Belarusian Verbs

Welcome to the 10th lesson about verbs in Belarusian. We will first learn about the present tense, followed by the past tense, and future tense. We will also analyze some grammar rules, and finally practice how to ask for direction in Belarusian.

Verbs are used to express an action (I swim) or a state of being (I am). The present tense in Belarusian conveys a situation or event in the present time. Here are some examples:

Present Tense - Belarusian - Pronunciation
I speak English я размаўляю [ya razmawlyayo]
you speak French вы(ты) размаўляеце (размаўляеш) па-французску [vi(ti) razmawlyayetzye (razmawlyayesh) pa-frantzoozskoo]
he speaks German ён гаворыць па-нямецку [yon guavoritzʲ pa-nyamyetzkoo]
she speaks Italian яна размаўляе па-італьянску [yana razmawlyaye pa-іtalʲyanskoo]
we speak Arabic мы гаворым па-арабску [mi guavorim pa-arabskoo]
they speak Chinese яны гавораць па-кітайску [yani guavoratzʲ pa-kіtayskoo]

The past tense in Belarusian conveys a situation or event in the past time. Here are some examples:

Past Tense - Belarusian - Pronunciation
I visited France я наведаў францыю [ya navyedaw frantziyo]
you visited Italy вы наведалі (ты наведаў) італію [vi navyedalі (ti navyedaw) іtalіyo]
he visited Morocco ён наведаў марока [yon navyedaw maroka]
she visited China яна наведала кітай [yana navyedala kіtay]
we visited Mexico мы наведалі мексіку [mi navyedalі myeksіkoo]
they visited Kenya яны наведалі кенію [yani navyedalі kyenіyo]

The future tense in Belarusian conveys a situation or event which is anticipated to happen in the future. Here are some examples:

Future Tense - Belarusian - Pronunciation
I will drink milk я буду піць малако [ya boodoo pіtzʲ malako]
you will drink coffee вы будзеце (ты будзеш) піць каву [vi boodzyetzye (ti boodzyesh) pіtzʲ kavoo]
he will drink tea ён будзе піць гарбату/чай [yon boodzye pіtzʲ guarbatoo/chay]
she will drink water яна будзе піць ваду [yana boodzye pіtzʲ vadoo]
we will drink apple juice мы будзем піць яблычны сок [mi boodzyem pіtzʲ yablichni sok]
they will drink tea яны будуць піць гарбату/чай [yani boodootzʲ pіtzʲ guarbatoo/chay]

Now let's take a break and refresh our vocabulary by learning the body parts.

ear вуха [vookha]

eye вока [voka]

mouth рот/вусны [rot/voosni]

nose нос [nos]

hair волас/валасы [volas/valasi]

face твар [tvar]

head галава [gualava]

heart сэрца [sertza]

hand рука [rooka]

fingers пальцы [palʲtzi]

leg нага [nagua]

feet ступні; ногі [stoopnі; noguі]

Travel Phrases in Belarusian

Imagine yourself in some Belarusian speaking country. The following travel phrases are highly important and can help you avoid misunderstanding. Try to memorize them and practice!

English - Belarusian - Pronunciation
Can you help me? ці вы можаце мне дапамагчы? [tzі vi moʐatzye mnye dapamaguchi?]
Can I help you? ці магу я вам дапамагчы? [tzі maguoo ya vam dapamaguchi?]
Where is the airport? дзе знаходзіцца аэрапорт/лётнішча? [dzye znakhodzіtztza aeraport/lyotnіshcha?]
Go straight едзьце проста [yedzʲtzye prosta]
Then тады [tadi]
Turn left павярніце налева [pavyarnіtzye nalyeva]
Turn right павярніце направа [pavyarnіtzye naprava]

I hope this lesson about the verbs in Belarusian was not hard for you. Please check out our main menu here for more lessons: homepage. To see the full menu, you can also click on the "Menu" icon on the left side.