у мене є
u mene ye
To say "I have" in Ukrainian, use у мене є (u mene ye).
The phrase у мене є is used to state that you possess or own something.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "at me is".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the preposition у (at/in) and the genitive form of the pronoun я (I), which is мене. For example, to say "she has", you would use the genitive form неї to say у неї є.
How do you pronounce it?
u mene ye
What mistakes should you avoid?
While я маю is grammatically correct, English speakers often over-rely on it. у мене є is much more common in natural, everyday Ukrainian speech for general possession.
Did you know?
- The word є, used to say 'is' or 'exists' in this phrase, only appeared in written Ukrainian as recently as 1837 in the almanach Русалка Днѣстровая.
- While у мене є describes possession, Ukrainian speakers often omit the є entirely in casual speech, simply saying у мене to mean 'I have'.
- To say 'I don't have', Ukrainians replace є with немає, changing the phrase to у мене немає.
Examples in context
- У мене є син.I have a son.This sentence is useful for stating a familial relationship with the form у мене є.Tatoeba #2694745 by deniko, translation #2358822 by CK
- У мене є їжа.I have food.This sentence is useful for stating the possession of food with the form у мене є.Tatoeba #5953929 by deniko, translation #2245884 by CK
- У мене є час.I have time.This sentence is useful for stating the possession of time with the form у мене є.Tatoeba #5953931 by deniko, translation #2245901 by CK
- У мене є автомобіль.I have a car.
- У мене є робота.I have a job.
- У мене новий телефон.I have a new phone.
- У мене кіт.I have a cat.
- У мене нова книга.I have a new book.
- У мене є дочка.I have a daughter.
- У мене є книги.I have books.
- У мене є друзі.I have friends.
- 299 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andriy and Iryna are discussing plans for the weekend at home.
- Ірина IrynaУ тебе є ідеї на вихідні?U tebe ye ideyi na vykhidni?Do you have any ideas for the weekend?
- Андрій AndriiУ мене є план на завтра.U mene ye plan na zavtra.I have a plan for tomorrow.
- Ірина IrynaЦе звучить цікаво!Tse zvuchyt tsikavo!That sounds interesting!
- Андрій AndriiТобі сподобається, Ірино.Tobі spodobayet'sya, Iryno.You will like it, Iryna.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries у, є, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
