth | П'ятий (Pyaty) |
| Sixth | Шостий (Shostyi) |
| Seventh | Сьомий (Syomyi) |
| Eighth | Восьмий (Vosmyi) |
| Ninth | Дев'ятий (Devyatyi) |
| Tenth | Десятий (Desiatyi) |
| Eleventh | Одинадцятий (Odynadtsyaty) |
| Twelfth | Дванадцятий (Dvanadtsyaty) |
| Thirteenth | Тринадцятий (Trynadtsyaty) |
| Fourteenth | Чотирнадцятий (Chotyrnadtsyaty) |
| Fifteenth | П'ятнадцятий (Pyatnadtsyaty) |
| Sixteenth | Шістнадцятий (Shistnadtsyaty) |
| Seventeenth | Сімнадцятий (Simnadtsyaty) |
| Eighteenth | Вісімнадцятий (Visimnadtsyaty) |
| Nineteenth | Дев'ятнадцятий (Dev'yatnadtsyaty) |
| Twentieth | Двадцятий (Dvadtsyaty) |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Понеділок (Ponedilok) |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Вівторок (Vivtorok) |
| Wednesday | Середа (Sereda) |
| Thursday | Четвер (Chetver) |
| Friday | П'ятниця (Pyatnytsya) |
| Saturday | Субота (Subota) |
| Sunday | Неділя (Nedilia) |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Січень (Sichen') |
|---|---|
| February | Лютий (Liutyi) |
| March | Березень (Berezen') |
| April | Квітень (Kvitenn') |
| May | Травень (Traven') |
| June | Червень (Cherven') |
| July | Липень (Lypen') |
| August | Серпень (Serpen') |
| September | Вересень (Veresen') |
| Oktober | Жовтень (Zhovten') |
| November | Листопад (Lystopad) |
| December | Грудень (Hruden') |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Що? (Shcho?) |
|---|---|
| What is that? | Що це? (Shcho tse?) |
| What do you like? | Що вам подобається? (Shcho vam podobayet'sya?) |
| Where? | Де? (De?) |
| Where is the toilet? | Де туалет? (De tualet?) |
| When? | Коли? (Koly?) |
| When is the next train? | Коли наступний поїзд? (Koly nastupnyi poyizd?) |
| When can we meet? | Коли ми можемо зустрітися? (Koly my mozhemo zustritysya?) |
| Why? | Чому? (Chomu?) |
| Why is it expensive? | Чому це дорого? (Chomu tse doroho?) |
| How? | Як? (Yak?) |
| How are you doing? | Як у вас справи? (Yak u vas spravy?) |
| Which? | Яка? (f) (Yaka?) Який? (m) (Yakyi?) |
| Which museum did you visit? | Який музей ви відвідали? (Yakyi muzei vy vidvidaly?) |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Який сендвіч ваш? (Yakyi sendvich vash?) |
| Who? | Хто? (Khto?) |
| Who is that? | Хто це? (Khto tse?) |
| Whose? | Чий? (Chyy?) |
| Whose keys are these? | Чиї це ключі? (Chyi tse klyuchi?) |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Чиїй це телефон дзвонить? (Chyi tse telefon dzvonit'?) |
| Whose bag is this? | Чиє це сумка? (Chye tse sumka?) |
| Whose book is this? | Чия це книга? (Chyya tse knyha?) |
| How many? | Скільки? (Skilky?) |
| How many books have you read? | Скільки книг ви прочитали? (Skilky knyh vy prochytaly?) |
| How many apples do you want to buy? | Скільки яблук ви хочете купити? (Skilky yabluk vy khochete kupity?) |
| How much? | Скільки? (Skilky?) |
| How much does this cost? | Скільки це коштує? (Skilky tse kostuye?) |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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