How To Learn Ukrainian: War Sparks Interest In Language

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  • Опубліковано 4 кві 2023
  • Celebrities in Kyiv, a businessman in Kharkiv, an interior designer from Crimea... they're all studying Ukrainian amid a growth in interest in learning the language among the country's native Russian speakers.
    Originally published at - www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russi...
    ***
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 127

  • @Gambol_25
    @Gambol_25 Рік тому +41

    I just want to give a hug to everyone who's learning Ukrainian! It's difficult, I know. I did it too and it was 1000% worth it. Now I've started forgetting words in ruzzian since I'm literally not using it at all xD. Godspeed to everyone on this journey!

  • @danieln9226
    @danieln9226 Рік тому +14

    I met a guy from Kyiv in 2021 and spoke to him in Ukrainian(I've been learning it for approx. 8 years at that point) and he sounded like speaking Ukrainian with a russian accent. Ofc it's probably because he spoke Surzhyk for the most part and I always find it kinda funny when they use it. Anyway, it's great that the people are learning their actual language and not the language of those who have been trying to overpower them for centuries. I hope Kazakhstan, Belarus and all former USSR nations would follow suit.

    • @magdagama8779
      @magdagama8779 Рік тому +3

      IT IS NEVER too late TO LEARN anything. ...MORE KNOWLEDGE. ...MORE POWER anyone HAVE! !

  • @1midnightfish
    @1midnightfish Рік тому +45

    Thank you for this video, obviously it's good news that this is happening but I also find it fascinating from the viewpoint of someone learning Ukrainian from scratch with no Slavic background (English-Italian bilingual). I feel I'm part of a huge community of people learning Ukrainian, and some of them are Ukrainians! A good thing happening for a terrible reason is still a good thing. Слава українському народові 💙💛

  • @OstblockLatina
    @OstblockLatina Рік тому +41

    It's a most commendable effort, to switch from one language to another in the adult age, and not an easy one I believe. I admire that greatly.

    • @fredericgadoury6610
      @fredericgadoury6610 Рік тому

      Russian and Ukrainian languages are very close. I started learning Russian 4 years ago and when I hear Ukrainian, it's not obvious to me to tell the difference.

    • @adoatero5129
      @adoatero5129 Рік тому +1

      @@fredericgadoury6610 They are close languages, but there are a lot of differences. For example a Russian, who's one parent is Russian speaking and the other Ukrainian speaking (I don't remember which was which), said that when he started translating comments and videos from this war, he only understood Russian and had to learn Ukrainian, putting quite a lot of effort to it, to be able to translate that too. Another one put it this way: an average Russian from Russia probably can't even tell the subject of what two average Ukrainians are talking about, when it's an everyday matter. The closer the common border the people live, the better chance they have understanding something about what the other says. It's important to remember that until now all Ukrainians have studied Russian at school (to my knowing) at least for eight years, so that obviously helps common understanding a lot.

  • @NikkiOwen
    @NikkiOwen Рік тому +39

    I have almost completed Ukrainian on Duolingo. They seriously need to add more content to the app. As an English speaker, it's not the easiest language to learn but it is beautiful and I find the app fun. Slava Ukraini ✊️ Heroyam Slava ✊️ 🇺🇦 ♥️ 🇬🇧

    • @als1023
      @als1023 Рік тому +10

      Thanks for posting ! English speakers struggle greatly with slavic, latin based is so easy compared to.

    • @markiyanhapyak349
      @markiyanhapyak349 Рік тому +3

      Дякую…!

    • @1midnightfish
      @1midnightfish Рік тому +1

      Search on YT, lots of great content, all levels. I've been learning ukrainian for a year now, no Duolingo

    • @NikkiOwen
      @NikkiOwen Рік тому +1

      @@1midnightfish Thank you for your suggestion, I will do that 😊

    • @markiyanhapyak349
      @markiyanhapyak349 Рік тому

      WHY do people delete their OWN comments…?…‽

  • @stephanieyee9784
    @stephanieyee9784 Рік тому +24

    This is great news for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I feel sorry for those who have grown up speaking Russian but now feel betrayed by her. As the man from Kharvik said, "Who are the Russians supposedly protecting him from?".
    It's nice to hear that some older people are speaking Ukrainian with their families. Sad though that others have felt the need to cut ties.
    Hang in there Ukraine 🇺🇦.

    • @UtilityCurve
      @UtilityCurve Рік тому

      Ironically, Ukrainians need most to be protected from Russians.

  • @c.a.saunders2819
    @c.a.saunders2819 Рік тому +5

    Awesome news, and work by this lady, and those doing similar work. It's a very important and noble pursuit. I applaud them all as patriots, and supporters of Ukraine.
    Russia shall never govern Ukraine.
    🇺🇲🇺🇦
    Glory to God,
    Victory for Ukraine,
    Rise Free Nations!

  • @jayjones7891
    @jayjones7891 4 місяці тому +1

    I have been learning Ukrainian for almost a year. Beautiful language.

  • @MrKim-kv2vv
    @MrKim-kv2vv Рік тому +2

    Sweet, need to see more participants.
    🙋🏼

  • @Fre3domAction
    @Fre3domAction Рік тому +1

    I was 20 when I fled to USA as a political refugee, I almost didn't know any English except for "Hello, How are you". Took about a year to just learn basic day to day words and still compared to native ppl I speak slowly and less fluent after 15 years!! what this young women are doing is truly hard and challenging yet they've so much love and determination for their cause they've tried to switch their language !! They wanna be free from anything related to occupiers, real patriots👍👍✌✌✌

  • @ernestoreyes8732
    @ernestoreyes8732 Рік тому +4

    Yo te amo...Ukraena !!! " Land of the Braves " !!!😊

  • @marinettebrosnan8453
    @marinettebrosnan8453 Рік тому +1

    Beloved Ukranians we love love you
    Would love to learn the language of the most incredible amazing wonderfull proud country in the world
    From Southafrica xxx

  • @thedustyhead
    @thedustyhead Рік тому +7

    A Ukrainian girl that speaks both Russian and Ukrainian, but since the invasion she refuses to speak Russian again . She also speaks English a little Polish a little French and little Japanese . .... She said she really hurt her head learning English .

  • @umjackd
    @umjackd Рік тому +5

    I'm one of the Duolingo users who started learning Ukrainian last year.
    Didn't keep up with it though! All my new Ukrainian friends here speak better English haha

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 Рік тому

      BS. Don't give up. Ukrainian is one of the most beautiful languages in the world.

  • @Inkling777
    @Inkling777 Рік тому +2

    Good for them! There may be practical reasons to know Russian, but there are important reasons to treat it as a foreign language. Also, I would not be surprised if in the years that follow Ukraine takes additional steps. They could change their Russian-gauge rail lines to the European standard. That would make travel westward easier. They might begin to replace their Cyrilic script with a Roman one like Poland. And since I plan to travel Eastern Europe next spring on a Eurail pass, I'd love to see their beautiful country become the 34th in which that pass can be used.

    • @magdagama8779
      @magdagama8779 Рік тому +1

      YOU FORGET TO SAID THAT UKRAINE NEED NEED TO CHANGE HORRIBLE architecture TOO! ! THAT russian architecture IT IS HORRIBLE, MONSTRUOUS WITHOUT NO sense at all! !
      MORE GREENSPACES IN CITIES AND LESS gigant and LESS blocks of ciment. ...MORE WOOD AND ANCIENT STONE FROM UKRAINE! !
      URBAN REHABILITATION YES BUT WITH LOCAL MATERIAL AND MORE architecture design WITH SENSE LIKE NORDIC COUNTRIES! !!

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 Рік тому

      My God people- my brother is right. You need a psychiatrist.

  • @heathercraig526
    @heathercraig526 Рік тому

    Very interesting..thankyou 👍👍❤❤🇦🇺

  • @KougaJ7
    @KougaJ7 Рік тому

    *Good!*

  • @stockholm3976
    @stockholm3976 Рік тому +7

    I live in Stockholm and speak little Russian after 30 years of learning, bit by bit every year. I feel everything is spoiled now. I start to learn Ukrainian instead. It wont take 30 years but maybe 5 - 10. I know cyrillic, only 4 characters differ from the 2 languages. And, of course, many words are about the same, about 50 %.

    • @aktraining3747
      @aktraining3747 Рік тому

      there is only ONE Slavic language , same as ONE Arabic , yet many dialects even in one country . So "Russian" language is fake label

    • @umegghju
      @umegghju Рік тому +4

      @@aktraining3747 I learned polish and i cannot understand Russian, Ucrainian, Croatian... of course I catch some words. But it is not ONE language. It was, ONE language, but not anymore. Most of the grammar is similar, but if you cannot understand, sorry, no intelligibility means different languages.

    • @1midnightfish
      @1midnightfish Рік тому +3

      @@aktraining3747 What utter rubbish

    • @aktraining3747
      @aktraining3747 Рік тому

      @@1midnightfish you full of shit . welcome

    • @aktraining3747
      @aktraining3747 Рік тому

      @@umegghju I even not sorry for your poor mental ability , you may be lust moron who disable to respect identity "PIVO" & "PYVO"

  • @user-ez1dq4vp1b
    @user-ez1dq4vp1b 7 місяців тому

    ❤❤❤

  • @umegghju
    @umegghju Рік тому

    3:10 that is impressive, I can't imagine a person like that man.

  • @mrfixit8776
    @mrfixit8776 Рік тому +6

    Being born in Odesa, Russian was the language all my family had spoken... In America we continue to speak Russian, but speak mostly English to my neice and nephew. Also being Jewish, we try to use Yiddish mixed with Russian. I do kind of want to learn Ukrainian, as I know it will be a journey to learn that language as the dialect sounds different.

    • @mrfixit8776
      @mrfixit8776 Рік тому

      @Thomas Singer I can definitely understand some sounds and at times know which path the conversation could be going.

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 Рік тому +1

      By all means- but don't tie it to politics. Learn Ukrainian because it's one of the most beautiful languages in the world.

  • @brandonc5965
    @brandonc5965 4 місяці тому

    I 👍

  • @linass3565
    @linass3565 Рік тому +1

    As a Ukrainian I want to say that a few years ago it became popular for parents moving from rusian speaking cities to the west of Ukraine to create fully Ukrainian speaking environment for their small children, I hope in the future there will be no need for such actions

  • @72stones43
    @72stones43 Рік тому +2

    Good people support good things, let all evil people learn.

  • @endres5628
    @endres5628 Рік тому +1

    We had to learn russian language in school. I also learned french...both was totally waste of time for me lol. I have nothing to do with both countries. What I would like to learn is to
    know the difference between russian and ukranian language. I hear ukranian (I suppose) speaking people on the streets of Budapest. Anyway, putler achieved one thing in his whole life,
    everybody hates russian people now. I should hate them too, since they killed my grandmother in 1956... a tragedy my mother never speak about since then. But I know some russian people
    through the internet whom are very good people. I hope they can go back to their home country one day...

  • @jamesbohlman4297
    @jamesbohlman4297 Рік тому

    In the coming years, there will be a lot more familiarization of both the Ukrainian and Polish languages in some historically unlikely circles.

  • @peterbiesbroek
    @peterbiesbroek Рік тому +3

    Very well, strong initiative..
    Succes!

    • @mpakakas3518
      @mpakakas3518 Рік тому

      american money can get you many things.

    • @LoeZack
      @LoeZack Рік тому

      ​@@mpakakas3518 ok Ivan

    • @mpakakas3518
      @mpakakas3518 Рік тому

      @@LoeZack is it not true M@r@n? (the word "m@r@n" here used as a first name, and/or as nationality indicative, not as an insult)

  • @magdagama8779
    @magdagama8779 Рік тому +1

    ME TOO WANT TO LEARN UKRAINIAN IN portugal TOO! ! SINCE I HEARD OF THIS HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE THAT russians are doing in UKRAINE since 2022! !! AND even more behind! !!

  • @imaginemetoo
    @imaginemetoo Рік тому +4

    Melodic Ukrainian language....
    SLAVA UKRAINI 🇺🇦✌️💙💛

  • @Maaruks
    @Maaruks Рік тому +3

    I would love to learn Ukrainian.

  • @brandonc5965
    @brandonc5965 4 місяці тому

    English is very easy to learn for ukranians i see

  • @ririgala1741
    @ririgala1741 Рік тому +1

    Awesome! There are many forms of rebellion! Great job!!

  • @UtilityCurve
    @UtilityCurve Рік тому +3

    Your children might be vexatious, your history with them fraught and frayed, but to not adore your grandchildren, brand-new pages in the story of your family, is inhuman.
    I do not project that inhumanity onto all Russians (who, incidentally, conceive of themselves as the mist "family-oriented" culture in earth), but it seems clear that it takes precisely that trait to wage war on a peaceful neighbor.

  • @jonathangomes8600
    @jonathangomes8600 Рік тому +1

    I’m from Brazil and i’m studying ukrainian language. I’m using the duolingo, but is very hard. Anyway, after the war I’ll visit ukraine, specially lviv, Kyiv and Kharkiv

  • @Inkling777
    @Inkling777 Рік тому +1

    Here is Audry Hepburn speaking five languages with near fluency, including her native Dutch. Why isn't German among them? Because as a young girl she endured five years of German occupation. Many Ukrainians are coming to feel much the same about speaking Russian. ua-cam.com/video/Jx2TBOM4Wlw/v-deo.html

  • @mnblkjh6757
    @mnblkjh6757 Рік тому +4

    🇺🇦👍

  • @just_a_turtle_chad
    @just_a_turtle_chad Рік тому +3

    What did they speak before learning Ukrainian?

    • @Grek1574
      @Grek1574 Рік тому +2

      ru

    • @yvonnetomenga5726
      @yvonnetomenga5726 Рік тому +10

      @Just a turtle • Did you watch the video before you posted your question? The answer appears multiple times throughout the clip.

    • @bps7209
      @bps7209 Рік тому +4

      are you kidding?

    • @OstblockLatina
      @OstblockLatina Рік тому +9

      A huge part of Ukrainian lands and its population had been subjected to an all-encompassing process of cultural cleansing by the Soviet Union for decades. One of the results being a large number of Ukrainians, especially in the center and east of Ukraine, speak Russian as their mother tongue, instead of in Ukrainian. You could see a numbr of videos about that on a YT channel of Anna from Ukraine, and also in a video about Ukrainian language on Langfocus YT channel.

    • @fordwrc2006
      @fordwrc2006 Рік тому +4

      Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😂

  • @llywrch7116
    @llywrch7116 Рік тому

    I'll be happy if I can learn the Cyrillic alphabet.

  • @Maaruks
    @Maaruks Рік тому

    They should do the same in Latvia. They should learn Latvian.

  • @DipankarCare-en4lt
    @DipankarCare-en4lt Рік тому

    Great! What about learning NATO language next!

    • @diogorodrigues747
      @diogorodrigues747 Рік тому +1

      There is no NATO language.

    • @DipankarCare-en4lt
      @DipankarCare-en4lt Рік тому

      @@diogorodrigues747 u r so wise 😇

    • @als1023
      @als1023 Рік тому

      @@diogorodrigues747 NATO conducts in English, for the most part.

    • @DipankarCare-en4lt
      @DipankarCare-en4lt Рік тому

      @@sieuwkedevries5211 😊👌

    • @coffeelink943
      @coffeelink943 Рік тому

      The joke doesn’t even make sense, use your brain if you want to have a better comeback because that was pathetic what you just said. You can just say non English speaking countries of NATO should switch to English.

  • @fordwrc2006
    @fordwrc2006 Рік тому

    It’s like Welsh though it’s only spoken in one country - Russian is spoke in about 15 countries.

    • @susanwestern6434
      @susanwestern6434 Рік тому +3

      Apparently Ukrainian is more lilting and musical than Russian. A bit like Welsh.

  • @bgpobeda
    @bgpobeda Рік тому +1

    Ukrainian language is part of Bulgarian languages. Have definition ,,Sloveni/ Slovenes": there is a nickname for people who are not Bulgarians but speak and/or write in Bulgarian. From ,,speech”, in Bulgarian mean ,,slovo”. Slovak is supposed for any other foreigner who speech Bulgarian. Slovar = dictionary. But Russian propaganda in last 300 years enforces false political terminology for ,,Slavic” nation, and ,,Kirilic” alphabet ! (,,Slava” is also Bulgarian word for ,,Glory”).

  • @davidmiles-hanschell
    @davidmiles-hanschell Рік тому +4

    Slava Ukraini

  • @svilenkondakov4997
    @svilenkondakov4997 Рік тому +3

    When language and culture becomes tied to politics, it's sad.
    Please consider it'll one day happen with English too.

    • @Gambol_25
      @Gambol_25 Рік тому +1

      So the entire world has been sad from the begining? I agree then

    • @muzaiacmu4757
      @muzaiacmu4757 Рік тому +2

      French was once the main language of international communication. And no one believed that it would ever change, because no one could imagine why it should be changed. But now we see that the main language is English. And it seems to us again that it is forever. And I'm sure we're wrong again. There is nothing eternal.

  • @brandonc5965
    @brandonc5965 4 місяці тому

    Speak ur native tongue no MATTER

  • @valevisa8429
    @valevisa8429 Рік тому

    Let's not go that far,i am not interested in any language which resembles Russian.

  • @DacianRider
    @DacianRider Рік тому +9

    rip the chains !! hope Moldova will do the same.

  • @grimyGobIin
    @grimyGobIin Рік тому

    Most important word is Pideras they say it alot🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

  • @hehehhaw
    @hehehhaw Рік тому

    Propaganda!

  • @Pro-jc7sn
    @Pro-jc7sn Рік тому +2

    Russia 💪🇷🇺

    • @sdk4422
      @sdk4422 Рік тому

      обезьяний разговор

    • @imaginemetoo
      @imaginemetoo Рік тому +1

      💤🕳️🌻

  • @borisb1831
    @borisb1831 Рік тому

    Learn Russian instead of some made up nonsense

  • @alanhyt79
    @alanhyt79 Рік тому +14

    All russians should learn Ukrainian and should forget the russian language.
    They can start by repeating the phrase: Slava Ukraini!

    • @bps7209
      @bps7209 Рік тому

      Don't flatter yourself, Ukraine is just as corrupt as Russia.

    • @brentjamescollins9731
      @brentjamescollins9731 Рік тому +1

      @@bps7209 Not according to the latest evidence! Brent Collins.

    • @mrseinfeld
      @mrseinfeld Рік тому +3

      😂 good one!

    • @bps7209
      @bps7209 Рік тому

      @@brentjamescollins9731 your word? 👌

    • @onlyfanscorki2003
      @onlyfanscorki2003 Рік тому

      This nigga with audacity 😅

  • @sharong8511
    @sharong8511 Рік тому +3

    The man @2:21 has epic hair!

  • @mpakakas3518
    @mpakakas3518 Рік тому

    I just wonder.... What would we say if Russians were trying to teach their language to ukrainian speaking people....
    How would we call that.... hmmmm....

    • @1midnightfish
      @1midnightfish Рік тому

      russians have been forcibly doing that to Ukrainians for centuries

    • @muzaiacmu4757
      @muzaiacmu4757 Рік тому +1

      What do you mean by "trying"? In all occupied territories, this is the first thing they do. Immediately implement Russian in schools, Russian educational programs. This is what they did in Crimea eight years ago. And those people. who were evacuated to Russia, and try to speak Ukrainian, and at least somehow preserve their national identity, are declared as potential terrorists.

    • @mpakakas3518
      @mpakakas3518 Рік тому

      @@muzaiacmu4757 Are you really so ret@rded? Are you seriously so f***ed up in the head? You are not joking with me right??
      I am sorry, but it is very hard to me to fathom the st00peedity of the people talking to me sometimes.... The abyss of severe ret@rdation...
      Jesus man... you are on the spectrum....
      We leave in 21st century man. People have internet. Russians can not be "evacuated" somewhere without their will. This is not the 15th century to drag people like cattle to other territories.... The internet would be full of people crying and complaining. The only ones we have are the western media....
      Man, did you actually go to school? It's ok if you didn't. There are a lot of illiterate guys out there. You have rights in life too....
      The eastern part of Ukraine is full solid ethnic russian population. That is why they were always VOTING for pro_russian parties before the 2014 coup.
      ahahahahaaaa what did you think? Putin blackmailed them to vote for his friends, or he would invade? 🤣🤣🤣That is why there was a coup in Kiev. That's why the Ukrainians forbid pro_russian parties (even those voted in parliament). That is why Ukrainians forbid russian language in schools.
      Russians are there some 1000 years now yoooooo !!!!!!!
      Are you really so illiterate? tell me you are joking man... I can't fucking believe it...
      st00peedity is endless....

  • @asanitationstompout8473
    @asanitationstompout8473 Рік тому +5

    Apr5
    There's over 704.9k Russian casualties/ Russian military death toll in Ukraine rises to 176,240 KIAs, w/ over 528.7k wounded. There were at least 550 KIAs last night. .. ... and also over 1.2k total casualties last night...
    Keep up that bodycount, don't stop, UA. Your people are counting on you.
    👉🏿ukrinform|minusrus

    • @bps7209
      @bps7209 Рік тому

      The propaganda channel paid for by Americans? Everything else is.

    • @CaptainGrimes1
      @CaptainGrimes1 Рік тому

      Did you pull those figures out from your ass?😂😂😂Or did the ghost of Kiev kill them all 😜

    • @mpakakas3518
      @mpakakas3518 Рік тому

      how can you be so ret@rded man?? honestly. are you trying hard? is it difficult?
      I tried to speak or think ret@rd but I can't do it. you must be some kind of talent.

  • @BlackOpsSucksBallz
    @BlackOpsSucksBallz Рік тому +2

    👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 So much for pootler needing to defend ruSSian speakers in Ukraine, even they don’t want anything to do with ruSSian language now BECAUSE of pootler