ріка́
rikáfeminine
The English word 'river' is translated into Ukrainian as ріка́ (riká). Wiktionary also lists рі́чка (ríčka).
Meaning: large stream which drains a landmass (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ріка́ | riká | feminine |
| рі́чка | ríčka | feminine |
The term refers to a large stream which drains a landmass.
Which one should you use?
While ріка́ refers to a large river, the diminutive form рі́чка is commonly used to refer to a smaller river or a stream.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of ріка́ is ріки́ in the nominative case.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is riká.
Did you know?
- Traditional Ukrainian 'Ivan Kupala' rituals involve jumping over a fire and floating wreaths on a рі́чка to predict future marriage.
- In Ukrainian folklore and traditional songs, the рі́чка is frequently personified as a maiden or a boundary between the world of the living and the dead.
- In many Ukrainian dialects and certain regional contexts, you might hear the word потічок or струмок used for small flows, which implies a rhythmic, trickling movement rather than just a size difference.
Examples in context
- Я хочу побачити цю красиву річкуI want to see this beautiful river
- Давай зустрінемось біля тієї річкиLet's meet near that river
- Там у Карпатах є чимало красивих потоківThere are plenty of beautiful rivers in the Carpathians
- Ця ріка́ дуже глибока.Tsya rika duzhe hlyboka.This river is very deep.
- Ріка́ тече через усе місто.Rika teche cherez use misto.The river flows through the whole city.
Example conversation
Irina and Andriy are looking at a map of the region.
- Ірина IrynaПодивись, тут тече велика ріка́.Podyvys, tut teche velyka rika.Look, a large river flows here.
- Андрій AndriiЦе Дніпро, найдовша ріка́ України.Tse Dnipro, naidovsha rika Ukrainy.That is the Dnipro, the longest river in Ukraine.
- Ірина IrynaВона виглядає дуже красивою.Vona vyhliadaie duzhe krasyvoyu.It looks very beautiful.
- Андрій AndriiТак, нам варто її відвідати.Tak, nam varto ii vidvidaty.Yes, we should visit it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “river” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
