ковбаса́
kovbasáfeminine
The Ukrainian word for sausage is ковбаса́ (kovbasá).
ковбаса́ refers to a food made of minced meat packed into a tubular casing. If you are specifically referring to blood sausage, use the term кров'янка.
Meaning: a food made of minced meat packed into a tubular casing (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ковбаса́ is the standard term, the diminutive variation Ковбаска is used to convey an affectionate tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Carpathian region, колбаса is occasionally used instead of ковбаса́.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive singular form, used to mean 'of sausage', is ковбаси́.
How do you pronounce it?
kovbasá
Did you know?
- In Ukrainian culture, the phrase бити ковбасу literally means 'to beat the sausage' but is used idiomatically to mean 'to waste time' or 'to idle'.
- The diminutive form ковбаска is so common that it can be used to describe a small, cute person or object, moving far beyond the kitchen.
- Unlike English, which uses 'sausage' for many types of processed meat, ковбаса specifically implies a cured or smoked product, while fresh minced meat links are often called сосиски.
Examples in context
- Чи можна мені пару сосисок?Can I have a couple of sausages?
- Дай мені трошки ковбаски, будь ласка.Give me some sausage, please.
Example conversation
Olena and Serhii are deciding what to eat for breakfast.
- Олена OlenaСергію, що ми будемо їсти?Serhiu, shcho my budemo yisty?Serhii, what are we going to eat?
- Сергій SerhiiУ нас є сир та ковбаса́.U nas ye syr ta kovbasa.We have cheese and sausage.
- Олена OlenaЦе чудова ідея!Tse chudova ideya!That is a great idea!
- Сергій SerhiiЯ зараз зроблю бутерброди.Ya zaraz zrobliu buterbrody.I will make sandwiches now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sausage” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
