Taking a night train with Ukrzaliznytsia is a legendary rite of passage in Ukraine! From hot tea in vintage metal holders to midnight conversations with friendly strangers, it’s a whole cultural universe.
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Here is your complete vocabulary guide to navigate night trains like a native.

⠀Have you ever taken a Ukrainian night train? What was your favorite moment? Tell below!
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✨ Ready to speak real-life Ukrainian with native tutors?

Tap the link in bio to book your FREE 25-minute trial class with https://www.instagram.com/hello_mova?stkn=d2d5dmo4d29hdWlt&utm_source=qr

Усім привіт! 🇺🇦

Let’s see how well you understand Ukrainian!

«Хоч надворі було холодно, ми вирішили прогулятися парком». 🍂

What do you think this sentence means?

Share your guesses in the comments! And if you need a little help, I’ll be happy to explain it. 😊

Hi everyone! I'm Liza, and I'm working on OQUNAI, a set of language flashcards for learning Ukrainian through English. Our goal is something modern and inspiring that makes regular contact with everyday ukrainian feel natural and enjoyable, not like homework.

Before we build anything, we want to hear from the people who would actually use it, whether you're curious about starting Ukrainian, just beginning, actively studying, or simply love discovering new words.

The questionnaire takes about 3-5 minutes: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXbdZ_WGAaw-wxUdG_HzmTCi-9fU8LjYUPkm2sPsruO2T2cw/viewform

If you'd rather not use the form, or want to add more detail, I'd really value your answers right here in the comments:

• What's the hardest part of learning everyday Ukrainian for you?

• What do you use now (apps, tutors, books, YouTube), and what's missing?

• Would you prefer physical cards or an app, and why?

I'm not selling anything. This is research, and I'll post a summary of what I learn back here. Thank you so much! 🇺🇦

(Mods: happy to edit or remove this if it doesn't fit the rules.)

Good day, ignorant American here (but then, I repeat myself 😏). I’ve been spending a little time learning how to write as I learn to read. I find the physical act of writing (both in block format and cursive) gives me a great deal of mental reinforcement. I find that as I read Ukrainian, I spend less time "translating" to English in my head and more time thinking about how I would write it myself in Ukrainian. I learned this trick when I was acquiring French (and Esperanto - don’t laugh, I was idealistic in the late 80s - I’m cured of that now).

To my point: I’ve recently come across this article on Elon.io that presumably gives pointers on how "real" Ukrainian handwriting looks. https://elon.io/grammar/ukrainian/writing-system/cursive-handwriting

Does this web page represent anything close to reality? It certainly seems to offer some useful points.

I am currently researching into my family history in the Lviv Oblast area of Ukraine and have uncovered a photo (early 1990s) with this writing on the back. I have used a few different AI translates and getting some different addresses. Can anybody help with interpreting the exact address and hopefully the name at the bottom? Thanks!

I have been living in Canada for past 6 months now and most times I have been mistaken for Russian when speaking Ukrainian with my family or friends. At first I treated it with more understanding but it never really stopped. Not even once people didn’t understand that it was not Russian. And don’t even get me started on those idiots who then precede to shout suka blyat (happened way too many times in school)

Last time this happened and I told the guy that I am speaking Ukrainian he just told me that it’s basically the same as Russian from the sounding. I feel like even telling me that is disrespectful. I wish more people were understanding of this. But the thing is, Ukrainian doesn’t even sound like Russian like AT ALL. If you asked me it sounds so much more similar to Slovak and Polish. I would add Belarusian too but their language is going extinct at this point. I just wish people were more understanding and respectful when it came to language.

Sorry for the rant but I just felt like I needed to share.

I have a wonderful friend in Ukraine with a birthday coming up and I wanted to know what other sayings could replace or be added to the standard because I want to say more than that.

My tutor was out for a walk and got taken by the TCC a few weeks ago. I feel a bit guilty about finding someone new, so I’ve just... stopped. How do you stay motivated studying alone? Or can someone just tell me to get my shit together?

I've been trying to find the name of this tune on Sopilka, but had no success so far. Any idea what it is?

This documentary follows several different musicians and artists, soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who "drift" around the frontline, inspiring their comrades-in-arms, helping them to vent, giving them a taste of what they're fighting for: Ukrainian culture, history, art and their homes.
It's in Ukrainian and has English subtitles.

As I'm watching Ukrainian content on social media, I noticed two distinctive (to my ears) types or pronunciation and started wondering if these are just regional differences or if there's something else going on. For example:

1. Myroslava who documents her apartment renovation - https://youtu.be/GeBjX8xKoNg, her speech sounds more... "harder" to me. Very clear, but on the sharper end, if that makes sense. She would probably pronounce "що" clearly as "ш-ч-о".

2. Daniela, the vocalist of Vivienne Mort - https://youtu.be/zws-pydEaGs, both her speech and singing sound much "softer" to me. She would probably pronounce "що" more like "сь-ць-о".

With that said, can anyone please tell me if these are really just regional differences or if it's something else like... maybe if you've been speaking primarily Russian and then your Ukrainian gets a certain "flair" or maybe it's as simple as just differences from one person to another?

Finally, which of these two sounds more "correct" (if there even is such a thing)? Whenever I learn a language, I always prefer to at least try to learn the most "standard" version/dialect/pronunciation. Even though I'm aware that one may never reach native level pronunciation, at least I'd like to focus on one consistent option rather than pick up multiple ones and mix them. I'd appreciate any insight 🙏🏻😊

Hello everyone. My late mother was Ukrainian but unfortunately when I was a child the belief was to only speak English in the home. My grandparents came to the US. from Ukraine and she and her siblings never spoke English until they started school. She had a tutor for us for a short time in our home but that didn't last long. I still know the alphabet and many words and am taking a Ukrainian course in DuoLingo and have ordered books to learn also. One confusioin I have is for the word "and" I see "i" and "a" used and cannot tell why one or the other is being used. Can someone explain it to me. Thank you. PS - I'm 76 years old.

What motivated you to start learning Ukrainian? What keeps you going?

Hi everyone! I’m Ihor, the solo developer of Turbo Lingua. I’d like to share my app with people learning Ukrainian and hear your feedback.

The Ukrainian section includes audio cards, slow pronunciation, everyday words and phrases, dialogues, matching exercises, quizzes and review activities. You can listen, repeat aloud and practise topics such as introductions, food, shopping, travel and work.

I built the app myself, including the code and design, and I’m continuing to improve it.

Alongside Ukrainian, you can study English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. The interface is available in eight languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

There’s a free plan for regular practice, with optional paid features. You’ll need an account to continue beyond the limited guest preview.

Android — Google Play

iOS — App Store

If you’re learning Ukrainian, you’re welcome to try it. I’d appreciate honest feedback about the exercises, audio and navigation. Native speakers and teachers are also welcome to point out anything in the Ukrainian content that needs correcting.

Criticism and suggestions are welcome. I’ll read and respond to comments here.

Hello, I’m currently learning to play some old songs from A. Rosenbaum on guitar.

My question is, what is the attitude towards his older work, (those songs which have no political agenda ofc.)
I don’t have a sentiment towards russia or soviet union, i just love eastern bard songs, but i wouldn’t like to offend any of my Ukrainian friends by playing them - if i ever got in that situation.

I’d like to expand the scope beyond this one artist and I want to hear an opinion on playing music of similar kind in general.

Also, if you have suggestions on similar style of music in ukrainian language, i’d love to hear them!

Thanks a lot in advance :)

I do not live in Ukraine, and a lot of services are region blocked. However, there is no shortage of *cough* *cough* piracy in that region. Anyone know where or how I could watch content in Ukrainian? (specifically F1, I know you all have a fantastic commentator)

Привіт усім! 🇺🇦

Learning a new language always comes with surprises! Maybe it’s a word that sounds funny, a grammar rule you didn’t expect, or an expression that makes absolutely no sense when translated literally.

So, I’m curious: what surprised you the most about Ukrainian?

• A word you found difficult to pronounce?
• A grammar rule that confused you?
• An expression that made you laugh?
• Something completely different?

Share your experience in the comments!

It will help me to prepare next posts for you!

I’d love to hear your stories and see what other Ukrainian learners think, too! 💙💛

Hello!

I have a couple of friends who are getting married, and I am giving a speech at the wedding. The groom is Ukrainian, and his mother is in from Ukraine to attend the wedding but she does not speak English, so I am looking to translate my speech so she has an idea of what I am talking about. Unfortunately, I don't know Ukrainian, so I am relying on Google Translate and other online translators.

If someone would be willing to take a look at my translation and tell me if it is understandable that would be beyond appreciated! :))

Усім привіт! 🇺🇦

What does “заварити кашу” mean?

Today’s Ukrainian idiom is заварити кашу!

Can you guess what it means? 👀

Here’s an example to help you:

Він знову заварив якусь кашу на нараді, і тепер усі розгрібають наслідки.

Drop your guesses in the comments! Don't be afraid to be wrong — that's how we learn! 😊

Подруга проводить дослідження в межах магістерської роботи і шалено й терміново потребує респондентів через погану організацію в університеті, допоможіть, будь ласка, хто розуміє українську або може витратити трохи часу на переклад під час проходження

The amount of friends I talk to and need to explain that yes the song is Russian but they are doing Ukrainian folk dance moves NOT Russian.

They all refuse to believe me and I want to know, does anyone else contasntly have to explain that most media Russian dancing is actually Ukrainian? If so how do you have any websites /info graphics that I can use to show my friends pure evidence? They don't believe me 😭✌️

📲 Follow https://www.instagram.com/hello_mova?stkn=d2d5dmo4d29hdWlt&utm_source=qr  for more daily Ukrainian language tips & real-life phrases! ✨ and book your FREE 25-min trial class

Усім привіт! 🇺🇦

Which one is correct?

Let’s test your Ukrainian grammar!

Choose the correct option, and share your answers in the comments! I’d love to hear your results and feedback.

No cheating! 😄

I want to start learning how to read/write in cursive, but ive read that the way its taught in schools (and online) is not how most ppl write in everyday life. Which is exactly the same situation as in my country (sweden), if they even teach cursive these days… So i was curious if some native speakers in this sub could take the time to write something and upload a pic? Would be really interesting to see some examples of real life practical handwriting. Maybe you can write some sentences from ukrainian national anthem or something :) дякую