Language Overview

Ukrainian

Українська

40 million speakers
East SlavicCyrillic

Ukrainian is an East Slavic language with around 40 million speakers, featuring a unique letter ї and a rich literary tradition.

Ukrainian

Overview

Ukrainian is an East Slavic language spoken primarily in Ukraine. It is the official language of Ukraine and has a rich literary and cultural heritage.

Alphabet

Ukrainian uses the Cyrillic alphabet with 33 letters, including unique letters like і, ї, and є that distinguish it from Russian.

Sound Features

Ukrainian is characterized by:

  • Softer sounds compared to Russian
  • The unique letter ї pronounced like "yi"
  • Preservation of the Old Church Slavonic letter "ґ"
  • Melodic intonation patterns

Key Grammar Highlights

Ukrainian grammar features:

  • Seven grammatical cases
  • Three grammatical genders
  • Verb aspect system (perfective/imperfective)
  • Flexible word order with SVO as default

Related Languages

Ukrainian is closely related to Russian and Belarusian within the East Slavic group. It also shares similarities with Polish and Slovak.

Basic Phrases

  • Hello: Привіт / Добридень
  • Thank you: Дякую
  • Yes: Так
  • No: Ні
  • Please: Будь ласка

Resources

  • Ukrainian language learning platforms
  • Ukrainian media and literature
  • Language exchange programs
  • Online dictionaries and grammar guides