A handful of fixed questions will carry you through your first weeks in Ukrainian — and each one quietly packages grammar you'll meet again. Котра́ годи́на? "what time is it?" hides a feminine ordinal; Як вас зва́ти? "what's your name?" hides an accusative pronoun; Скі́льки це кошту́є? "how much?" hides a counting verb. Learn them as ready-made blocks now, and the grammar behind them will feel familiar later. There's also one liberating shortcut: Ukrainian forms yes/no questions with intonation alone — no inverted word order, no "do you…?" auxiliary. This page is your survival kit of the most useful questions, with the logic made explicit.
"What is this?" / "Who is this?" — Що це? / Хто це?
The two pointing questions. Що is "what," хто is "who," and це is "this / it." Notice there is no verb — Ukrainian drops "to be" in the present, so the whole question is just two words. The answer also drops the verb: Це кни́жка ("It's a book").
| Ukrainian | English |
|---|---|
| Що це? | What's this? / What is it? |
| Хто це? | Who's this? / Who is it? |
| Що це таке́? | What on earth is this? (emphatic) |
| Це що, жарт? | Is this a joke, or what? |
Що це? Я тако́го ще не ба́чив.
What's this? I haven't seen anything like it before. (Що це — no verb; the answer would be Це… likewise verbless.)
Хто це на фо́то по́руч із ба́бусею?
Who's this in the photo next to Grandma? (Хто це — pointing at a person; на фо́то 'in the photo'.)
"Where…?" — Де / Куди́ / Звідки
Ukrainian splits "where" three ways, and keeping them apart is the whole game. Де = where (at rest), куди́ = where to (motion toward), звідки = where from (motion away). English uses "where" for all three and tacks on "to / from"; Ukrainian has a dedicated word for each.
| Ukrainian | English | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Де…? | Where…? (location) | at rest |
| Куди́…? | Where to…? | motion toward |
| Звідки…? | Where from…? | motion away / origin |
| Де туале́т? | Where's the toilet? | (the survival classic) |
Перепро́шую, де тут найбли́жча апте́ка?
Excuse me, where's the nearest pharmacy around here? (Де + location; найбли́жча 'nearest'.)
Куди́ ти йдеш так пі́зно?
Where are you going so late? (Куди́ — motion toward, not Де; you're asking the destination.)
"What time is it?" — Котра́ годи́на?
The fixed frame is Котра́ годи́на? — literally "which hour?" Here котра́ is a feminine ordinal-style word agreeing with годи́на ("hour," feminine). The answer also uses a feminine ordinal: Дру́га ("two o'clock," lit. "the second [hour]"). To ask "at what time?" you switch to О котрі́й (годи́ні)?
| Ukrainian | English |
|---|---|
| Котра́ годи́на? | What time is it? |
| О котрі́й (годи́ні)? | At what time? |
| Котра́ годи́на? — Дру́га. | What time is it? — Two o'clock. |
| О котрі́й ти бу́деш? | What time will you be (there)? |
Перепро́шую, не підка́жете, котра́ годи́на?
Excuse me, could you tell me what time it is? (Котра́ годи́на — the fixed frame; котра́ agrees with feminine годи́на.)
О котрі́й відкрива́ється магази́н?
What time does the shop open? (О котрі́й — 'at what time'; the answer is О во́сьмій 'at eight'.)
The full clock system — telling the time, halves, and "to/past" — is on telling time.
"How much does it cost?" — Скі́льки це кошту́є?
The shopping survival question. Скі́льки is "how much / how many," and кошту́є is the verb "costs" (from кошту́вати). For a simple price you point and ask Скі́льки це кошту́є?
| Ukrainian | English |
|---|---|
| Скі́льки це кошту́є? | How much does this cost? |
| Скі́льки з ме́не? | How much do I owe? (at the till) |
| Скі́льки тут люде́й? | How many people are here? |
Скі́льки це кошту́є? — Сто гри́вень.
How much is this? — A hundred hryvnias. (Скі́льки це кошту́є — the standard price question.)
Скі́льки з ме́не за все ра́зом?
How much do I owe for everything together? (Скі́льки з ме́не — the casual 'what's the total?' at the counter.)
"How are you?" — Як спра́ви?
The everyday greeting-question. Як спра́ви? literally means "how [are your] affairs?" — спра́ви is "affairs / matters" (plural). The polite/formal variant adds the addressee in the dative: Як у вас спра́ви? or Як ва́ші спра́ви?
| Ukrainian | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Як спра́ви? | How are you? / How's it going? | neutral-informal |
| Як ва́ші спра́ви? | How are you? (more formal) | (formal) |
| Як ти? | How are you doing? | (informal) |
| Як життя́? | How's life? | (informal) |
Приві́т! Як спра́ви, давно́ не ба́чилися.
Hi! How are you, long time no see. (Як спра́ви — the everyday check-in; reply Дя́кую, до́бре.)
До́брий день, Окса́но! Як ва́ші спра́ви?
Good afternoon, Oksana! How are you? (Як ва́ші спра́ви — the more formal/ви-respectful version.)
"What's your name?" — Як вас зва́ти?
Ukrainian asks names with a verb, not a noun phrase. Як вас зва́ти? is literally "how [do they] call you?" — вас is the accusative of ви ("you"), and зва́ти is "to call." The informal version is Як тебе́ зва́ти? (тебе́ = accusative of ти). The reply is Мене́ зва́ти… or Мене́ звуть… + your name.
| Ukrainian | English | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Як вас зва́ти? | What's your name? | (formal / ви) |
| Як тебе́ зва́ти? | What's your name? | (informal / ти) |
| Мене́ зва́ти Анна. | My name is Anna. | the reply |
| Як ва́ше ім’я́? | What is your (first) name? | slightly more formal |
Ду́же приє́мно! Як вас зва́ти?
Very nice to meet you! What's your name? (вас = accusative of ви; зва́ти 'to call'.)
Як тебе́ зва́ти? — Мене́ зва́ти Дми́тро.
What's your name? — My name's Dmytro. (тебе́/мене́ — accusative pronouns; the whole exchange runs on зва́ти.)
Introductions in full — exchanging names, "pleased to meet you," and titles — are on introductions.
"Where are you from?" / "What does … mean?" / "May I…?"
Three more survival frames worth memorizing whole.
Звідки ви? "Where are you from?" — звідки is "from where," and once again the verb "to be" is dropped (just Звідки ви?, no "are"). Що означа́є…? "What does … mean?" — your lifeline for any word you don't know, with the unknown word in the nominative after it. Мо́жна…? "May I / is it allowed…?" — an impersonal modal, followed by an infinitive (Мо́жна зайти́? "May I come in?") or a noun in the accusative (Мо́жна ме́ню? "Could I have the menu?").
| Ukrainian | English |
|---|---|
| Звідки ви? | Where are you from? |
| Що означа́є це сло́во? | What does this word mean? |
| Як це сказа́ти украї́нською? | How do you say this in Ukrainian? |
| Мо́жна зайти́? | May I come in? |
| Мо́жете повтори́ти? | Could you repeat that? |
Зві́дки ви? — Я з Льво́ва, а ви?
Where are you from? — I'm from Lviv, and you? (Зві́дки ви — no verb; reply with з + genitive: з Льво́ва.)
Перепро́шую, що означа́є сло́во «вело́сипед»?
Excuse me, what does the word 'velosyped' mean? (Що означа́є — your go-to for any unknown word.)
Мо́жна зайти́? — Так, прошу́, захо́дьте.
May I come in? — Yes, please, come in. (Мо́жна + infinitive зайти́; the reply прошу́ here means 'please, go ahead'.)
No inversion: questions ride on intonation
The big structural gift: Ukrainian forms yes/no questions with intonation alone. There is no "do you…?" auxiliary and no word-order flip. The statement Ти гото́вий ("You're ready") becomes the question Ти гото́вий? simply by raising your voice at the end. In writing, the question mark does the work.
| Statement | Question (same words!) |
|---|---|
| Ти гото́вий. | Ти гото́вий? ("Are you ready?") |
| Він удо́ма. | Він удо́ма? ("Is he home?") |
| Це безкошто́вно. | Це безкошто́вно? ("Is this free?") |
Ти гото́вий? Тоді́ ході́мо.
Are you ready? Then let's go. (Identical to the statement Ти гото́вий — only the rising intonation and the question mark mark it as a question.)
Це мі́сце ві́льне?
Is this seat free? (No inversion, no auxiliary — the statement said with a question intonation. The everyday way to ask before sitting down.)
Source-language comparison
For an English speaker, the freedoms and traps balance out. The freedom: no "do"-support and no inversion — "Are you ready?" is just Ти гото́вий? with a rising tone. The traps: "where" splits into де / куди́ / звідки (location / to / from); "what's your name?" is a verb construction with an accusative pronoun (Як вас зва́ти?, not a possessive); and several frames drop "to be" entirely (Хто це?, Звідки ви?). Memorize the frames whole and the grammar will click into place when you study the cases.
For a Russian speaker, the frames are close but lexically distinct: use Як спра́ви? (not как дела), Як вас зва́ти? / Як вас звуть?, Звідки ви?, Котра́ годи́на?, Скі́льки кошту́є?, and Що означа́є…? Keep the optional question particle чи (rather than ли) and the Ukrainian куди́ / звідки for directional "where."
Common Mistakes
❌ Куди́ ти? (asked while pointing at someone standing still, meaning 'where are you?')
Incorrect for location — куди́ is 'where to'. For 'where are you?' use Де ти?
✅ Де ти? Я тебе́ не ба́чу.
Where are you? I can't see you. — де for static location, куди́ for motion.
❌ Що твоє́ ім’я́? (calque of English 'what is your name?')
Un-idiomatic — Ukrainian asks names with the verb зва́ти: Як тебе́ зва́ти?
✅ Як тебе́ зва́ти?
What's your name? — the verb construction with accusative тебе́.
❌ Робиш ти це? (inverting word order to make a question, English-style)
Unnatural — Ukrainian doesn't invert. Keep statement order and raise the intonation: Ти це робиш?
✅ Ти це робиш?
Are you doing this? — statement order + question intonation; no inversion.
❌ Скі́льки це кошту́ється? (adding a reflexive -ся to the verb)
Incorrect — the verb is plain кошту́є, not reflexive: Скі́льки це кошту́є?
✅ Скі́льки це кошту́є?
How much does this cost? — кошту́є, no -ся.
Key Takeaways
- Що це? / Хто це? point at things and people — both drop the verb "to be."
- "Where" splits three ways: Де (at), Куди́ (to), Звідки (from).
- Котра́ годи́на? asks the time (feminine ordinal + годи́на); О котрі́й? asks "at what time?"
- Скі́льки це кошту́є? asks the price; Як вас / тебе́ зва́ти? asks the name (accusative pronoun + зва́ти).
- Звідки ви?, Що означа́є…?, and Мо́жна…? round out the survival kit.
- Yes/no questions need no inversion and no auxiliary — just statement order with rising intonation (optionally front чи).
Now practice Ukrainian
Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.
Start learning Ukrainian→Related Topics
- Wh-Questions (Хто, Що, Де, Коли, Чому, Як)A1 — Ukrainian wh-questions put the question word FIRST and keep the rest in statement order — no do-support, no inversion: Де ти живе́ш? 'where do you live?', Що ти ро́биш? 'what are you doing?', Чому́ ти пла́чеш? 'why are you crying?'. Pronominal question words DECLINE for their role in the clause, so the case is a grammatical signal English lacks: Кому́ ти телефону́єш? 'who(m) are you calling?' (dative, because телефонува́ти governs dative), З ким ти був? 'who were you with?' (instrumental). Prepositions front with the question word (Зві́дки?, Про що?, З ким?), and the intonation falls rather than rises.
- The Question Particle ЧиA2 — Чи is a triple-duty word. (1) It optionally fronts a YES/NO question for clarity or formality (Чи ти гото́вий? 'are you ready?') — a cleaner alternative to intonation-only questions. (2) It means 'or' in alternative questions and lists (Чай чи ка́ва? 'tea or coffee?', Ти пі́деш чи ні? 'will you go or not?'). (3) It renders 'whether/if' in INDIRECT questions (Не зна́ю, чи він при́йде 'I don't know whether he'll come') — and crucially this is чи, NOT якщо́. The English 'do you…?' question-formation, 'or', and 'whether' all map onto чи.
- Telling the TimeA2 — Ukrainian clock-telling runs on feminine ordinals (because годи́на 'hour' is feminine): the hour is пе́рша/дру́га годи́на, 'at' an hour is о + locative (о п’я́тій), 'half past' counts TOWARD the next hour (пів на тре́тю = 2:30), 'quarter/minutes past' use на + accusative of the coming hour, and 'to' the hour uses за + nominative — a system built on ordinals and prepositions, not the cardinal clock of English.
- Introductions and Getting AcquaintedA1 — Introducing yourself and others in Ukrainian. 'My name is': Мене́ зва́ти / Мене́ звуть Іва́н (accusative мене́ + the verb 'to call'), or Моє́ ім’я́ — Іва́н. Asking: Як вас / тебе́ зва́ти?, Як ва́ше ім’я́?. 'Nice to meet you': Ду́же приє́мно! / Приє́мно познайо́митися!. 'This is…': Це мій друг Оле́г; Знайо́мтеся, це… 'meet…'; Дозво́льте відрекомендува́тися. Origin: Я з Украї́ни (з + genitive), Я живу́ в Ки́єві. Profession: Я працю́ю вчи́телем (INSTRUMENTAL!) or Я студе́нт. The insight English speakers miss: 'my name is' is Мене́ зва́ти/звуть… — literally 'me they-call…', with мене́ in the ACCUSATIVE and no possessive; origin uses з + genitive (Я з Кана́ди), and profession uses the INSTRUMENTAL with працюва́ти (працю́ю лі́карем) or a bare nominative (Я лі́кар).
- Yes, No, and Short AnswersA1 — How Ukrainian answers questions. так 'yes' and ні 'no', but above all the ECHO-ANSWER — repeating the verb instead of so (Прийшо́в? — Прийшо́в 'Did he come? — He did', Бу́деш ка́ву? — Бу́ду 'Will you have coffee? — I will'). The negative answer Ні, не…, the soft contradiction Та ні 'well, no', and the quick agreers Зви́чайно / Аякже́ / Можли́во / Не зна́ю / ага́, угу́. The trap English speakers must rewire: answering a NEGATIVE question keys to the FACT, not the question's polarity — Ти не вто́мився? — Ні confirms 'no, I'm not tired', the opposite of how English 'no' can land. So short answers lean on the echoed verb plus the так/ні system.
- Asking for and Giving DirectionsA2 — How to ask the way and follow it in Ukrainian. Ask with Як пройти́ до…? 'how do I get to…?' (до + genitive), Де знахо́диться…? 'where is…?', Це дале́ко? 'is it far?', Ви́бачте, скажі́ть, будь ла́ска… 'excuse me, please tell me…'. Direct with the -о adverbs пря́мо 'straight', право́руч/напра́во 'right', ліво́руч/налі́во 'left', наза́д 'back', and prepositional phrases на ро́зі 'on the corner', навпро́ти 'opposite', біля 'near', че́рез доро́гу 'across the street' (че́рез + accusative). 'Turn right' is the imperative поверні́ть/зверні́ть право́руч. The insight English speakers miss: 'how to get to X' is Як пройти́ до + GENITIVE, and the case-governed prepositions (до + gen, че́рез + acc, на + loc) carry the spatial meaning, not the verb.