Valentine’s in Ukrainian: Saying ‘I Love You’ the Ukrainian Way
Ever wondered how you express feelings in Ukrainian? With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’ve put together 10 ways to tell the Ukrainian in your life just how much they mean to you.
1. Я люблю тебе
English translation: I love you
The verb Любов can be used for all kinds of love: to your children, parents, country, job or even your favourite Ukrainian food!
Я тебе люблю! — /ya tebe lyublyu/ — I love you!
Я тебе дуже люблю! — /ya tebe duzhe lyublyu/ — I love you very much!
2. Я кохаю тебе
I love you (again!)
Love is so important to Ukrainians that we have two words for it! The verb Кохання is only used in the romantic sense.
Я тебе кохаю! — /ya tebe kohayu/ — I love you!
Я дуже тебе кохаю! — /ya duzhe tebe kohayu/ — I love you very much!
3. З Днем святого Валентина
Happy Valentine's Day
Thinking of writing a валентинка (Valentine’s card) to your loved one? You’ll need these phrases:
З Днем святого Валентина, коханий! — Happy Valentine’s Day, my love! (male form)
З Днем святого Валентина, кохана! — Happy Valentine’s Day, my love! (female form)
4. Ти така гарна
You are so beautiful
It wouldn’t be a Valentine-themed blog post without teaching you how to pay a compliment to your loved one:
Ти такий гарний — /ty takyi harnyi/ — you are so beautiful! (male form)
Ти така гарна — /ty taka harna/ — you are so beautiful! (male form)
5. Будеш моєю дівчиною?
Will you be my girlfriend?
If you are asking a boy out, you will need to use the following:
Будеш моєю дівчиною? — /budesh moyeyu divchynoyu/ — will you be my girlfriend?
Хочеш бути моєю дівчиною — /hochesh buty moyeyu divchynoyu/ — do you want to be my girlfriend?
If you are asking a boy out, you’ll need one of the following two questions:
Будеш моїм хлопцем? — /budesh moyim hloptsem/ — will you be my boyfriend?
Хочеш бути моїм хлопцем? — /hochesh buty moyim hloptsem/ — do you want to be my boyfriend?
Fun Fact: The Ukrainian words for girlfriend and boyfriend are actually the same as the words for girl (дівчина) and boy (хлопець).
6. Я сумую без тебе
I miss you
There are several different ways to tell someone you miss them:
Я сумую без тебе — /ya sumuyu bez tebe/ — I miss you (literally: I am sad without you)
Я сумую за тобою — /ya sumuyu za toboyu/ — I miss you
7. Я щасливий / щаслива з тобою
I am happy with you
In Ukrainian, щастя means happiness.
Я щасливий з тобою! — /ya shhaslyvyj z toboyu/ — I’m happy with you (male form of ‘to be happy’)
Я щаслива з тобою! — /ya shhaslyva z toboyu/ — I’m happy with you (female form of ‘to be happy’)
8. Обійми мене
Hug me
To ask someone to hug you, you say:
Обійми мене! — /obijmy mene/ — Hug me!
You may have heard this before from Ukrainian band Okean Elzy’s song “Hugs”.
9. Виходь за мене
Marry me
In Ukrainian, щастя means happiness.
Виходь за мене заміж! — /vyhod za mene zamizh/ — Please be my wife!
Ти будеш моїм чоловіком? — /ty budesh moyim cholovikom/ — Will you be my husband?
Давай одружимося! — /davai odruzhymosya/ — Let’s get married! (Universal)
You may have heard this before from Ukrainian band Okean Elzy’s song “Hugs”.
10. Terms of Endearment
Like any other language, Ukrainians use pet names for special people in their life.
Masculine
коханий | my love
любий — dear
милий | my love
Feminine
кохана | my love
люба | dear
мила | my love
Neutral
кохання | love
сонечко | little sun
серденько | sweetheart
З Днем святого Валентина! ❤️
