Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| божеві́льний | boževílʹnyj |
| безу́мний | bezúmnyj |
| шале́ний | šalényj |
All three forms are used to describe states of madness or intense behavior, but they vary in nuance depending on whether you are describing a clinical condition, a lack of reason or an intense energy.
What does it mean word for word?
The word божеві́льний is etymologically related to the word for 'god' (бог), implying a state of being driven by a divine madness or being god-driven.
Which one should you use?
божеві́льний often refers to clinical insanity. In contrast, безу́мний is more frequently used to describe actions or ideas that are senseless, irrational or lacking reason. шале́ний is used in a more hyperbolic or figurative sense to mean 'wild', 'frantic' or 'extremely intense', such as describing a crazy pace or high energy.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective божеві́льний changes based on gender and number: the feminine form is божеві́льна and the plural form is божеві́льні.
How do you pronounce it?
boževílʹnyj
Did you know?
- To describe someone as 'driving me crazy', Ukrainians often use the verb зводити meaning 'to lead' or 'to bring', as in зводити з розуму.
- While божеві́льний can describe a clinical state, it is often used in the phrase божеві́льно кохати to describe a love so intense it feels like madness.
- The word безу́мний can be used as a high compliment in art or music to describe a 'crazy' or breathtakingly brilliant performance.
Examples in context
- Він насправді втрачає голову, коли йде на концерти своїх улюблених груп!He really loses his head when he goes to concerts of his favorite bands!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
