пога́ний
pohányj
The English word "bad" is translated into Ukrainian as пога́ний (pohányj). Wiktionary also lists ке́пський (képsʹkyj) and злий (zlyj).
Meaning: unfavorable, negative (adj)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| пога́ний | pohányj | |
| ке́пський | képsʹkyj | |
| злий | zlyj | [zɫɪi̯] (narrow) |
Ukrainian uses different words for "bad" depending on whether you are describing general quality, a person's malicious character or the intensity of how bad something is.
Which one should you use?
Use пога́ний for general badness, such as bad weather, bad quality or a bad person. Use ке́пський to emphasize that something is of a very poor or pathetic quality, meaning "terrible" or "awful". Use злий specifically when describing someone's intent or character as being mean, malicious or evil.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective пога́ний has the neuter singular nominative form пога́не. The adjective злий has the feminine singular nominative form зла.
How do you pronounce it?
pohányj
Did you know?
- The word пога́ний is rooted in a term relating to 'pagans', originally implying something 'unclean' or 'alien' to the faith before it became a general word for 'bad'.
- The word злий can describe someone who is 'evil' or 'malicious', but in everyday conversation, it is also the standard word used to say someone is 'angry'.
- Ukrainian uses пога́ний for 'bad' weather, but if the weather is 'cruel' or 'harsh', the word злий can be used metaphorically to give the wind or cold a personality.
Examples in context
- Вчора мені надали поганий сервіс в ресторані.Yesterday, I received bad service at the restaurant.
- У нас сьогодні була дуже погана погода.We had really bad weather today.
- Цей ресторан має жахливу репутацію у Львові.This restaurant has a terrible reputation in Lviv.
- Це був пога́ний день.Tse buv pohanyi den.It was a bad day.
- У мене пога́ний настрій сьогодні.U mene pohanyi nastriy siohodni.I am in a bad mood today.
Example conversation
Natalia and Oleksandr are talking about a movie they just watched.
- Наталія NataliiaТобі сподобався цей фільм?Tobi spodobavsia tsei film?Did you like this movie?
- Олександр OleksandrНі, це був пога́ний фільм.Ni, tse buv pohányi film.No, it was a bad movie.
- Наталія NataliiaЯ згодна, сюжет був нудним.Ya zhodna, siuzhet buv nudnym.I agree, the plot was boring.
- Олександр OleksandrМи більше не підемо на це.My bilshe ne pidoemo na tse.We won't go to this again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bad” translations and entries злий, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
