Маленький чайник свистить.

The small kettle whistles.

Breakdown of Маленький чайник свистить.

• чайник: the kettle
• свистіти: to whistle
• маленький: small

Questions & Answers about Маленький чайник свистить.

What are the gender and case of the words here?

• Чайник is masculine, singular, nominative (it’s the subject).
• Маленький is an adjective in masculine, singular, nominative to agree with чайник.
• Свистить is 3rd person singular present (he/she/it whistles).

Why does the adjective end with -ий in маленький?

The -ий ending marks masculine singular nominative for adjectives. Other core forms:

• Feminine: маленька
• Neuter: маленьке
• Plural: маленькі

Why does the verb end in -ть: свистить (not “свистит”)?

In Ukrainian, many 3rd person singular present forms for -ити/-іти verbs end in -ть: він/вона/воно свистить, сидить, говорить. This differs from Russian spelling, which lacks the final -ть.

Does Ukrainian mark “the” vs “a”? How do I know if it’s “the small kettle” or “a small kettle”?

Ukrainian has no articles. Маленький чайник свистить can mean either “The small kettle is whistling” or “A small kettle is whistling.” Context decides. If needed, you can add context words (e.g., цей “this”).

Is the word order fixed? Can I say Свистить маленький чайник?

Default is SVO: Маленький чайник свистить. Ukrainian word order is flexible for emphasis:

• Свистить маленький чайник puts focus on the action.
• The adjective normally precedes the noun; placing it after is marked or poetic.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

• Stress: ма-ле-нький, ча́й-ник, свис-ти́ть.
• Rough guide: “ma-LEN-kyi CHAI-nyk svis-TYT.”
• Notes: й = English y; в is a soft v/w-like sound [ʋ]; final -ть softens the t.

Is чайник a kettle or a teapot?

Typically it means a kettle (for boiling water). A teapot (for brewing) is usually заварник or чайник для заварювання. An electric kettle is електрочайник.

Does свистить mean “whistles” or “is whistling”?

Both. Ukrainian has one present form that covers simple and progressive. Context or adverbs clarify:

• Зараз маленький чайник свистить = “The small kettle is whistling now.”

How would I make it plural: “Small kettles whistle”?

Маленькі чайники свистять.

• маленькі (plural adjective)
• чайники (plural noun)
• свистять (3rd person plural)

How do I negate it?

Place не before the verb: Маленький чайник не свистить. = “The small kettle is not whistling.”

How do I ask a yes–no question?

• Intonation only: Свистить маленький чайник?
• With the particle чи: Чи свистить маленький чайник?

What’s the past tense?

Agree the verb with the (grammatical) gender/number of the subject:

• Masculine: Маленький чайник свистів.
• Feminine: … свистіла.
• Neuter: … свистіло.
• Plural: … свистіли.

Could I use малий instead of маленький?

Yes, but nuance differs:

• маленький = “little/small,” common and slightly more colloquial/affectionate.
• малий = “small” (more neutral/bookish or contrastive). With objects, both are possible; маленький чайник is more idiomatic in everyday speech.

Is there a diminutive for чайник?

Yes: чайничок (“little kettle/teapot”). You can say Маленький чайничок свистить for extra smallness/cuteness. It’s still masculine and declines the same way.