нічого собі
ničoho sobi
The English phrase 'wow' can be translated into Ukrainian as нічого собі (ničoho sobi). Wiktionary also lists нічосі (ničosi) and вау (vau).
Meaning: amazement (intj)
Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| нічого собі | ničoho sobi | |
| нічосі | ničosi | slang |
| вау | vau |
The phrase is used to express amazement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase нічого собі literally translates to 'nothing to oneself'.
Which one should you use?
нічого собі is the standard, most versatile way to express amazement, ranging from mild surprise to strong shock. In contrast, нічосі is a colloquial, shortened slang version of 'нічого собі'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal, modern speech, you can use the direct loanword from English, вау. The slang form нічосі is also used. Other informal ways to say 'wow' include Ух ти! or expressing excitement and surprise with Ого-го! Even the word Жах!, which literally means 'horror', can be used informally to express astonishment or shock.
How do you pronounce it?
ničoho sobi
Did you know?
- While нічого собі is usually positive amazement, adding a specific tone can turn it into a sarcastic way to call someone out for being arrogant or 'full of themselves'.
- The reflexive pronoun собі in нічого собі descends from the Proto-Slavic term *sebě, which traces the linguistic roots of the phrase back thousands of years.
- Among Ukrainian youth, вау is frequently used as an adjective to describe something 'cool' or 'impressive' rather than just as an interjection.
Examples in context
- Вау! На вигляд смачно.Wow! That looks delicious.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use вау to comment on the appearance of food.Tatoeba #6832579 by deniko, translation #889784 by CK
- Нічого собі, подивіться на це.Wow, look at this.This sentence shows how to use нічого собі to draw attention to something.Tatoeba #7353120 by Anjy, translation #3563611 by CK
- Нічого собі!Wow!This sentence demonstrates the use of нічого собі as a standalone exclamation.Tatoeba #4906831 by triantafillou, translation #52027 by Zifre
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Serhii and Olena are looking at a massive, beautiful sunset.
- Сергій SerhiiНічого собі, яке гарне небо!Nichogo sobi, yake harne nebo!Wow, what a beautiful sky!
- Олена OlenaТак, воно просто неймовірне.Tak, vono prosto neymovirne.Yes, it is simply incredible.
- Сергій SerhiiЯ ніколи такого не бачив.Ya nikoly takoho ne bachyv.I have never seen anything like this.
- Олена OlenaЦе справді чарівне видовище.Tse spravdi charivne vydovyshche.It is truly a magical sight.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wow” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries собі, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
