Ukrainian vocabulary is a tapestry woven from its own rich linguistic roots and threads borrowed from neighbouring languages. Russian and Polish, due to centuries of political, cultural, and social interaction, have left a lasting imprint. Some words slipped in during trade, others through literature, and many more via sheer geographical proximity.
The Russian Influence
Russian influence on Ukrainian is particularly strong due to the long periods of political dominance and shared history within the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. Many administrative, technical, and everyday terms entered Ukrainian from Russian, sometimes replacing older Ukrainian words.
Робота
[rɔˈbɔtɐ]“Work”
- Russian loanwords often relate to bureaucracy and technology: документ (document), телевізор (television).
- Some words retained their Russian pronunciation but acquired Ukrainian spelling, like квартира (apartment).
The Polish Footprint
Polish influence on Ukrainian dates back to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, when Ukrainian lands were under Polish rule. Many Polish words entered Ukrainian, particularly in areas like law, religion, and daily life.
Краватка
[krɐˈʋatkɐ]“Necktie”
- Polish contributed many terms related to nobility and administration: шляхта (nobility), уряд (government).
- Everyday words like цукор (sugar) and книжка (book) also trace back to Polish.
For more on Polish cultural influence, see our guide on Polish Easter traditions.
Words That Switched Allegiances
Some words have moved between all three languages, changing slightly each time. These 'wandering words' often trace back to Latin, German, or French before being adopted by Polish, then Russian, and finally Ukrainian.
| Ukrainian | Polish | Russian | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| вулиця | ulica | улица | Latin 'vicus' |
| квас | kwas | квас | Proto-Slavic |
Modern Dynamics
Today, Ukrainian faces new linguistic challenges. Russian words still enter through media and pop culture, while Polish influence continues via EU integration and labour migration. Meanwhile, there's a conscious effort to revive native Ukrainian terms or create new ones instead of borrowing.
For more on how languages evolve under external pressure, check out how Romanian influenced neighbouring languages.
