карто́пля
kartópljafeminine
The English word "potato" is translated into Ukrainian as карто́пля (kartóplja). Wiktionary also lists картопли́на (kartoplýna) and бу́льба (búlʹba).
Meaning: plant tuber eaten as starchy vegetable (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| карто́пля | kartóplja | feminine |
| картопли́на | kartoplýna | feminine |
| бу́льба | búlʹba | feminine |
| барабо́ля | barabólja | feminine |
The term refers to the starchy plant tuber used as a vegetable.
Which one should you use?
Use карто́пля when referring to the vegetable or the crop in general. To refer specifically to one individual potato, use картопли́на.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term бу́льба is a common dialectal or colloquial word used in Galicia and western regions of Ukraine. Similarly, барабо́ля is a regional or dialectal term used in certain parts of Ukraine.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form карто́пля is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
kartóplja
Did you know?
- The term бу́льба is shared with Belarusian, reflecting the deep historical and linguistic ties between the two neighboring cultures.
- Ukrainian has a specific word for the act of digging up potatoes, копа́ти карто́плю, which is treated as a major seasonal communal event in villages.
- The word бу́льба is so culturally ingrained in western Ukraine that it is often used as a humorous nickname for people from the region.
Examples in context
- Добрий день! Чи можете ви додати картоплю до мого замовлення?Good day! Could you add potatoes to my order?
- Давай приготуємо картошку на вечерю!Let's cook some potatoes for dinner!
- Ця карто́пля занадто велика.Tsia kartoplia znadto wielyka.This potato is too big.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “potato” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
