Нічия краща, ніж поразка.

A draw is better than a defeat.

Breakdown of Нічия краща, ніж поразка.

• кращий: better
• ніж: than
• поразка: the defeat; loss in a contest
• нічия: the draw; tied result

Questions & Answers about Нічия краща, ніж поразка.

Why is it краща and not краще?

Because краща has to agree with нічия, which is a feminine singular noun.

• нічия = feminine singular
• so the comparative adjective also becomes feminine singular: краща

Compare:

• поразка краща — feminine
• результат кращий — masculine
• місце краще — neuter

For English speakers, this is different because better never changes in English, but in Ukrainian it does.

Also, краще is very often used as an adverb or in neuter/impersonal structures:

• Вона грає краще. = She plays better.
• Так краще. = That’s better.

But here better describes the noun нічия, so краща is the right form.

Why is there no word for is in the sentence?

In Ukrainian, the verb to be in the present tense is usually left out.

So:

• Нічия краща, ніж поразка.

literally looks like:

• Draw better than defeat.

But it naturally means:

• A draw is better than a defeat.

This is completely normal Ukrainian grammar. English needs is here, but Ukrainian usually does not.