Learn Hardcore Ukrainian: Після холодного ранку я бажаю зігрітися чашкою чаю. - After a cold morning, I wish to warm up with a cup of tea.

In Ukrainian, the preposition Після (“after”) governs the genitive case. Therefore, both the adjective холодного and the noun ранку appear in the genitive to indicate “after the cold morning.”

What is the function of the reflexive ending -ся in зігрітися?

The suffix -ся makes the verb reflexive, meaning that the subject performs the action on itself. In this context, зігрітися translates as “to warm oneself,” emphasizing that the speaker is taking action to warm up.

Why is чашкою used in the instrumental case, and what role does чаю play in the phrase чашкою чаю?

In Ukrainian, the instrumental case is used to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is performed. Чашкою is the instrumental form of чашка (“cup”), showing that the warming is done with a cup. Meanwhile, чаю is in the genitive case, which is commonly used after a measure word to denote the contents—thus, “a cup of tea.”

Is it common to place a time expression like Після холодного ранку at the beginning of a sentence?

Yes, it is quite common in Ukrainian to begin a sentence with a time or contextual phrase. Starting with Після холодного ранку sets the scene for the action that follows, and Ukrainian word order is flexible enough to allow this emphasis.

Why does the verb бажаю directly precede the infinitive зігрітися without any linking conjunction?

In Ukrainian, verbs that express desire or intention—like бажати (“to wish/desire”)—are typically followed directly by an infinitive form. This construction mirrors English patterns (e.g., “I wish to…”) and does not require an extra linking word.

What is the nuance between using зігрітися and a similar verb like нагрітися?

Both verbs can be understood as “to get warm,” but зігрітися often suggests a more gradual or self-initiated warming process and is idiomatic in contexts where one needs to warm up (for instance, with a cup of tea). While they are sometimes interchangeable, зігрітися fits naturally in this sentence to convey the desired nuance.