Awangarda Foundation
Want to Learn Ukrainian?
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The first step in learning another language is to learn the alphabet. Ukrainian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which may look very different than what you are used to if you don't know any slavic languages.
The alphabet is broken up into consonants, hard and soft vowels, and a soft sign.
Consonants:
Б, В, Г, Ґ, Д, Ж, З, Й, К, Л, М, Н, П, Р, С, Т, Ф, Х, Ц, Ч, Ш, and Щ
Hard vowels:
А, О, У, Е, И, І
Soft vowels:
Я, Ю, Є, І
Soft sign:
Ь
Some of the vowels are also words which you will use in everyday speech:
A - means "and" or "but"
O - means "at" (ex. at 5 o'clock)
У - can have several meanings such as "in" or "at" and is also in the phrase "to have" (ex. у будинку or у мене є кіт)
I - means "and"
If you see a soft sign (ь), pronounce the consonant preceding it softer.
Common phrases to learn:
Привіт (privet) - hello
Доброго ранку (dobroho ranku) - good morning
Добрий день (dobryi den) - good day
Добрий вечір (dobryi vechir) - good evening
Мене звати (mene zvati) - my name is
Як вас звати (yak vas zvati) - what is your name
Де ви живете (de vi zhivyote) - where do you live
Звідки ви (zvidki vi) - where are you from
Як справи (yak spravi) - how are you
Добре, дякую (dobre diakuiu) - good, thank you
приємно познайомитися (pryiemno poznairomytysia) - nice to meet you
Гарного дня (harnoho dnia) - have a good day
До побачення (do pobachennia) - good bye
Ukrainian Cases:
1. Nominative (basic form of the noun)
- Question answers "who" or "what"
2. Genitive (possessive)
- Question answers "Whose" or "of what"
3. Dative (indirect object i.e. to someone)
-Question answers "to whom" or "for whom"
4. Accusative (direct object)
-Quesiton answers "whom" or "what"
5. Instrumental (instrument or tool)
-Question answers "with what" or "by what"
6. Locative (prepositions to indicate time or location)
-Question answers "where" or "about what"
7. Vocative (addressing someone politely)