тюле́нь
tjulénʹmasculine
The Ukrainian word for seal is тюле́нь (tjulénʹ).
тюле́нь is a masculine noun used to refer to a seal, specifically members of the pinniped family.
Meaning: pinniped (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
tjulénʹ
Did you know?
- While тюле́нь refers to the animal, if you are talking about the act of sealing an envelope in a formal context, you would use the verb 'запечатати' instead.
- The diminutive form of the word, тюле́нька, is often used in children's books to make the animal sound much more adorable and small than the standard noun suggests.
- Ukrainian describes the act of a seal basking on the ice as вигріватися, which literally means 'to warm oneself up'.
Examples in context
- Тюле́нь лежить на льоду.Tyulen' lezhyt' na l'odu.The seal is lying on the ice.
- Цей тюле́нь дуже симпатичний.Tsey tyulen' duzhe sympatychnyy.This seal is very cute.
Example conversation
Andriy and Olena are visiting a zoo.
- Андрій AndriiДивись, Олено, там тюле́нь!Dyvys', Oleno, tam tiulen'!Look, Olena, there is a seal!
- Олена OlenaОй, який він смішний!Oi, yakyi vin smishnyi!Oh, how funny he is!
- Андрій AndriiМені подобається, як цей тюле́нь хлопає ластами.Meni podobayetsya, yak tsei tiulen' khlopaye lastamy.I like how this seal flaps its flippers.
- Олена OlenaВін справді дуже спритний.Vin spravdi duzhe sprytnyi.He really is very agile.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seal” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
