бур'ян
bur'yan
The English word "weed" (meaning an unwanted plant) is translated into Ukrainian as бур'ян (bur'yan).
The term бур'ян refers to an unwanted plant. When you want to express the action of weeding or pulling weeds, you use the verb полоти, typically paired with the accusative form of the noun to form the phrase полоти бур'ян.
Meaning: unwanted plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
While бур'ян is the standard term for an unwanted plant, other terms exist depending on the context and register. Канабіс is a formal term used to specifically refer to cannabis or marijuana, whereas Травка is an informal slang term for weed that translates to "grass".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun бур'ян changes its endings depending on its grammatical role in a sentence. For example, the plural form is бур'яни and the dative or locative case is бур'яну.
How do you pronounce it?
bur'yan
Did you know?
- The phrase полоти бур'ян is often used metaphorically in Ukrainian literature to describe the removal of unwanted or harmful elements from society.
- The word бур'ян shares a common ancestor with the Romanian word buruiană and the Slovak word burina.
- The slang term травка is diminutive, making it sound strangely 'cute' or small when referring to marijuana.
Examples in context
- Не забудь принести трохи травки на наше святкування.Don't forget to bring some weed to our celebration.
- У саду багато бур'янів.There are many weeds in the garden.
- Цей бур'ян дуже швидко росте.Tsey bur'yan duzhe shvydko roste.This weed grows very quickly.
- Мені потрібно вирвати цей бур'ян.Meni potribno vyrvaty tsey bur'yan.I need to pull this weed.
Example conversation
Andrii and Iryna are working in the garden together.
- Андрій AndriiПодивись, тут знову з'явився бур'ян.Podyvys', tut znovu z'yavyvsia bur'ian.Look, weeds have appeared here again.
- Ірина IrynaТак, він заважає квітам рости.Tak, vin zavazhaie kvitam rosty.Yes, it is stopping the flowers from growing.
- Андрій AndriiЯ зараз його вирву.Ya zaraz yoho vyrvu.I will pull it out now.
- Ірина IrynaДякую, Андрію, ти мені дуже допомагаєш.Diakuiu, Andriiiu, ty meni duzhe dopomahaiesh.Thank you, Andrii, you are helping me a lot.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries бур'ян, CC BY-SA 4.0.
