що ти робиш?
shcho ty robysh?
The English phrase "what are you doing?" is translated into Ukrainian as що ти робиш? (shcho ty robysh?)
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their current activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of що (what), ти (you, singular/informal) and робиш (do/are doing).
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the form що ти робиш? for singular subjects in an informal context, such as with friends or family. Use the form що ви робите? when addressing someone formally or when addressing more than one person.
How do you pronounce it?
shcho ty robysh?
Did you know?
- The phrase що ти робиш? is frequently used as an exclamation of horror or disbelief, similar to 'What are you doing?!' when someone makes a terrible mistake.
- If you want to ask 'What's up?' or 'What are you doing?' as a general greeting, Ukrainians might use що там?, which literally translates to 'what is there?'
- The word що shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'what', both tracing back to the same Proto-Indo-European roots.
Example conversation
Andriy is working on his laptop at home and Iryna enters the room.
- Ірина IrynaАндрію, що ти робиш?Andriyu, shcho ty robysh?Andriy, what are you doing?
- Андрій AndriiЯ просто перевіряю свою пошту.Ya prosto pereviryayu svoyu poshtu.I am just checking my email.
- Ірина IrynaТи виглядаєш дуже втомленим.Ty vyhlyadaiesh duzhe vtomylenym.You look very tired.
- Андрій AndriiТак, це був довгий день.Tak, tse buv dovhyi den.Yes, it was a long day.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ти, що, CC BY-SA 4.0.
