10 UKRAINIAN WORDS THAT HAVE NO EXACT ENGLISH EQUIVALENT (AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THEM AWESOME)

Learning Ukrainian and think that “thank you,” “please,” and “salo” is where it ends? Oh no, my friend. There’s a whole universe of words that Google Translate will cry over, but your soul will celebrate. The Ukrainian language is incredibly rich, expressive, and full of surprises. With over 250,000 words (and growing!), it’s not just about nouns and verbs — it’s about feeling, imagery, and those subtle shades of meaning that can’t always be captured in a dictionary.

Some words are formed through centuries of folklore, poetry, and everyday life. Others reflect deep cultural values — like family bonds, emotional states, or even how we drink tea when we’re feeling nostalgic. There are also fun modern slang words and clever expressions that evolve faster than your language app can keep up.

Here are 10 Ukrainian words that don’t translate cleanly — because they carry history, emotion, and culture in every syllable.
The untranslatable Ukrainian mini-dictionary:

1. Ту́га (tuha) – not just sadness. It’s poetic, deep, rainy-day, drinking-tea-while-missing-your-ex kind of sadness. “I feel this strange туга today… even the cat looks philosophical.”
2. Паляни́ця (palianytsia) – a type of bread, yes. But also a cultural password to spot non-natives (especially during wartime). “Say ‘palianytsia’ — we’ll know who you are.”
3. Кума́ / Кум (kuma / kum) – godparents or extremely close friends. They help raise your kids, plan weddings, and may or may not run for parliament with you. “The kum is here — pour the drinks!”
4. Ма́ндри (mandry) – not just travel — it’s a journey of the soul, an escape, an adventure. “Off on my mandry to find myself… and maybe some espresso.”
5. Пощасти́ло (poshchastylo) – It just happened to work out. Luck smiled, no effort required. “I got a front-row seat — просто пощастило!”
6. Джерело́ (dzherelo) – a source — of water, wisdom, or spiritual power. It often feels a bit magical. “Let’s go to the джерело — body and soul both need healing.”
7. Нишком (nyshkom) – sneakily, quietly, with a touch of mischief. “We finished the cake нишком. Grandma will never know.”
8. Хатка (khatka) – a little house, but said with love and warmth. A cozy, safe place. “Can’t wait to get back to my хатка and chill.”
9. Насна́га (nasnaha) – creative drive or inner energy to do something good and meaningful. “Wishing you наснага in your studies and life!”
10. Витівка (vytyvka) – a playful prank or mischief, usually harmless and funny. “What’s this витівка with the cat and a sock?”

These words won’t just teach you vocabulary — they’ll teach you how Ukrainians feel, think, and joke. Mastering them will make you sound less like a textbook and more like someone who’s been to a Ukrainian бабуся’s kitchen.
Where do you find these magical words?

You won’t always see them in a beginner’s textbook. But if you:

• read Ukrainian folk tales, poems, or modern novels (even children’s books!),
• listen to Ukrainian songs (like folk or indie),
• watch Ukrainian movies,
• or chat with a real бабуся (grandma)...

…you’ll discover a treasure chest of unique words that don’t quite exist in English, but make total sense once you feel them.
How to learn them?

• Make your own “untranslatable” list — every time you see a word that feels different or “deeper” than the English version.
• Use apps like Anki or a notebook to track them.
• Try writing little stories using these words.
• Or even better — act them out! Can you show what “наснага” or “нишком” looks like? (Bonus: your friends will love it.)

Language isn’t just grammar — it’s a way to experience a culture from the inside out. And Ukrainian? It’s got soul, spice, and a little bit of mischief. Let’s dive in.