Order anything by pointing in Ukrainian
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. 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
- Я хотів би...ya khoh-TEEV by
- I would like...
- Оцеo-TSE
- This one
- Скільки коштує?SKIL-ky kosh-TU-ye
- How much is it?
- Рахунок, будь ласкаra-KHU-nok bud LAS-ka
- The bill, please
- КарткоюKAR-tko-yu
- By card
- Готівкоюho-TIV-ko-yu
- In cash
- Водаvo-DA
- Water
- КаваKAH-va
- Coffee
- Чайchai
- Tea
- ПивоPY-voh
- Beer
- Без...bez
- Without...
A woman says Я хотіла б (ya khoh-TEE-la b).
Point clearly and say it. At the deli counter, оце plus a gesture for quantity completes the whole transaction. "Ось це" (osh tse) is a slightly more emphatic version meaning "right this one here".
The essential market and kiosk question. At a restaurant you might hear "яка ціна?" (ya-KA tsi-NA), what is the price. Скільки коштує works everywhere and signals you want the real local price, not a guess.
In Ukrainian restaurants and cafes the bill does not come until you ask. Catch the waiter's eye, say рахунок будь ласка, or mime writing in the air. The writing gesture is universally understood.
Ask "можна карткою?" (can I pay by card?). Contactless card and phone payment is extremely widespread in Ukraine, even in smaller towns. Ukrainians are among the most cashless populations in Europe.
The waiter may ask "готівкою чи карткою?" (cash or card?). Now you can answer either way. Markets and older establishments occasionally prefer готівка, but this is becoming rarer.
Stress on the final syllable. In shops you will see "негазована" (still) and "газована" (sparkling). Tap water in major Ukrainian cities is generally safe but locals often prefer bottled.
The following noun takes the genitive case.