Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| стари́й | starýj |
| лі́тній | lítnij |
| у літа́х | u litáx |
| немолоди́й | nemolodýj |
| підста́ркуватий | pidstárkuvatyj |
This phrase is used to describe a living being that has lived for relatively many years.
What does it mean word for word?
The euphemistic term немолоди́й is composed of the prefix не- (not) and the adjective молоди́й (young), literally meaning "not young".
Which one should you use?
стари́й is the most common and direct way to say "old" when referring to people or living beings. лі́тній functions as a more polite term meaning "elderly" or "aged". немолоди́й serves as a euphemism to avoid the bluntness of calling someone "old" by stating they are "not young".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite and respectful way to refer to an older person, use лі́тній. To be more formal and respectful when referring to elderly people, you can use the phrase Похилого віку (of advanced age). In informal, affectionate contexts, you may use Старичок for an elderly man or Старушка for an elderly woman.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a female person, the masculine стари́й changes to the feminine form стара́. When describing a neuter noun, the masculine стари́й changes to the neuter form старе́.
How do you pronounce it?
starýj
Did you know?
- The word стара́ can be used as a colloquial, sometimes affectionate term for a wife or a long-term female partner, regardless of her actual age.
- The adjective лі́тній is derived from the word літо, which means both 'year' and 'summer'.
- To describe someone as 'elderly' without using the word 'old', Ukrainians use похилого віку, which literally suggests an age that has 'tilted' or 'leaned' forward.
Examples in context
- старий чоловікOld man
- стара книгаOld book
- Мій дідусь уже дуже стари́й.Miy didus' uzhe duzhe staryy.My grandfather is already very old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “old” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
