горі́лка
horílkafeminine
The Ukrainian word for vodka is горі́лка (horílka). Wiktionary also lists во́дка (vódka).
Meaning: clear distilled alcoholic liquor (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| горі́лка | horílka | feminine |
| во́дка | vódka | Russianism, feminine, uncommon |
The word refers to a clear distilled alcoholic liquor. If you are referring to herbal or fruit-infused alcoholic beverages, you should use настойка and if you mean moonshine, the term is самогон.
What does it mean word for word?
The term горілка is derived from the verb горіти, which means 'to burn'.
Which one should you use?
горілка is the standard, native Ukrainian term. In contrast, во́дка is a Russianism and is uncommon in standard Ukrainian.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of горілка is горілки.
How do you pronounce it?
horílka
Did you know?
- Traditional Ukrainian горі́лка is often served with 'zakuska', a selection of salty snacks like lard, pickles and salted fish to neutralize the alcohol.
- The word горілка describes the liquid's effect on the throat, as it is derived from the verb горіти, meaning 'to burn'.
- The term самогон refers to a spirit that is often much more potent than the commercial горілка found in shops.
Examples in context
- Я замовлю водку, будь ласка.I will have vodka, please.
- Чи маєте ви горілку?Do you have vodka?
- Поїдемо в село, спробуємо самогон!Let's go to the village and try some moonshine!
- На столі стоїть холодна горі́лка.Na stoli stoyit' kholodna horilka.There is cold vodka on the table.
- Ця горі́лка дуже міцна.Tsya horilka duzhe mikna.This vodka is very strong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “vodka” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
