чита́ти
čytátyimperfective
To read in Ukrainian is чита́ти (čytáty) or прочита́ти.
Meaning: to look at and interpret letters or other information (verb)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| чита́ти | čytáty | imperfective |
| прочита́ти | pročytáty | perfective |
Both forms mean to look at and interpret letters or other information. Use the imperfective form when you want to describe the act of reading itself, such as a process or a habit.
Which one should you use?
The form чита́ти is the imperfective version, used to describe the ongoing process of reading or a habitual action. The form прочита́ти is the perfective version, used to indicate that the reading has been completed or to emphasize the result of having read something through.
How does it change in a sentence?
чита́ти is an imperfective verb, focusing on the duration or repetition of the action. прочита́ти is a perfective verb, focusing on the completion of the reading task.
How do you pronounce it?
čytáty
Did you know?
- The phrase чита́ти лекцію can be used figuratively to mean 'scolding' someone, essentially giving them a 'lecture' about their behavior.
- In Ukrainian, you do not just 'read' a book, but you can also чита́ти a lecture, meaning to deliver it aloud to an audience.
- The word чита́ти is used when talking about reading the time on a clock or interpreting a map, not just reading text.
Examples in context
- Українську літературу треба читати для розуміння культури.You should read Ukrainian literature to understand the culture.
- Прочитати цю книгу вимагає багато часу.To read this book requires a lot of time.
- Я читаю цю книгу просто для розваги.I'm reading this book just for entertainment.
- Сьогодні я пішов до книжного магазину, щоб почитати трохи.Today I went to the bookstore to read a bit.
- Я чита́ю кни́жку.I am reading a book.
- Я прочита́в цю кни́жку.I read (finished) this book.
- Я люблю чита́ти книги вечорами.Ya lyublyu chytaty knyhy vechoramy.I love to read books in the evenings.
- Ми можемо чита́ти це вголос.My mozhemo chytaty tse vholos.We can read this aloud.
Example conversation
Irina and Andrii are in a library.
- Ірина IrynaАндрію, що ти любиш чита́ти?Andriyu, shcho ty lyubysh chytaty?Andrii, what do you like to read?
- Андрій AndriiЯ зазвичай чита́ю детективи.Ya zazvychay chytayu detektyvy.I usually read detective stories.
- Ірина IrynaЦя книга теж дуже цікава.Tsi knyha tezh duzhe tsikava.This book is also very interesting.
- Андрій AndriiДякую, я обов'язково її прочитаю.Dyakuyu, ya obov'yazkovo yiyi prochytayu.Thank you, I will definitely read it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “read” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
