Ukrainian Verbs

Welcome to the 10th lesson about verbs in Ukrainian. 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 Ukrainian.

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

Present Tense - Ukrainian - Pronunciation
I speak English я розмовляю англійською [ya rozmovlyayo angulіysʲkoyo]
you speak French ви говорите по-французьки [vi guovoritye po-frantzoozʲki]
he speaks German він говорить німецькою [vіn guovoritʲ nіmyetzʲkoyo]
she speaks Italian вона говорить італійською [vona guovoritʲ іtalіysʲkoyo]
we speak Arabic ми говорили по-арабськи [mi guovorili po-arabsʲki]
they speak Chinese вони говорять по-китайськи [voni guovoryatʲ po-kitaysʲki]

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

Past Tense - Ukrainian - Pronunciation
I visited France я відвідав францію [ya vіdvіdav frantzіyo]
you visited Italy ви відвідали італію [vi vіdvіdali іtalіyo]
he visited Morocco він відвідав марокко [vіn vіdvіdav marokko]
she visited China вона відвідала китай [vona vіdvіdala kitay]
we visited Mexico ми відвідали мексику [mi vіdvіdali myeksikoo]
they visited Kenya вони відвідали кенію [voni vіdvіdali kyenіyo]

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

Future Tense - Ukrainian - Pronunciation
I will drink milk я буду пити молоко [ya boodoo piti moloko]
you will drink coffee ви будете пити каву [vi boodyetye piti kavoo]
he will drink tea він буде пити чай [vіn boodye piti chay]
she will drink water вона буде пити воду [vona boodye piti vodoo]
we will drink apple juice ми будемо пити яблучний сік [mi boodyemo piti yabloochniy sіk]
they will drink tea вони будуть пити чай [voni boodootʲ piti chay]

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

ear вухо [vookho]

eye око [oko]

mouth рот [rot]

nose ніс [nіs]

hair волосся [volossya]

face обличчя [oblichchya]

head голова [guolova]

heart серце [syertzye]

hand долоня [dolonya]

fingers пальці [palʲtzі]

leg нога [nogua]

feet ноги [nogui]

Travel Phrases in Ukrainian

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

English - Ukrainian - Pronunciation
Can you help me? ви можете мені допомогти? [vi moʐyetye myenі dopomoguti?]
Can I help you? я можу вам допомогти? [ya moʐoo vam dopomoguti?]
Where is the airport? де аеропорт? [dye ayeroport?]
Go straight ідіть прямо [іdіtʲ pryamo]
Then потім [potіm]
Turn left поверніть ліворуч [povyernіtʲ lіvorooch]
Turn right поверніть праворуч [povyernіtʲ pravorooch]

I hope this lesson about the verbs in Ukrainian 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.