Я не йду спати, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.

Literally, йду спати is I am going to sleep.

In Ukrainian, йти + infinitive often means go to do something. So:

• йду = I am going
• спати = to sleep

Together, йти спати is a very common expression meaning to go to bed / to go to sleep.

Не йду спати sounds like I’m not going to bed now / I’m not going to bed yet. It presents the situation as a current decision or present refusal.

By contrast:

• не йду спати = I’m not going to bed
• не піду спати = I won’t go to bed

So не піду is more clearly future, while не йду feels more immediate and tied to the current moment. In this sentence, the speaker is talking about what they are doing right now: they are staying up until the task is finished.

This is one of the most common learner questions.

In Ukrainian, поки не often means until. So:

• поки не приберу = until I clean up

That не is normal and required in this pattern. It does not create a double negative in the English sense.

A useful contrast:

• поки не приберу = until I clean up
• поки прибираю = while I’m cleaning up

So the не helps signal an endpoint: the speaker will not go to sleep up to the moment when the cleanup is completed.

Because приберу is from a perfective verb: прибрати.

In Ukrainian, perfective verbs do not have a true present tense. Forms that look like present actually express future completed action.

So:

• прибрати = perfective, to clean up / remove completely
• приберу = I will clean up

The sentence focuses on finishing the action, not on the process. That is why perfective приберу is used.

Because they express two different kinds of action.

• йду is imperfective/present: it describes the current situation — I’m not going to bed
• приберу is perfective/future: it describes a single completed result — until I clean up

This combination is very natural:

• ongoing present situation in the main clause
• completed future action in the until clause

So the meaning is basically: My going to bed is being delayed until the cleanup is finished.

Сміття is the direct object of приберу, so it is in the accusative case.

However, сміття is a neuter inanimate noun, and in this case its accusative form looks the same as the nominative form. So you see no visible change.

That is why:

• сміття = nominative
• сміття = accusative as well

This is very common with inanimate neuter nouns.

The preposition з / із / зі means from / off and requires the genitive case.

So:

• стіл = table (dictionary form, nominative)
• столу = of the table / from the table (genitive)

That is why зі столу means from the table or more naturally here off the table.

This is for pronunciation and sound flow.

Ukrainian often alternates between з, із, and зі to avoid awkward consonant clusters. Before ст-, speakers often prefer зі because it is easier to say:

• зі столу sounds smoother than з столу

So this is mainly about euphony — choosing the form that sounds better in context.

Yes. Ukrainian often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person.

So both are possible:

• Я не йду спати, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.
• Не йду спати, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.

Including я can add a little emphasis, contrast, or clarity, but it is not required.

Because поки не приберу сміття зі столу is a subordinate clause.

In Ukrainian, subordinate clauses are normally separated by a comma, so the comma here is standard and expected:

• Я не йду спати, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.

Even when English punctuation may be more flexible, Ukrainian generally requires the comma in this structure.

Yes. Ukrainian word order is fairly flexible, and changing it usually changes emphasis rather than the core meaning.

For example:

• Я не йду спати, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.
  Neutral order.

• Поки не приберу сміття зі столу, я не йду спати.
  Stronger emphasis on the condition first.

• Спати не йду, поки не приберу сміття зі столу.
  Stronger emphasis on not going to sleep.

The original sentence is a natural, neutral way to say it.

Grammatically, сміття is usually treated as a singular mass noun, much like English trash or garbage.

So even though it may refer to many little things, Ukrainian treats it as one uncountable substance or collection:

• сміття = trash / garbage
• not normally a regular countable plural in everyday use

That is why the sentence uses a singular-style noun form.