мене́ зва́ти …
mené zváty …
The phrase "my name is" in Ukrainian is мене́ зва́ти … (mené zváty …)
This phrase is used to identify yourself. It relies on the verb звати, which means "to be called" or "to have a name".
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is constructed using the accusative case for the pronoun мене́ (me) followed by the infinitive зва́ти (to call).
How do you pronounce it?
mené zváty …
Did you know?
- In Ukrainian culture, using a person's full name including their patronymic (the father's name) is essential for respect. Simply stating your first name using мене́ зва́ти can seem overly casual in professional environments.
- When introducing yourself, Ukrainians often use a handshake accompanied by the phrase дуже приє́мно, which means 'very pleasant'. This is the standard social ritual that immediately follows stating your name.
- While мене́ зва́ти is correct, Ukrainians more commonly say мене́ зву́ть, which changes the verb from an infinitive to a third person plural form. This implies a collective 'they call me' rather than 'my name is'.
Examples in context
- Мене звати Олександр.My name is Oleksandr.
- Мене звуть Марко.My name is Marko.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
