HOW TO USE “ЩО” VS “ЯКИЙ” IN UKRAINIAN
If you’re learning Ukrainian, chances are you’ve stumbled upon these two tricky words: що and який. They both seem to mean "what" or "which" at times, but native speakers use them in different situations. Don’t worry! By the end of this fun and practical guide, you’ll stop mixing them up (well, at least 90% of the time — we're being realistic).
1. Let’s meet our confusing friends
• Що = what (used for things, questions, or conjunctions)
• Який / яка / яке / які = which / what kind of / that (as a relative pronoun)
They might look similar in English, but in Ukrainian they play different grammatical roles. It’s a bit like mistaking salt for sugar. Both white. Both grainy. Very different results in your coffee.
To help remember:
• Use що when you're asking “what is this thing?” or reporting speech.
• Use який when you're asking for specification — like “which one?” or “what kind of?”
2. Use “що” when you want to...
a) Ask a general "what" question:
• Що це? — What is this?
• Що ти хочеш? — What do you want?
• Що сталося? — What happened?
These are your classic what-questions. When in doubt, start with що!
b) Connect parts of a sentence (like "that"):
• Він сказав, що прийде завтра. — He said that he will come tomorrow.
• Я думаю, що це гарна ідея. — I think that this is a good idea.
Here, що acts more like glue, helping your ideas stick together.
3. Use “який” when you want to...
a) Ask "which one?" or describe something:
• Який твій улюблений фільм? — What is your favorite movie?
• Я не знаю, який сир вибрати. — I don't know which cheese to choose.
• Яка твоя улюблена книга? — What is your favorite book?
“Який” helps you be picky. You’re not just asking for any cheese — you want the right one.
b) Introduce a relative clause:
• Це фільм, який мені сподобався. — This is the movie that I liked.
• Вона купила сукню, яка була на знижці. — She bought a dress that was on sale.
Think of “який” as your storytelling assistant — it helps you add extra info.
4. Bonus tip: gender and case fun!
Unlike що (which never changes), який behaves like a fashion model — always changing outfits. It changes depending on gender, number, and case:
• який чоловік (which man)
• яка жінка (which woman)
• яке місце (which place)
• які люди (which people)
And when it gets into the accusative or genitive... let’s just say it enjoys drama. For example:
• Якого кольору твоя машина? — What color is your car?
• З якою подругою ти йдеш? — With which girlfriend are you going?
Still confused? Don’t worry. Even Ukrainians sometimes double-check their endings.
5. Common beginner mistakes
• ❌Що твій улюблений колір?
• ✅Який твій улюблений колір?
• ❌Який сталося?
• ✅Що сталося?
Pro tip: If it’s a what happened / what is this kind of question — it's що. If you’re describing or specifying something — go with який.
6. Quiz time!
Pick the correct word: що or який (in the correct form).
1. ______ ти читаєш? (What are you reading?)
2.Це кекс, ______ ми спекли учора. (This is the cake that we baked yesterday.)
3. ______ твій номер телефону? (What’s your phone number?)
4.Тепер я знаю, ______ книга мені потрібна. (Now I know which book I need.)
5.Він каже, ______ не має часу. (He says that he doesn’t have time.)
6.Я не знаю, ______ фільм подивитися. (I'm not sure which movie to watch.)
Answers:
1. Що
2. який
3. Що
4. яка
5. що
6. який
Final thoughts
Ukrainian is a beautiful language, full of surprises — like how one little word can change depending on gender, case, and your mood (just kidding… or are we?).
With some practice, you’ll stop confusing що and який and sound more and more like a local — or at least like a local who did their homework and isn't afraid of a few endings.
So next time you're in a Ukrainian café and want to ask “What is this mysterious dessert?” you’ll know exactly what to say:
• Що це? (What is this?)
• Or if you want to know what kind: Який це торт? (What kind of cake is this?)
Happy learning and remember: every mistake is just a stepping stone to fluency!