Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| росі́йська мо́ва | rosíjsʹka móva | feminine |
| росі́йська | rosíjsʹka | feminine |
росі́йська мо́ва is used to refer specifically to the Russian language of the Russian Federation.
Which one should you use?
In Ukrainian, there is a strict distinction between росі́йська мо́ва (the language of the Russian Federation) and ру́ська мо́ва (the language of Kievan Rus' or related to the Rus' people). While росі́йська мо́ва refers to the modern state, ру́ська is used for historical or ethnic contexts related to Rus'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Western Ukraine, people might use the phrase москальська мова.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "in the Russian language" (for example, "I speak in Russian"), you use the instrumental case: росі́йською мо́вою.
How do you pronounce it?
rosíjsʹka móva
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ру́ська to mean the modern Russian language. In Ukrainian, ру́ська refers to historical Rus' or ethnic Rus', whereas росі́йська refers to the modern state of Russia.
Did you know?
- While росі́йська refers to the modern state, the older term ру́ська is a cognate of the word 'Ruthenian' used in historical English texts to describe ancestors of Ukrainians and Belarusians.
- In Ukraine, the word мо́ва does not just mean 'language' but is often used as a powerful symbol of national identity and independence.
- The term москальська мова uses the word москаль, which is a historical colloquialism for a soldier of the Russian Empire or a Russian person.
Examples in context
- Я вивчаю російську мову.I am learning the Russian language.
- Ви говорите російською мовою?Do you speak Russian?
- Вона розмовляє москівською.She speaks Russian.
- Я люблю російську мову.I love the Russian language.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “russian” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
