Привіт
pryvitinformal
The everyday Ukrainian hello is Привіт (pryvit), said roughly "prih-VEET". For a polite daytime greeting use Добрий день (dobryi den). It is also called Вітаю (vitaiu).
Meaning: greeting (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Привіт | pryvit | informal |
| Вітаю | vitaiu | formal |
| Добрий день | dobryi den | formal, daytime |
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Привіт (pryvit) is for friends and people your age. Добрий день (dobryi den) and Вітаю (vitaiu) suit strangers, older people and formal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
In Привіт (pryvit) the stress falls on the last syllable. The letter и sounds like a short "i" as in "bit", і sounds like "ee" and г is a soft breathy "h". Добрий день (dobryi den) sounds like "DOH-bryi den".
When do people say it?
Ukrainians also greet by time of day with Доброго ранку (dobroho ranku) for the morning and Добрий вечір (dobryi vechir) for the evening.
Did you know?
- Names change in direct address in Ukrainian, so Олег becomes Олегу (Olehu) and Ірина becomes Ірино (Iryno) when you call to them.
Examples in context
- Привіт, як справи?Pryvit, yak spravy?Hi, how are things?
- Добрий день, пані Оксано.Dobryi den, pani Oksano.Good afternoon, Mrs. Oksana.
- Вітаю вас!Vitaiu vas!Greetings to you!
Example conversation
Oleh runs into his friend Iryna on a street in Lviv.
- OlehПривіт, Ірино!Pryvit, Iryno!Hi, Iryna!
- IrynaПривіт, Олегу! Як справи?Pryvit, Olehu! Yak spravy?Hi, Oleh! How are things?
- OlehДобре, дякую.Dobre, diakuiu.Good, thank you.
