їсти
yisty
The Ukrainian verb for "eat" is їсти (yisty).
The verb is used to describe the act of eating a meal. It is an imperfective verb, meaning it focuses on the process of eating or a habitual action rather than a single, completed event.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
Which one should you use?
While їсти describes the ongoing process or habit of eating, the perfective form поїсти is used when you want to refer to completing a meal or eating for a specific duration.
How does it change in a sentence?
їсти is the infinitive form of the verb and is used after modal verbs or to express the general concept of eating. When conjugating in the present tense, the first person singular form ("I eat") is їм and the third person plural form ("they eat") is їдять.
How do you pronounce it?
yisty
Did you know?
- While їсти is for food, Ukrainians use a different verb пити for liquids. However, certain 'liquid' meals like soup are categorized as things you їсти because they are eaten with a spoon.
- The Ukrainian verb їсти shares the same ancient root as the English word 'eat' and the Greek 'edein', all descending from a single Proto-Indo-European ancestor.
- The letter ї used in їсти is unique because it represents two sounds at once: a 'y' sound followed by an 'i' sound.
Examples in context
- Я не хочу їсти.I don't want to eat.This sentence shows how to express a lack of desire to use the verb їсти.Tatoeba #3212111 by aandrusiak, translation #3825001 by CK
- Я не можу їсти.I can't eat.This sentence demonstrates using the verb їсти to express inability.Tatoeba #5948824 by deniko, translation #1951551 by CK
- Ще не час їсти.It's not time to eat yet.This sentence shows the use of їсти when discussing the timing of a meal.Tatoeba #6150285 by deniko, translation #2645044 by CK
- Будь ласка, дозвольте, я хочу їсти.Please allow me, I want to eat.
- 414 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is at home deciding what to do for lunch.
- Наталія NataliiaТи вже хочеш їсти?Ty vzhe khochesh yisty?Do you want to eat already?
- Дмитро DmytroТак, я дуже голодний.Tak, ya duzhe holodnyi.Yes, I am very hungry.
- Наталія NataliiaТоді йдемо їсти суп.Todi idemo yisty sup.Then let's go eat some soup.
- Дмитро DmytroЧудова ідея, Наталіє.Chudova idea, Nataliye.Great idea, Nataliya.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries їсти, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
