Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| тому́ що | tomú ščo | |
| бо | bo | [bɔ] (narrow) |
| тому́ | tomú | |
| та́к як | ták jak | |
| оскі́льки | oskílʹky | |
| а́дже | ádže | |
| внаслі́док | vnaslídok | |
| унаслі́док | unaslídok |
All these terms are used to express the reason or cause for something. While most function as conjunctions connecting clauses, внаслі́док and унаслі́док act more like prepositions meaning 'as a result of' and are typically followed by a noun phrase rather than a full clause.
Which one should you use?
The short form бо is very common in spoken language and informal writing. In contrast, тому́ що is more neutral or formal. Оскі́льки is a formal way to say 'because' or 'since', often used in written or official contexts. А́дже is a colloquial form used to introduce a reason that the speaker assumes is obvious or already known to the listener, similar to 'since' or 'after all'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard written Ukrainian, you should generally avoid starting a sentence with тому́ що. Instead, use it within a single sentence to connect a result to its reason.
How do you pronounce it?
tomú ščo
Did you know?
- The word як in та́к як may have an ancient and unlikely connection to the Tibetan word གཡག.
- While English uses 'because' as a single word, Ukrainian often uses the two-word construction тому́ що, which literally translates to 'that reason that'.
- In Ukrainian, the use of а́дже implies a shared reality, acting as a linguistic nudge to remind the listener of a fact they already know.
Examples in context
- Ми тут, бо ми бідні.We're here because we're poor.This sentence shows how to use бо to explain a reason for a location.Tatoeba #5824129 by deniko, translation #5731830 by CM
- Я роблю це, бо хочу.I do it because I want to.This sentence demonstrates using бо to express personal motivation.Tatoeba #6775170 by deniko, translation #388616 by kurisutofu
- Я пішов туди, бо хотів.I went there because I wanted to.This sentence illustrates the use of бо when describing a past intention.Tatoeba #541240 by deniko, translation #257411 by CK
- Я заспівав на концерті, оскільки люблю музику.I sang at the concert because I love music.
- Я прочитав цю книгу, тому що мені цікава історія.I read this book because I find the story interesting.
- Ми перемогли завдяки вашій підтримці.We won because of your support.
- Зупинився дома, бо почуваюся трохи погано.I stayed home because I'm feeling a bit unwell.
- 111 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “because” translations and entries бо, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries бо, що, як, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
