Did you know that not all languages have articles? By “articles” we mean the words “the” and “a” in English (“the book” vs “a book”). Well, in Ukrainian this concept doesn’t exist at all. Fascinating, isn’t it? Let’s learn to speak without articles and make more elaborate questions in Ukrainian.
Useful phrase in Ukrainian
Listen and repeat the following sentence:
Що це означа́є?
What does it mean?
Що це? This is another useful question. It means “What is this? / What is that?”. So now you know how to ask two important questions: What is this? and What does it mean?
Ukrainian vocabulary
In this lesson, we will practice the following Ukrainian words. Listen to the audio and remember the vocabulary:
що
what
це
this / that/ it
ви́бач
excuse me / sorry (informal)
ви́бачте
excuse me / sorry (formal)
звича́йно
of course
зна́ти
to know
як
how
Як сказа́ти…?
How do you say…?
Dialogues
Listen carefully to the following Ukrainian dialogues. They will help you understand this lesson’s vocabulary in the right context:
Dialogue 1
О́ля, ви́бач, що це?
Excuse me, Olia. What is this?
Це кни́га.
This is a book.
Що означа́є “кни́га”?*
What does “книга” mean?
“Кни́га” означа́є “book” англíйською.
“Кни́га” means “book” in English.
До́бре, дя́кую!
Ok, thank you!
(*) Що означа́є “кни́га” literally is translated as “What means “book”. Remember that we don’t have any auxiliary verbs in Ukrainian.
Dialogue 2
Майкл, ти зна́єш як бу́де “book” украї́нською?
Michael, do you know how to say “book” in Ukrainian? (literally “do you know how will be “book” in Ukrainian”)
Ні, я не зна́ю, але́ Са́ша зна́є.
No, I don’t know, but Sasha knows.
Са́ша, ти зна́єш як сказа́ти “book” украї́нською?
Sasha, do you know how to say “book” in Ukrainian?
Кни́га.
Kny-ga.
Дя́кую!
Thanks!
Dialogue 3
Мíстер Сміт, ви́бачте, що це?
Excuse me, Mr. Smith. What is this?
Це кни́га.
This is a book.
Я не зна́ю що зна́чить “кни́га”. Ви зна́єте як “кни́га” іспа́нською?
I don’t know what “книга” means. Do you know how to say “книга” in Spanish?
Звича́йно зна́ю. “Кни́га” означа́є “libro” іспа́нською.
Of course I know. “Книга” means “libro” in Spanish.
Вели́ке дя́кую!
Thank you very much!
(*) Ви зна́єте як “кни́га” іспа́нською = literally “Do уou know how “книга” in Spanish?”
Ukrainian grammar
Let’s study the grammar used in this lesson:
The articles in Ukrainian
Many Slavic Languages (including Ukrainian) don’t use articles. This concept doesn’t exist in these languages. That’s why a word like “кни́га” could mean either “a book” or “the book”. Without any additional context, the translation could be both:
- Це кни́га = This/it is a book.
- Це кни́га = This/it is the book.
How to say “it” in Ukrainian
In English, the pronoun “it” is used very often. In most cases “it” will be translated in Ukrainian with the word “це” (which also means “this” or “that”).
Ukrainian conjugations: the verb “зна́ти” and “роби́ти”.
In the previous lesson you have seen the present tense of the verb “розмовля́ти”. In this lesson you will learn the verb “зна́ти” (to know) and “роби́ти” (to do).
Compare the endings of both verbs. As you can see, they have similarities and differencies. In Ukrainian there are two different types of conjugation, that is, two different ways to build the present tense of a Ukrainian verb.
| Verb: зна́ти |
|---|
| я зна́ю |
| ти зна́єш |
| він/вона́ зна́є |
| ми зна́ємо |
| ви зна́єте |
| вони́ зна́ють |
| Verb: Роби́ти |
|---|
| я роблю́ |
| ти ро́биш |
| він/вона́ ро́бить |
| ми ро́бимо |
| ви ро́бите |
| вони́ ро́блять |
Pronouns in Ukrainian
To say or not to say?
In English, pronouns are always said and written. But in Ukrainian, they are often omitted because the verb form is enough for us to undersatnd the meaning.
Look at the example from dialogue 3:
- Звича́йно (“я” – omitted) зна́ю – Of course I know.
Yet, it’s not obligatory to omit the pronoun. If you say it always you won’t be wrong.
Test
Check if you know this lesson:
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