Yes, no and the essentials in Ukrainian
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Ukrainian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Ukrainian phrases in this lesson
- Такtak
- Yes
- Ніni
- No
- ДобреDOB-re
- Okay
- Я не розуміюya ne ro-zu-MI-yu
- I don't understand
- Ви говорите англійською?vy ho-VO-ry-te an-HLIY-sko-yu
- Do you speak English?
- Можете повторити?MOH-zheh-teh pohv-toh-RY-ty
- Can you repeat that?
- Повільніше, будь ласкаpoh-VEEL-nee-sheh bood LAH-ska
- Slowly, please
- Що це?shcho tseh
- What is this?
- Мені потрібно...meh-NEE poh-TREEB-noh
- I need...
- Можете мені допомогти?MOH-zheh-teh meh-NEE doh-poh-mohkh-TY
- Can you help me?
Clean and direct. Unlike in some neighboring countries, the head gestures in Ukraine are standard: nod for yes, shake for no. Так is the same across formal and informal registers.
Short and clear. Often softened to "ні, дякую" (ni DYA-ku-yu) when declining an offer from a vendor or host. A firm single ні is fine with persistent street vendors.
Literally "good" or "well". The all-purpose agreement word: okay, fine, sure, agreed. You will hear and say it constantly. "Гаразд" (ha-RAZD) is a near-synonym that sounds a little more formal and specifically Ukrainian.
Your honest escape hatch. Follow it with the question for English in this lesson and most encounters resolve themselves quickly. Stress is on MI in розумію.
The polite Ви form, appropriate for anyone you address formally. In Kyiv and Lviv, English is widely spoken among younger people. Asking in Ukrainian first is always appreciated and tends to make people noticeably warmer.