Ukrainian idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday Ukrainian. Learning to use common idioms and expressions will make your Ukrainian sound more natural, so it’s a good idea to master some of these expressions.

Because idioms don’t always make sense literally, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun. πŸ™‚

None of the idioms on this page are unusual or old fashioned, so you can be confident using any of them with native Ukrainian speakers.

1. ΠŸΡ€ΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠΌΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° – “Talking about the wolf”

Ukrainian idioms

Something that you say when someone you have been talking or thinking about suddenly appears.

 

Π’ΠΈ ΡΡŒΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄Π½Ρ– Π±Π°Ρ‡ΠΈΠ»Π° ΠŸΠ΅Ρ‚Ρ€Π°? О, Π° ось Ρ– Π²Ρ–Π½! ΠŸΡ€ΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ° ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠΌΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ°.

Did you see Peter today? Oh, here he comes! Speak of the devil.

 

2. ΠŸΠΎΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Ρ‚ΠΈ Π΄Π΅ Ρ€Π°ΠΊΠΈ Π·ΠΈΠΌΡƒΡŽΡ‚ΡŒ – “To show where the crayfish is wintering”

Ukrainian idioms

Often used as a threat. To punish, to teach someone a lesson; to show someone what’s what.

 

Π― ΠΏΠΎΠΊΠ°ΠΆΡƒ Ρ‚ΠΎΠ±Ρ– Π΄Π΅ Ρ€Π°ΠΊΠΈ Π·ΠΈΠΌΡƒΡŽΡ‚ΡŒ! 😡

I’ll teach you a lesson!

3. Π‘Ρ–Π»Π° Π²ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ½Π° – “A white crow”

Ukrainian idiom

This idiom is used to describe a person who is unusual or extraordinary, not like others. It can be translated in English as β€œa black sheep”, or just an odd person. Π‘Ρ–Π»Π° Π²ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ½Π° is someone who stands out of a group (looks different, behaves differently).

 

Π£ ΡˆΠΊΠΎΠ»Ρ– Ρ—Ρ— Π½Π°Π·ΠΈΠ²Π°Π»ΠΈ Π±Ρ–Π»ΠΎΡŽ Π²ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ½ΠΎΡŽ, Π±ΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ½Π° Π½Ρ–ΠΊΠΎΠ»ΠΈ Π½Π΅ Π³Ρ€Π°Π»Π°ΡΡŒ Π· Ρ–Π½ΡˆΠΈΠΌΠΈ Π΄Ρ–Ρ‚ΡŒΠΌΠΈ Ρ– вСсь свій Π²Ρ–Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΈΠΉ час ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈΠ»Π° Π·Π° читанням ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³.

At school, she used to be called an odd bird as she never played with other children and she spent all her free time reading books.

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4. ΠŸΡ–Π΄ΡΡƒΠ½ΡƒΡ‚ΠΈ свиню – “To plant a pig on someone”

Ukrainian idioms

To do a vile thing to someone, to make trouble for someone surreptitiously.

 

Π― Π½Π΅ Π΄ΡƒΠΌΠ°Π»Π°, Ρ‰ΠΎ Ρ‚ΠΈ ΠΏΡ–Π΄ΡΡƒΠ½Π΅Ρˆ ΠΌΠ΅Π½Ρ– Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΡƒ свиню. 😟

I didn’t expect that you would play such a dirty trick.

 

5. ΠšΡƒΠΏΠΈΡ‚ΠΈ ΠΊΠΎΡ‚Π° Π² ΠΌΡ–ΡˆΠΊΡƒ – “To buy a cat in a sack”

Ukrainian idioms

To buy or accept something without examining it carefully first, with the possibility that it may be something of poor quality or not what you want.

 

Π’Ρ–Π·ΡŒΠΌΡ–Ρ‚ΡŒ ΠΌΠ°ΡˆΠΈΠ½Ρƒ Π½Π° тСст-Π΄Ρ€Π°ΠΉΠ² спочатку. Π’ΠΈ ΠΆ Π½Π΅ Ρ…ΠΎΡ‡Π΅Ρ‚Π΅ ΠΊΡƒΠΏΠΈΡ‚ΠΈ ΠΊΠΎΡ‚Π° Π² ΠΌΡ–ΡˆΠΊΡƒ, Ρ‡ΠΈ Π½Π΅ Ρ‚Π°ΠΊ?

Take the car for a test drive first. You don’t want to buy a pig in a poke, do you?

 

6. Німий як Ρ€ΠΈΠ±Π° – “Mute as a fish”

Someone that says very little or nothing (often in order to keep a secret); reserved, uncommunicative.

 

НС Ρ…Π²ΠΈΠ»ΡŽΠΉΡΡ! Π― Π½Π΅ Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π°ΠΌ Ρ‚Π²Ρ–ΠΉ сСкрСт. Π― Π±ΡƒΠ΄Ρƒ Π½Ρ–ΠΌΠΈΠΉ як Ρ€ΠΈΠ±Π°.

Don’t worry! Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t breathe a word to anyone.

7. Π―ΠΊ Π΄Π²Ρ– ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΏΠ»Ρ– Π²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ – “Like two drops of water”

Ukrainian idioms

To bear a very close resemblance; to be exactly alike.

 

Π‘Ρ€Π°Ρ‚ΠΈ схоТі ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈΠ½ Π½Π° ΠΎΠ΄Π½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ як Π΄Π²Ρ– ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΏΠ»Ρ– Π²ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ.

The brothers are two peas in a pod.

 

8. ΠšΡ€Π°ΠΏΠ»Ρ Π² ΠΌΠΎΡ€Ρ– – “A drop in the sea”

Ukrainian idioms

An insignificant amount (when compared with the amount that is needed, was previously available, etc).

 

Π—Ρ–Π±Ρ€Π°Π½Ρ– Π³Ρ€ΠΎΡˆΡ– Ρ†Π΅ лишС крапля Π² ΠΌΠΎΡ€Ρ–.

The collected money is just a drop in the ocean.

 

9. Π§Π΅ΠΊΠ°Ρ‚ΠΈ Π· моря ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ – “To wait for the weather from the sea”

Ukrainian idioms

To wait before doing something, not undertaking any action; to wait while there’s no point in waiting.

 

Π’ΠΎΠ½Π° Ρ‡Π΅ΠΊΠ°Ρ” Π· моря ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ.

She is waiting for the sun to shine.

 

НСмає сСнсу Ρ‡Π΅ΠΊΠ°Ρ‚ΠΈ Π· моря ΠΏΠΎΠ³ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈ. ΠŸΠΎΡ‚Ρ€Ρ–Π±Π½ΠΎ Π±Ρ€Π°Ρ‚ΠΈ справу Π² Π½Π°ΡˆΡ– Ρ€ΡƒΠΊΠΈ.

There is no point waiting for the grass to grow. We have to take matters into our own hands.

10. Π”Π²Π° Ρ‡ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈ – ΠΏΠ°Ρ€Π° – “Two shoes make a pair”

Idioms in Ukrainian

The two people in question are similar with regard to personality traits, behaviors, etc (which are usually negative, undesirable).

ΠŸΠ΅Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΎ Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΈΠΉ самий як Ρ– Ρ‚ΠΈ. Π”Π²Π° Ρ‡ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈ – ΠΏΠ°Ρ€Π°.

Petro is just like you. Two shoes make a pair.

 

11. ΠŸΡ–Π΄ ΠΊΠ°Π±Π»ΡƒΠΊΠΎΠΌ – “Under (one’s) heel”

idioms in Ukrainian

Π‘ompletely under the control or influence of someone, entirely dependent on someone (often of a husband in relation to his wife).

 

Оксана Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠΌΠ°Ρ” ΠŸΠ΅Ρ‚Ρ€Π° ΠΏΡ–Π΄ ΠΊΠ°Π±Π»ΡƒΠΊΠΎΠΌ.

Oksana keeps Petro under her thumb.

12. Π—Π°Π²Π°Ρ€ΠΈΡ‚ΠΈ ΠΊΠ°ΡˆΡƒ – “To make porridge”

Ukrainian idiom

To cause a situation that brings about troublesome or unpleasant consequences.

Π―ΠΊΡƒ ΠΆ ΠΊΠ°ΡˆΡƒ Π²Ρ–Π½ Π·Π°Π²Π°Ρ€ΠΈΠ²… Ρ– для Ρ‡ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ?!

What a mess he stirred up… and what for?!

 

13. Π›ΠΎΠΆΠΊΠ° Π΄ΡŒΠΎΠ³Ρ‚ΡŽ Ρƒ Π±ΠΎΡ‡Ρ†Ρ– ΠΌΠ΅Π΄Ρƒ – “A spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey”

Ukrainian idioms

Something small that spoils something valuable and nice; a single thing that is spoiling a situation that could have been very positive or enjoyable.

Π—Π°Π³Π°Π»ΠΎΠΌ, Ρ†Π΅ Π±ΡƒΠ»Π° Ρ‡ΡƒΠ΄ΠΎΠ²Π° відпустка! Π›ΠΎΠΆΠΊΠ° Π΄ΡŒΠΎΠ³Ρ‚ΡŽ Ρƒ Π±ΠΎΡ‡Ρ†Ρ– ΠΌΠ΅Π΄Ρƒ – ΠΏΠΎΠ³Π°Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π³ΠΎΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒ, Ρ†Π΅ Π±ΡƒΠ² Ρ”Π΄ΠΈΠ½ΠΈΠΉ Π½Π΅Π΄ΠΎΠ»Ρ–ΠΊ.

All in all, it was a great vacation! The fly in the ointment at the hotel was the only downside.

 

14. Гратися Π· Π²ΠΎΠ³Π½Π΅ΠΌ – “To play with fire”

Ukrainian idioms

To do something dangerous or risky; to do something that could cause you trouble later.

Π’ΠΈ моТСш Π²Ρ‚Ρ€Π°Ρ‚ΠΈΡ‚ΠΈ Π±Π°Π³Π°Ρ‚ΠΎ Π³Ρ€ΠΎΡˆΠ΅ΠΉ, якщо Π·Π²’яТСшся Π· Ρ†ΠΈΠΌ ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠ΅ΠΊΡ‚ΠΎΠΌ. Π’ΠΈ Π³Ρ€Π°Ρ”Ρˆ Π· Π²ΠΎΠ³Π½Π΅ΠΌ! Π”ΡƒΠΌΠ°ΡŽ, Ρ†Π΅ Π°Ρ„Π΅Ρ€Π°.

You may lose a lot of money if you get involved with this project. You are playing with fire! I think it’s a scam.

ΠšΡƒΡ€ΠΊΠ° Ρ‡ΠΈ ΠΊΡƒΡ€Ρ‚ΠΊΠ°? Chicken or… jacket? Learn more about some confusing Ukrainian words that sound alike.

15. Π’ΠΈΡ‡Π°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π»ΠΈΠΌΠΎΠ½ – “A squeezed lemon”

Ukrainian idiom

Used to talk about a very tired, physically exhausted person.

Π”Π°ΠΉ ΠΌΠ°ΠΌΡ– Π²Ρ–Π΄ΠΏΠΎΡ‡ΠΈΡ‚ΠΈ – Π²ΠΎΠ½Π° як Π²ΠΈΡ‡Π°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΉ Π»ΠΈΠΌΠΎΠ½.

Let mom rest – she’s dead tired.

 

16. Π‘Π΅Ρ€Π΅Π³Ρ‚ΠΈ як Π·Ρ–Π½ΠΈΡ†ΡŽ ΠΎΠΊΠ° – “To guard as the apple of eye”

Ukrainian idiom

To guard (cherish) someone or something like the apple of one’s eye; to guard someone or something with one’s life.

Ось ваша ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³Π°. Π’ΠΎΠ½Π° Π΄ΡƒΠΆΠ΅ стара Ρ– рідкісна. Π‘Π΅Ρ€Π΅ΠΆΡ–Ρ‚ΡŒ Ρ—Ρ— як Π·Ρ–Π½ΠΈΡ†ΡŽ ΠΎΠΊΠ°.

Here’s a book for you. It is very old and rare. Guard it with your life.

 

17. Розставити всі ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΏΠΊΠΈ Π½Π°Π΄ “Ρ–” – “To put all the dots over the letters “i”

Ukrainian idsoms

To clarify some matter fully and in all its details, leaving no ambiguities.

Π”Π°Π²Π°ΠΉ розставимо всі ΠΊΡ€Π°ΠΏΠΊΠΈ Π½Π°Π΄ “Ρ–”.

Let’s dot all the i’s.

 

18. ΠŸΡ–Π΄ Π»Π΅ΠΆΠ°Ρ‡ΠΈΠΉ ΠΊΠ°ΠΌΡ–Π½ΡŒ Π²ΠΎΠ΄Π° Π½Π΅ Ρ‚Π΅Ρ‡Π΅ – “Under the lying stone water does not flow”

Ukrainian idioms

If a person makes no effort, he will make no progress, get nowhere (said when someone is inactive and does nothing toward attaining a goal or furthering some matter, etc).

Π’Ρ€Π΅Π±Π° Π±Π°Π³Π°Ρ‚ΠΎ ΠΏΡ€Π°Ρ†ΡŽΠ²Π°Ρ‚ΠΈ, Π±ΠΎ ΠΏΡ–Π΄ Π»Π΅ΠΆΠ°Ρ‡ΠΈΠΉ ΠΊΠ°ΠΌΡ–Π½ΡŒ Π²ΠΎΠ΄Π° Π½Π΅ Ρ‚Π΅Ρ‡Π΅.

I have to work hard, because no pain, no gain.

Learn more about people depicted on Ukrainian banknotes, find out the etymology of Ukrainian currency name and other interesting facts! > 7 Facts about Ukrainian Currency + a Quiz!

19. Π‘Π»ΠΎΠ²ΠΎ Π½Π΅ Π³ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ±Π΅Ρ†ΡŒ… – “A word is not a sparrow…”

Ukrainian idioms

Words that are said cannot be taken back.

Π”ΡƒΠΌΠ°ΠΉ, Ρ‰ΠΎ Ρ‚ΠΈ Π³ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΡ€ΠΈΡˆ. Π‘ΠΎ слово – Π½Π΅ Π³ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ±Π΅Ρ†ΡŒ, Π²ΠΈΠ»Π΅Ρ‚ΠΈΡ‚ΡŒ – Π½Π΅ ΡΠΏΡ–ΠΉΠΌΠ°Ρ”Ρˆ!

Think about what you’re saying. A word spoken is past recalling!

 

20. ΠšΠΎΠΏΡ–ΠΉΠΊΠ° Π³Ρ€ΠΈΠ²Π½ΡŽ Π±Π΅Ρ€Π΅ΠΆΠ΅ – “Kopiyka saves hryvnia”

Ukrainin idioms

Ukrainian currency is called hryvnia or гривня in Ukrainian. Hryvnia coins are ΠΊΠΎΠΏΡ–ΠΉΠΊΠΈ.

Моя бабуся Π·Π°Π²ΠΆΠ΄ΠΈ ΠΊΠ°ΠΆΠ΅: “ΠšΠΎΠΏΡ–ΠΉΠΊΠ° Π³Ρ€ΠΈΠ²Π½ΡŽ Π±Π΅Ρ€Π΅ΠΆΠ΅“.

My grandma always says, “Take care of the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves”.


Learning Ukrainian and looking for great resources?

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Iryna Podoliak

In 2013, Iryna graduated from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and got a Master's degree in Philology. She specializes in the methodology of teaching Ukrainian as a foreign language. Iryna worked with students from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Poland. She appreciates the opportunity of cultural and worldview interchange during the lessons. Iryna is interested in early learning methods as she has a little son.

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