Stress
A0–A2Foundations 5 min
Ukrainian stress is free and mobile: it can fall on any syllable, move between the forms of a word and tell words apart. Stress tells words apart: за́мок ≠ замо́к
No information at the current level. This view starts at A0: choose A0 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at A0: choose A0 or a higher level.
CheatsheetA0–A2
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| One stress | each word has one stressed syllable | ма́ма / вода́ | mum / water |
| Free stress | it can fall on any syllable | мо́ре / доро́га / молоко́ | sea / road / milk |
| Stress mark | learning texts and dictionaries mark it; ordinary texts do not | кни́жка | book |
| A1Mobile stress | it moves between the forms of one word | рука́ → ру́ку | hand → hand |
| A1Plural | in the plural, the stress often moves | сестра́ → се́стри | sister → sisters |
| A2Different words | stress tells apart words spelt the same | за́мок ≠ замо́к | castle ≠ lock |
| A2Different forms | stress tells apart forms of one word | мої́ ру́ки ≠ моє́ї руки́ | my hands ≠ of my hand |
| A2Two options | some words take either stress | по́милка = поми́лка | mistake = mistake |
| A1Trap | in the numbers 11–19, the stress falls on -на́- | одина́дцять / чотирна́дцять | eleven / fourteen |
Stress in a wordA0
- A word has one stressed syllable: its vowel sounds a little longer and clearer. ма́ма / вода́ — mum / water
- Stress is free: it can fall on the first, second, third or any other syllable. мо́ре / доро́га / молоко́ — sea / road / milk
- Learning texts and dictionaries mark stress over the vowel; ordinary texts do not write it. кни́жка — book
- Words of one syllable carry no stress mark. ліс / дім / хліб — forest / home / bread
Mobile stressA1
| Form | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| nominative → accusative | рука́ → ру́ку / вода́ → во́ду / голова́ → го́лову | hand → hand / water → water / head → head |
| singular → plural | сестра́ → се́стри / село́ → се́ла / вікно́ → ві́кна | sister → sisters / village → villages / window → windows |
- Stress can move in another form of the same word, so learn each new form with its stress. Я ба́чу го́ру. — I can see the mountain.
Stress that tells words and forms apartA2
| Pair | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| за́мок ≠ замо́к | Ми ї́демо до за́мку. / Не мо́жу відімкну́ти замо́к. | We're going to the castle. / I can't open the lock. |
| доро́га ≠ дорога́ | Це доро́га до Льво́ва. / Ти мені́ дорога́. | This is the road to Lviv. / You're dear to me. |
| ру́ки ≠ руки́ | мої́ ру́ки / без моє́ї руки́ | my hands / without my hand |
- Some words take either stress: по́милка = поми́лка / за́вжди = завжди́ — mistake = mistake / always = always
Syllables and line breaksA1
- A word has as many syllables as it has vowels: мо-ло-ко́ / шко́-ла / ліс — milk / school / forest
- A word is split at the end of a line by syllables, and a single letter is never left on the line or carried over: ву́-ли-ця / кни́ж-ка / кни́-жка — street / book / book
- The letters ь and й stay with the letter before them: си́ль-ний / бі́й-ка — strong / fight
IntonationA1
| Sentence | Voice | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| statement | falls at the end | Це мій брат. ↘ | This is my brother. |
| question without a question word | rises on the word the question is about | Це твій брат? ↗ | Is this your brother? |
| question with a question word | falls at the end | Де ти живе́ш? ↘ | Where do you live? |
| exclamation | the voice rises and grows stronger on the key word | Яки́й га́рний день! | What a lovely day! |
Typical errorsA1–A2
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| оди́надцять | одина́дцять | 11–19 are stressed on -на́-; the other stress comes from Russian |
| чоти́рнадцять | чотирна́дцять | the stress falls on -на́- |
| до́чка | дочка́ | in the singular, дочка́ is stressed on the ending |
| A2кіло́метр | кіломе́тр | the stress falls on -ме́тр |
| A2випа́док | ви́падок | the stress falls on the first syllable: ви́падок |