Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| краси́вий | krasývyj |
| вродли́вий | vrodlývyj |
| га́рний | hárnyj |
| хоро́ший | xoróšyj |
| фа́йний | fájnyj |
| кра́сний | krásnyj |
These terms are used to describe attractiveness, ranging from physical features and aesthetic beauty to general goodness or quality.
Which one should you use?
краси́вий is the most common, neutral way to say 'beautiful' or 'handsome' when referring to people, objects or scenery. вродли́вий is specifically used to describe a person's natural facial features or physical attractiveness. га́рний is often used for things that are aesthetically pleasing or 'pretty', such as a flower or a view. хоро́ший means 'good' in terms of quality or character. кра́сний is another form available in the language.
Is it said differently in some regions?
фа́йний is a colloquial term often used in Western Ukraine to mean 'fine', 'nice' or 'good'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe a feminine noun, the ending of краси́вий changes to –а (краси́ва). To describe a neuter noun, the ending changes to –е (краси́ве).
How do you pronounce it?
krasývyj
Did you know?
- The word кра́сний originally meant 'beautiful' or 'red' in Old East Slavic. In modern Ukrainian, it is still used in folk songs and poetry to describe something beautiful, such as a 'red maiden' (кра́сна дівчина) which actually means a 'beautiful maiden'.
- While краси́вий is the standard word for 'beautiful', using фа́йний to mean 'fine' or 'good' is a linguistic fingerprint of Western Ukraine. This term is heavily influenced by German, originating from the word 'fein'.
- The word вродли́вий comes from the root рода́ти, meaning 'to give birth'. It literally describes someone who was born with beauty.
Examples in context
- Цей музей має дуже красиву архітектуру.This museum has a very beautiful architecture.
- Ця вечірка має прекрасні декорації.This party has gorgeous decorations.
- Це місце є чудовим місцем для відпочинку.This place is a wonderful spot for relaxation.
- Та дівчина гарна!That girl is beautiful!
- Я думаю, що цей хлопець привабливий.I think this guy is attractive.
- Твої квіти вродливі.Your flowers are lovely.
- Це дуже краси́вий краєви́д.Tse duzhe krasyvyi kraievyd.This is a very beautiful view.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beautiful” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
