білий
bilyi
білий (bilyi) is the Ukrainian word for white.
білий is used to refer to the color white. It can also be used to describe something that is bright and colorless.
Meaning: color (noun)
Which one should you use?
While білий can refer to the color white, the word білошкірий is more specific when referring to a person's race or skin color (white-skinned/Caucasian).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the word Біленький is used to refer to a lighter shade of white or to add a touch of endearment.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective білий changes its ending depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes: use біла for feminine nouns, біле for neuter nouns and білі for plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
bilyi
Did you know?
- When describing a 'white lie', Ukrainians do not use білий but instead use a different expression entirely, as 'white' does not carry the same connotation of harmlessness in this idiom.
- The Ukrainian word білий shares a distant ancestor with the English words 'bleach' and 'blond'.
- In Ukrainian folklore and traditional weddings, white is not only the color of purity but is often associated with the 'bright' world of the spirits.
Examples in context
- У неї є білий кіт.She has a white cat.This sentence shows the use of білий to describe a cat.Tatoeba #1570079 by deniko, translation #813309 by papabear
- Він білий як сніг.It is white as snow.This sentence uses білий in a comparison to snow.Tatoeba #2654786 by aandrusiak, translation #272579 by CK
- У нас є білий кіт.We have a white cat.Tatoeba #6865798 by deniko, translation #1045519 by Eldad
- Машина має білий колір.The car is white.
- Вона вибрала білу сукню на вечірку.She chose a white dress for the party.
- Цей стіл прикрашений білими квітами.This table is decorated with white flowers.
- Давай знайдемо білого кота.Let's find a white cat.
- Ти виглядаєш дуже гарно в білому.You look great in white.
- Зроби білу каву, будь ласка.Make a white coffee, please.
- Ти така гарненька в цій біленькій сорочці.You look so cute in this little white shirt.
- 77 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Serhiy and Nataliia are choosing a shirt at a store.
- Сергій SerhiiЯ хочу білий одяг.Ya khochu bilyy odyah.I want white clothes.
- Наталія NataliiaЦей колір тобі пасує.Tsey kolir tobi pasuye.This color suits you.
- Сергій SerhiiДе тут білий колір?De tut bilyy kolir?Where is the white color here?
- Наталія NataliiaОсь він, на тій полиці.Os vin, na tiy polytsi.Here it is, on that shelf.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries білий, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
