алфа́віт
alfávitmasculine, rare
The Ukrainian word for alphabet is алфа́віт (alfávit). Wiktionary also lists абе́тка (abétka) and алфаві́т (alfavít).
Meaning: an ordered set of letters used in a language (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| алфа́віт | alfávit | masculine, rare |
| абе́тка | abétka | feminine |
| алфаві́т | alfavít | masculine |
| а́збука | ázbuka | feminine |
| альфабе́т | alʹfabét | masculine |
This term refers to an ordered set of letters used in a language.
Which one should you use?
While алфаві́т is the standard linguistic term, а́збука is a common, slightly more traditional or colloquial way to refer to the alphabet, especially when talking to children. In contrast, абе́тка is often used to refer specifically to a child's primer or the very basic learning of letters rather than the abstract concept of a linguistic alphabet.
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms include the masculine алфаві́т, альфабе́т and the rare алфа́віт, as well as the feminine абе́тка and а́збука.
How do you pronounce it?
alfávit
Did you know?
- The word а́збука is formed from the names of the first two letters of the old Cyrillic alphabet, аз and буки.
- Unlike English, the Ukrainian алфа́віт is based on a system where most letters have a consistent one-to-one relationship between spelling and sound.
- The word а́збука shares a common ancestor with the English word 'alphabet', as both are derived from the first two letters of their respective ancient scripts.
Examples in context
- Я вчуся читати український алфавітI'm learning to read the Ukrainian alphabet.
- Цей алфа́віт дуже складний.Tsey alfavit duzhe skladnyi.This alphabet is very difficult.
- Він вивчив весь алфа́віт.Vin vyvchiv ves' alfavit.He learned the whole alphabet.
- У кожній мові є свій алфа́віт.U kozhniy movi ye sviy alfavit.Every language has its own alphabet.
Example conversation
Iryna and Oleksandr are discussing a linguistics book.
- Ірина IrynaОлександре, ти бачив цей новий алфа́віт?Oleksandre, ty bachyv tsey novyi alfavit?Oleksandr, have you seen this new alphabet?
- Олександр OleksandrНі, він виглядає дивно.Ni, vin vyhlyadaye dyvno.No, it looks strange.
- Ірина IrynaЯ намагаюся його зрозуміти.Ya namahayus' yoho zrozumity.I am trying to understand it.
- Олександр OleksandrТобі знадобиться багато часу.Tobі znadobyt'sya bahato chasu.You will need a lot of time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alphabet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
