У магазині дев’ять вікон.

the store

Breakdown of У магазині дев’ять вікон.

• у: in
• вікно: the window
• дев’ять: nine

Questions & Answers about У магазині дев’ять вікон.

Why is it магазині and not магазин?

Because after у meaning in, Ukrainian uses the locative case for the noun.

So:

• магазин = store dictionary form
• у магазині = in the store

This is a very common pattern:

• у місті = in the city
• у будинку = in the building
• у магазині = in the store

Why does the sentence use у? Could it also be в?

Yes. У and в often both mean in.

The choice is usually made for ease of pronunciation and rhythm. Ukrainian often alternates у and в to avoid awkward sound combinations.

So both of these can be natural:

• У магазині дев’ять вікон
• В магазині дев’ять вікон

The version with у is completely normal here.

Shouldn’t there be a word for are, like є?