Useful Expressions to Agree and Disagree in Ukrainian (with Audio)

When talking with your Ukrainian friends or colleagues, it is important to know how to express your opinion. What’s even more important is to know how to properly react to someone else’s ideas. There is a thin line between being polite and being rude.

So here are a few useful expressions to agree and disagree in Ukrainian in an appropriate way. 

Agreeing

First things first: to agree can be translated in two ways: погоджуватися [pohodzhuvatys’a] or бути згодним [buty zhodnym]. There’s no difference between the two expressions; pick whichever you prefer. 

To be right may be translated in two ways, too. The closest is твоя правда [tvoja pravda]. We also have an expression мати рацію [maty ratsiju], which has the same meaning. Again, you can’t be wrong here; both options are fine.

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One good thing about Ukrainian: you say Я теж when you mean either Me too or Me neither. There is no difference.

As you probably already know, one should use твою in an informal situation and вашу in a formal setting. 

You can choose any of these three options to support your conversation partner’s opinion.

Disagreeing

Just like in the case of I agree, I don’t agree has two equal translations. You can choose whichever you like.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a word for disagree in Ukrainian, so we just say don’t agree all the time.

These three are probably the lightest phrases to express your disagreement. 

Be careful with this one: it is rather rude unless used in a joking manner.

Ukrainians are rather straightforward. Avoid saying I’m not sure about that when you disagree: we will consider it as uncertainty instead of ‘no’.

Also, try explaining yourself so that people understand your reasoning. Instead of just leaving your partner with Я не погоджуюся, say Я не погоджуюся, тому що… and explain why. 

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We hope now you can say something instead of just nodding your head yes or shaking your head no, especially if you have a strong opinion about something. Now all you have to do is practice the expressions, правильно? 🙂

Do you want to learn more phrases in Ukrainian? Check our Blog category Phrases!

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