Learning Ukrainian Alphabet: Ukrainian ABC Translated to English with Pronunciation

The Ukrainian alphabet, known as the “Ukrainska abetka” (Українська абетка), is a unique and beautiful script that has evolved over centuries. Learning the Ukrainian alphabet is a gateway to understanding the rich culture, history, and language of Ukraine. In this guide, we will explore the Ukrainian ABC, providing a transliteration into English and pronunciation tips to help you embark on this linguistic journey.

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Ukrainian Alphabet with Pronunciation

The Ukrainian alphabet consists of 33 letters and is based on the Cyrillic script, which was introduced to the region by Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century. Each letter has its own distinct sound, and learning them is the first step to mastering the Ukrainian language.

Аа

[a]

Pronounced like the “a” in “car.”

Бб

[be]

Similar to the English “b.”

Вв

[ve]

Pronounced like the English “v.”

Гг

[he]

Similar to the English “h.”

Ґґ

[ge]

Similar to the English “g” in “go.”

Дд

[de]

Similar to the English “d.”

[e]

Pronounced like the “e” in “bed.”

Єє

[ye]

Similar to the “ye” in “yes.”

Жж

[zhe]

Pronounced like the “s” in “measure.”

Зз

[ze]

Similar to the English “z.”

Ии

[y]

Similar to the English “i” in “bit.”

Іі

[i]

Pronounced like the “i” in “machine.”

Її

[yi]

Similar to the sound “yie” in “yield.”

Йй

[yot]

Similar to the English “y” in “yes.”

Лл

[el]

Similar to the English “l.”

Мм

[em]

Similar to the English “m.”

Нн

[en]

Similar to the English “n.”

[o]

Pronounced like the “o” in “go.”

Пп

[pe]

Similar to the English “p.”

Рр

[er]

Similar to the English “r.”

Сс

[es]

Similar to the English “s.”

Тт

[te]

Similar to the English “t.”

Уу

[u]

Pronounced like the “oo” in “food.”

Фф

[f]

Similar to the English “f.”

Хх

[kha]

Similar to the sound “wh” in “who.”

Цц

[tse]

Similar to the English “ts.”

Чч

[che]

Pronounced like the “ch” in “chat.”

Шш

[sha]

Pronounced like the “sh” in “shoe.”

Щщ

[Shcha]

Pronounced like the “shch” in “fresh cheese.”

[Mjakyj znak]

Softens the preceding consonant.

Юю

[ju]

Similar to the sound when pronouncing “you“.

Яя

[ja]

Similar to the “ya” in “yard.”

How to prounce properly Ukrainian sounds?

Pronunciation Tips

Let’s take the most difficult letters to pronounce for English speakers and practice pronouncing them in words.

Гг

The Ukrainian letter “Гг” sounds like the “h” in “hello.”

Now, let’s practice. Listen and repeat:

Голова –

гарно –

газон –

[holova] –

[harno] –

[hazon] –

head

beautifuly

lawn

Голова – [holova] – head
гарно – [harno] – beautifuly
газон – [hazon] – lawn

The Ukrainian letter “Гг” sounds like the “h” in “hello.”

To pronounce it correctly, touch the back of your tongue to the soft part of your palate, let air pass through, and produce a sound like the “h” in English.

Єє

The Ukrainian letter “Єє” is pronounced as “ye” in English. This is similar to the “ye” sound in the word “yes.”

Try to pronounce:

Євро –

єпископ –

[yevro] –

[yepyskop] –

euro

bishop

Євро – [yevro] – euro єпископ – [yepyskop] – doorstep

Жж

To pronounce it correctly, position your tongue similarly to the “s” sound, but make it voiced by vibrating your vocal cords. It creates a sound that is a combination of “zh,” as in the English word “treasure.”

Repeat:

Жаба –

жарт –

жирафа –

[zhaba] –

[zhart] –

[zhirafa] –

frog

joke

giraffe

Жаба – [zhaba] – frog
жарт – [zhart] – joke
жирафа – [zhirafa] – giraffe

Її

The Ukrainian letter “Її” is pronounced as “yi” in English. To pronounce it correctly, start with the “y” sound and follow it with the “i“.

Together, they form the “yi” sound. It’s important to note that “Її” represents a single sound, and the combination of “y” and “i” captures its pronunciation.

Let’s practice:

Їжа –

їжак –

їхати –

[yizha] –

[yizhak] –

[yihaty] –

food

hedgehog

to go

Їжа – [yizha] – frog
їжак – [yizhak] – joke
їхати – [yihaty] – giraffe

Йй

Letter “Йй” is pronounced as “y” in English. This sound is similar to the English “y” in words like “yes” or “yellow.”

You’re probably thinking, why do you need that letter in the first place? I mean, it looks a lot like “ї”.

Yes, it is indeed similar in properties, but “ї” is a vowel letter and it is a combination of “й + i“.

Whereas just the letter “й” is a consonant letter, and it can combine with other vowels and soften them. But don’t be afraid of words with this letter in Ukrainian there are not so many.

Let’s try to pronounce some of them:

Йога –

йогурт –

[yoga] –

[yogurt] –

yoga

yogurt

Йога – [yoga] – yoga
йогурт – [yogurt] – yogurt

Хх

The Ukrainian letter “Х” is pronounced as “wh” in “who”. Remember, it represents a distinctive sound that is not quite like the English “h.”

Repeat:

Хліб –

хаос –

харизма –

[hlib] –

[haos] –

[harisma] –

bread

chaos

charisma

Хліб – [hlib] – bread
хаос – [haos] – chaos
харизма – [harisma] – charisma

Цц

The Ukrainian letter “Цц” is pronounced as “ts” in English. The sound is similar to the “ts” in the English word “cats” or “bits.”

Центр –

цирк –

цибуля –

[tsentr] –

[tsirk] –

[tsibulya] –

center

circus

onion

Хліб – [hlib] – bread
хаос – [haos] – chaos
харизма – [harisma] – charisma

Щщ

Letter “Щщ” is pronounced as “shch” in English. It represents a combination of the “sh” sound followed by the “ch“.

It’s a unique and somewhat challenging sound for English speakers, as it combines two sounds not typically found together in English.

Let’s try to pronounce:

Щасливий –

щось –

щедрий –

[shchasliviy] –

[shchos’] –

[shchedriy] –

happy

something

generous

Щасливий – [shchasliviy] – happy
щось – [shchos'] – something
щедрий – [shchedriy] – generous

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