що це?
shcho tse?
The phrase "what is this?" in Ukrainian is що це? (shcho tse?)
This phrase is a question used to ask for the identity of an object.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the interrogative pronoun що (what) and the demonstrative pronoun це (this/it).
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "what was this?" in the past tense, you add the past tense form of the verb to be (було) to the phrase, resulting in що це було?
How do you pronounce it?
shcho tse?
Did you know?
- The word що is used for inanimate objects, but if a Ukrainian speaker asks 'what is this?' about a person or animal, they must switch the word to хто.
- The word що is a distant relative of the English word 'what', as both descend from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷid.
- When reacting to something strange or unexpected, Ukrainians might exclaim Що це таке?! as an expression of disbelief rather than a literal question.
Examples in context
- Просимо вас пояснити, що це таке?Could you please explain what this is?
- А, це нова книга! Що це?Oh, this is a new book! What is this?
- Дивись, я знайшов щось цікаве! Що це за річ?Look, I found something interesting! What is this thing?
- Вибачте, що це?Vybachte, shcho tse?Excuse me, what is this?
Example conversation
Maria and Oleksandr are looking at an old box in the attic.
- Марія MariiaОлександре, що це?Oleksandre, shcho tse?Oleksandr, what is this?
- Олександр OleksandrЦе стара фотокамера.Tse stara fotokamera.It is an old camera.
- Марія MariiaВона виглядає дуже цікаво.Vona vyhliadaye duzhe tsikavo.It looks very interesting.
- Олександр OleksandrТак, це справжня знахідка.Tak, tse spravzhnya znakhidka.Yes, it is a real find.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries що, CC BY-SA 4.0.
