цу́кор
cúkormasculine
The English word "sugar" is цу́кор (cúkor) in Ukrainian.
цу́кор refers to sucrose obtained from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drinks.
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
Which one should you use?
While цу́кор is the standard term, the diminutive Цукорок can be used to express affection.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the genitive case, цу́кор changes to цу́кру. This form is required after words meaning "none" or when you need to indicate a specific quantity.
How do you pronounce it?
cúkor
Did you know?
- The word цу́кор shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Sanskrit word 'śarkara', which traveled through Persian and Turkic languages before entering Ukrainian.
- While you might call it цу́кор, if you are ordering a sugar cube specifically to sweeten tea, you would use the word ра́фінад (refined/cube sugar).
- Ukraine is one of the world's largest producers of sugar beets, making цукор a central part of the country's agricultural identity and historical economy.
Examples in context
- Будь ласка, принесіть цукор для чаю.Could you please bring some sugar for the tea?
- Купи цукор на шляху додому.Buy some sugar on your way home.
- Я хочу цу́кру в чай.I want sugar in my tea.
- Чи потрібен вам цу́кор у чай?Chy potriben vam tsukor u chay?Do you need sugar in your tea?
- Купи ще цу́кор у магазині.Kupy shche tsukor u mahazyni.Buy some more sugar at the store.
Example conversation
In the kitchen while making coffee.
- Олександр OleksandrНаталіє, де в нас цу́кор?Nataliye, de v nas tsukor?Nataliya, where is our sugar?
- Наталія NataliiaВін стоїть у шафці.Vin stoyit u shaftsi.It is in the cupboard.
- Олександр OleksandrДякую, я зроблю каву.Dyakuyu, ya zroblu kavu.Thank you, I will make coffee.
- Наталія NataliiaДодай трохи менше цу́кру, будь ласка.Doday trokhy menshe tsukru, bud laska.Add a little less sugar, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
