лови́ти
lovýtyimperfective
The Ukrainian phrase for 'to catch' is лови́ти (lovýty). Wiktionary also lists пійма́ти (pijmáty) and злови́ти (zlovýty).
Meaning: to capture or snare (verb)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| лови́ти | lovýty | imperfective |
| пійма́ти | pijmáty | perfective |
| злови́ти | zlovýty | perfective |
The verb is used to describe the act of capturing or snaring someone or something.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the forms depends on whether you are describing an ongoing process or a completed event. лови́ти is the imperfective form used for the ongoing process of catching or repeated attempts to catch. пійма́ти is the perfective form used for the completed action of catching something or someone. злови́ти is a perfective form often used when the catching involves a sense of successfully capturing or snatching something, sometimes used with a nuance of 'catching' a thief or a specific prey.
How do you pronounce it?
lovýty
Did you know?
- When talking about catching a bus or a train, Ukrainians often use the verb пійма́ти, which sounds like you are physically snatching the vehicle from the road.
- You might use злови́ти to describe catching a fleeting thought or a sudden inspiration, treating the idea like a small animal in flight.
- The word ло́вець means a 'catcher' or a 'hunter', and it is the root for many names of characters in traditional Ukrainian folklore stories.
Examples in context
- Василь зловив красивий м'яч на футбольному полі.Vasil caught a beautiful ball on the football field.
- Я люблю ловити рибу з друзями у річці.I love to catch fish with friends in the river.
- Діти скопилися навколо мами, щоб схопитися за її руки.The children gathered around their mother to catch hold of her hands.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “catch” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
