Greetings and politeness in Ukrainian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Ukrainian phrases in this lesson
- Добрий деньDOB-ry DEN
- Hello
- Доброго ранкуDOB-ro-ho RAN-ku
- Good morning
- Добрий вечірDOH-bryi VEH-cheer
- Good evening
- До побаченняdo po-BA-chen-nya
- Goodbye
- До зустрічіdoh ZOO-stree-chee
- See you
- Будь ласкаbud LAS-ka
- Please
- ДякуюDYA-ku-yu
- Thank you
- Нема за щоneh-MAH za shcho
- You're welcome
- Перепрошуюpeh-reh-PROH-shoo-yoo
- Sorry
- ВибачтеVY-bach-teh
- Excuse me
- Приємно познайомитисяpree-YEM-noh pohz-nai-OH-my-ty-sya
- Nice to meet you
The all-purpose polite greeting, used throughout the day. Safe with shopkeepers, neighbors and anyone you do not know. You will also hear "привіт" from younger people, but that is for friends. Start with добридень and you will never offend anyone.
Used until about 10 or 11 in the morning. After that switch to "добрий день" (DOB-ryy den), good day. The genitive form доброго ранку is standard; the shorter "добрий ранок" exists but sounds slightly textbook in everyday speech.
Use this when arriving in the evening.
The standard neutral goodbye, appropriate everywhere. Casually, Ukrainians often say "бувай" (bu-VAY) or "па-па" (pa-PA) with friends. "До зустрічі" (do ZUS-tri-chi) means until we meet again, warmer for people you will see soon.
The usual friendly sign-off, literally until a meeting.
The same phrase as "you're welcome": будь ласка. Placed after a request it softens it into a polite ask, placed before it shows even more deference. Ukrainians use it generously and appreciate hearing it from visitors.
The standard thank you, warm and suitable anywhere. Note the stress is on the first syllable, DYA. The "ю" ending makes it a first-person verb: literally "I thank." A very casual alternative among friends is "дяки" (DYA-ky).
A natural reply to thanks, literally nothing to thank me for.
The polite form, for getting a stranger's attention, apologizing for bumping into someone or interrupting. With friends use "вибач" (VY-bach), the informal singular. A quicker "пробачте" (pro-BACH-te) is equally common and slightly more urgent.