чека́ти
čekátyimperfective
To wait in Ukrainian, you can use чека́ти (čekáty), жда́ти or очі́кувати.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| чека́ти | čekáty | imperfective |
| жда́ти | ždáty | imperfective |
| очі́кувати | očíkuvaty | imperfective |
All provided forms are imperfective verbs used to describe the act of delaying until an event occurs or the process of waiting.
Which one should you use?
чека́ти is the most common and neutral way to express 'to wait'. жда́ти is a common synonym but is often perceived as more colloquial or informal. очі́кувати is used in more formal contexts when the meaning leans towards 'to expect' or 'to await' a specific outcome or event.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are waiting for a specific person or object, the verb чека́ти requires the preposition на followed by the accusative case.
How do you pronounce it?
čekáty
Did you know?
- The verb чека́ти also means 'to be pregnant' in a colloquial context, similar to the English phrase 'expecting a baby'.
- The word очі́кувати is built from очі, meaning 'eyes', literally suggesting the act of 'looking out' for something to arrive.
- While жда́ти and чека́ти are synonyms, жда́ти is more common in Russian and is sometimes viewed as a 'Russicism' in formal Ukrainian writing.
Examples in context
- Зачекайте, будь ласка. Я шукаю менеджера.Wait, please. I'm looking for a manager.
- Почекай, будь ласка. Я тільки закінчую.Wait, please. I'm just finishing up.
- Я буду чека́ти на тебе тут.Ya budu chekat' na tebe tut.I will wait for you here.
- Ми не можемо чека́ти довше.My ne mozhemo chekat' dovshe.We cannot wait any longer.
Example conversation
Nataliia and Oleksandr are meeting at a cafe.
- Наталія NataliiaОлександре, я буду чека́ти на тебе біля входу.Oleksandre, ya budu chekati na tebe bilya vkhodu.Oleksandr, I will wait for you by the entrance.
- Олександр OleksandrДобре, я буду там через п'ять хвилин.Dobre, ya budu tam cherez pyat khvylyn.Okay, I will be there in five minutes.
- Наталія NataliiaТобі не потрібно довго чека́ти?Tobi ne potribno dovho chekati?Do you not need to wait long?
- Олександр OleksandrНі, я вже майже прийшов.Ni, ya vzhe mayzhe pryyshov.No, I have almost arrived.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
