Ukrainian Language Day

Today is Ukrainian Language Day.

As you would expect Ukrainian is the Official Language of Ukraine (just like Russian is the Official Language of Russia), but just because many Ukrainians understand Russian (they were forced to learn it from the 1600s until 1991) doesn’t mean that Russian and its Transliterations should be used in Modern-Day Ukraine. By the way almost no Russian understands Ukrainian (including ethnic Russians that have lived in Ukraine their whole life.)

 

Alphabet: The Ukrainian Language uses the Cyrillic Alphabet like the Russian Language does, but that doesn’t mean they are the same Language or can be fully understood.

It’s the same way that just because you know the English Language doesn’t mean you automatically know the Spanish Language – both of which use the Latin Alphabet.

The Ukrainian Language has Letters that the Russian Language doesn’t have. Just look in the Ukrainian Name “Київ.” Russian doesn’t even have the Letter ї. Russian also doesn’t have the Letters Ґ,  І or Є.

The Russian Language has the Letters Ё, Ъ, ы and Э which Ukrainian doesn’t have.

Also, when translating from Russian into English you say “the Ukraine”, but when translating from Ukrainian into English you say “Ukraine.”

When translating from Russian into English you say “the Crimea”, but when translating from Ukrainian into English you say “Crimea.”

 

Phrases: Here are some Everyday Phrases in both Ukrainian and Russian to help you see the difference between the two Languages – even if you don’t know the Cyrillic Alphabet:

Welcome:  Ukrainian (Ласкаво просимо) Russian (Добро пожаловать!)

Hello: Ukrainian (Вітаю) Russian (Здравствуйте!)

How Are You?: Ukrainian (Як ти поживаєш?) Russian (Как дела?)

Goodbye: Ukrainian (До побачення) Russian (До свидания!)

Yes: Ukrainian (Так) Russian (Да)

No: Ukrainian (Ні)   Russian (Нет)

Thank You: Ukrainian (Дякую) Russian (Спасибо!)

Ukrainian Language: Ukrainian (українська мова) Russian (Украинский язык)

Russian Language: Ukrainian (Російська мова) Russian (Русский язык)