Ukrainian Words for Family: Complete Vocabulary Guide
Learning Ukrainian words for family is one of the first steps in mastering the language. Family plays a central role in Ukrainian culture, and knowing how to talk about relatives will help you connect with native speakers and navigate everyday conversations.
Essential Family Vocabulary
These core Ukrainian words for family members form the foundation of discussing relatives and relationships. Start with immediate family before moving to extended relatives.
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| сім'я | sim-YA | family | Моя сім'я велика. (My family is big.) |
| мама | MA-ma | mom | Мама готує вечерю. (Mom is making dinner.) |
| тато | TA-to | dad | Тато працює в офісі. (Dad works in an office.) |
| батьки | bat'-KY | parents | Мої батьки живуть у Києві. (My parents live in Kyiv.) |
| брат | brat | brother | Мій брат старший за мене. (My brother is older than me.) |
| сестра | ses-TRA | sister | Сестра вчиться в університеті. (Sister studies at university.) |
| дідусь | di-DUS' | grandfather | Дідусь розповідає історії. (Grandfather tells stories.) |
| бабуся | ba-BU-sya | grandmother | Бабуся пече пиріжки. (Grandmother bakes pies.) |
| син | syn | son | Наш син ходить до школи. (Our son goes to school.) |
| дочка | DOCH-ka | daughter | Дочка любить читати. (Daughter loves to read.) |
| чоловік | cho-lo-VIK | husband | Мій чоловік — лікар. (My husband is a doctor.) |
| дружина | dru-ZHY-na | wife | Його дружина — вчителька. (His wife is a teacher.) |
| онук | O-nuk | grandson | Онук допомагає бабусі. (Grandson helps grandmother.) |
| онука | o-NU-ka | granddaughter | Онука малює картину. (Granddaughter is drawing a picture.) |
| дядько | DYAD'-ko | uncle | Дядько живе в селі. (Uncle lives in the village.) |
| тітка | TIT-ka | aunt | Тітка приїхала в гості. (Aunt came to visit.) |
| двоюрідний брат | dvo-YU-rid-nyy brat | male cousin | Двоюрідний брат живе у Львові. (Cousin lives in Lviv.) |
| двоюрідна сестра | dvo-YU-rid-na ses-TRA | female cousin | Двоюрідна сестра — музикант. (Cousin is a musician.) |
Common Phrases
Beyond individual Ukrainian words for family, you'll need phrases to discuss your relatives naturally in conversation.
- У мене є... (u ME-ne ye) — I have... У мене є два брати. (I have two brothers.)
- Це моя сім'я. (tse mo-YA sim-YA) — This is my family.
- Скільки у вас дітей? (SKIL'-ky u vas di-TEY) — How many children do you have?
- Ви одружені? (vy od-RU-zhe-ni) — Are you married? (formal/plural)
- Як звати твою маму? (yak ZVA-ty tvo-YU MA-mu) — What is your mom's name?
- Мої батьки в розлученні. (mo-YI bat'-KY v roz-LU-chen-ni) — My parents are divorced.
- Я єдина дитина. (ya ye-DY-na dy-TY-na) — I am an only child.
- Ми — близькі родичі. (my — blyz'-KI RO-dy-chi) — We are close relatives.
- Вона схожа на маму. (vo-NA SKHO-zha na MA-mu) — She looks like her mom.
- Він — старший брат. (vin — STAR-shyy brat) — He is the older brother.
Usage Notes
Understanding the cultural and grammatical context behind Ukrainian words for family will help you use them correctly.
- Formal vs. informal terms: Мати (mother) and батько (father) are more formal than мама and тато. Use the informal versions in everyday speech and the formal ones in official documents or respectful contexts.
- Gender matters: Ukrainian distinguishes between male and female relatives. Cousins, for example, are двоюрідний брат (male) or двоюрідна сестра (female), not a single word like English "cousin."
- Affectionate diminutives: Ukrainians often use diminutive forms to show affection: матуся (mommy), татусь (daddy), братик (little brother), сестричка (little sister).
- In-laws: Ukrainian has specific words for in-laws that differ based on whose family they belong to. Теща is wife's mother, while свекруха is husband's mother.
- Extended family importance: Ukrainian culture places strong emphasis on extended family. Don't be surprised if people discuss aunts, uncles, and cousins as frequently as immediate family.
- Patronymics: Ukrainians use patronymic names (based on the father's first name) as middle names. Knowing family vocabulary helps understand names like Іванович (son of Ivan) or Іванівна (daughter of Ivan).
Practice Sentences
Use these example sentences to practice Ukrainian words for family in context. Try reading them aloud and creating your own variations.
- Моя сім'я складається з чотирьох людей. — My family consists of four people.
- Бабуся і дідусь живуть у Харкові. — Grandmother and grandfather live in Kharkiv.
- Мій молодший брат грає у футбол. — My younger brother plays soccer.
- Ми збираємося разом на свята. — We gather together for holidays.
- Тітка подарувала мені книжку. — Aunt gave me a book as a gift.
- Чоловік і дружина подорожують разом. — Husband and wife travel together.
- Онуки відвідують бабусю щонеділі. — The grandchildren visit grandmother every Sunday.
- Мої батьки познайомилися в університеті. — My parents met at university.
- Старша сестра допомагає з домашнім завданням. — The older sister helps with homework.
- Дядько розповідає смішні історії. — Uncle tells funny stories.