TOP 10 UKRAINIAN IDIOMS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SOUND NATIVE

Learning a language is not just about grammar and vocabulary — it’s about catching the vibe, the spirit, and, most importantly, the idioms. Ukrainian idioms are colorful, often hilarious, and packed with cultural wisdom. Use these ten idioms, and you’ll sound like a true Ukrainian, not just a tourist ordering borscht!

1. “Під лежачий камінь вода не тече”

Pid lezhachyy kamin’ voda ne teche

Literal: Water doesn’t flow under a lying stone.

Meaning: You won’t get anywhere if you do nothing.

Try it next time your friend complains about not having a job while binge-watching Netflix.

2. “Без труда нема плода”

Bez truda nema ploda

Literal: Without effort, there is no fruit.

Meaning: No pain, no gain.

Perfect for motivating your lazy roommate or yourself before hitting the gym.

3. “Як сніг на голову”

Yak snih na holovu

Literal: Like snow on the head.

Meaning: Something unexpected, usually bad, like a bolt from the blue.

When your plans fall apart, you can say this — it’s a classic!

4. “Водити за ніс”

Vodyty za nis

Literal: To lead by the nose.

Meaning: To trick or deceive someone.

Use it when your sibling “borrows” your stuff and never returns it.

5. “Як дві краплі води”

Yak dvi krapli vody

Literal: Like two drops of water.

Meaning: Exactly alike, like two peas in a pod.

Great when talking about identical twins or your friend who copies your style.

6. “Душа в п’ятах”

Dusha v pyatakh

Literal: Soul in the heels.

Meaning: To be very scared or nervous.

Use this idiom when watching a horror movie or before a big presentation.

7. “На гарячу голову”

Na haryachu holovu

Literal: On a hot head.

Meaning: Acting impulsively or without thinking.

Perfect to describe those moments when you buy 10 pizzas at midnight just because.

8. “Пальцем в небо”

Paltsem v nebo

Literal: With a finger in the sky.

Meaning: A wild guess, shooting in the dark.

Try this when you’re totally clueless but need to give an answer anyway.

9. “Не в своїй тарілці”

Ne v svoiy tariltsi

Literal: Not in one’s own plate.

Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or out of place.

When you’re at a fancy party but just want to be home in pajamas, this phrase is your friend.

10. “З вогню та в полум’я”

Z vohnyu ta v polum’ya

Literal: From fire into flame.

Meaning: Out of the frying pan into the fire.

Use it when your “solution” makes things worse, like trying to fix a leak with duct tape and flooding the house.

Here’s a travel story packed with all those Ukrainian idioms!

John had dreamed about traveling around Ukraine for a long time, but he knew that під лежачий камінь вода не тече — nothing moves if you do nothing — so he finally packed his bags and set off.

The first day was great, but on the second — як сніг на голову — out of the blue — his minibus broke down in the middle of a field. John tried to пальцем в небо — guess — when the next one would come, but it felt like водити за ніс — being led around with no info at all.

In the new town, John felt не в своїй тарілці — out of place — because no one spoke English and he lost his map. But he remembered: без труда нема плода — no pain, no gain — so he went to look for help.

Along the way, he met a couple who were як дві краплі води — like two drops of water — very similar. They told him they also once bought tickets на гарячу голову — on a whim — and ended up in trouble too.

And when John decided to climb a mountain on his own, his trekking pole broke — з вогню та в полум’я — out of the frying pan into the fire!

But despite all the difficulties, John smiled and thought: під лежачий камінь вода не тече. Every adventure makes the trip better!

So, next time you want to impress a Ukrainian friend or just spice up your conversations, drop these idioms in! Your language skills will thank you, and you’ll sound like a true local — even if you still get lost in Kyiv’s streets.