ка́чка
káčkafeminine
The English word "duck" is translated into Ukrainian as ка́чка (káčka). Wiktionary also lists качур (kačur).
Meaning: aquatic bird of the family Anatidae (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ка́чка | káčka | feminine | |
| качур | kačur | [ˈkat͡ʃʊr] (narrow) | masculine |
The term refers to the aquatic bird of the family Anatidae.
Which one should you use?
While ка́чка is the general term for a duck, качур specifically refers to a male duck.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some western parts of Ukraine, particularly in Lviv and surrounding areas, the term качур is used to describe a duck.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
ка́чка is a feminine noun, whereas качур is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
káčka
Did you know?
- The word ка́чка shares a root with the word for 'shaking' or 'rocking' качати, evoking the way a duck wobbles when it walks on land.
- In Ukrainian mythology and old songs, the 'duck' is sometimes a symbol of the soul or a messenger between worlds, often appearing in more mystical linguistic forms than the standard качка.
- The word качина used in culinary contexts is not just a variation for 'duck meat', but represents a way to turn an animal noun into an adjective or a noun for the food itself.
Examples in context
- Я бачив качку в парку.I saw a duck in the park.
- У нашому ставку багато каченят.There are many ducklings in our pond.
- У ставку плаває ка́чка.U stavku plavaye kachka.A duck is swimming in the pond.
- Ця ка́чка дуже красива.Tsya kachka duzhe krasyva.This duck is very beautiful.
- Дивись, там маленька ка́чка!Dyvys, tam malenka kachka!Look, there is a little duck there!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duck” translations and entries качур, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
