Convenience Store

1. Де тут найближчий продуктовий магазин?

   De tut nay-BLYZH-chyy pro-duk-TO-vyy ma-ha-ZYN?

   Where is the nearest grocery shop around here?

   Usage

   The Ukrainian equivalent of a convenience store is a small shop signed "продукти" (groceries), often on the ground floor of an apartment block. Supermarket chains such as ATB, Silpo and Varus also blanket the cities and are used alongside the corner shops

   Grammar Note

   Ukrainian forms the superlative with the prefix "най-": близький → ближчий → найближчий. one prefix does the whole job (Russian more commonly uses "самый" + adjective)

2. Ви працюєте цілодобово?

   Vy pra-TSYU-ye-te tsi-lo-do-BO-vo?

   Are you open around the clock?

   Usage

   A sign reading "цілодобово" or "24/7" means round-the-clock. Under martial law, though, a nightly curfew ("комендантська година") is in force and shops close during it. Start times vary by region — check with your accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "Цілодобово" combines "цілий" (whole) with "доба" (a full 24-hour day-and-night). Ukrainian distinguishes "доба" from "день" (daytime)

3. Пакет потрібен?

   Pa-KET po-TRIB-en?

   Do you need a bag?

   Usage

   Said by staff. Free distribution of lightweight plastic bags is restricted in Ukraine, so bags are charged for. Answer "Так, один" (yes, one) or "Ні, дякую" (no thanks). A reusable bag is an "еко-сумка"

   Grammar Note

   "Потрібен" agrees with the subject: потрібен (m) / потрібна (f) / потрібне (n) / потрібні (pl). "Пакет" is masculine, hence this form; with the feminine "сумка" you would say "сумка потрібна?"

4. Скільки коштує пакет?

   SKIL-ky KOSH-tu-ye pa-KET?

   How much is a bag?

   Usage

   Bags cost a few hryvnia and are priced by size. They appear as a separate "Пакет" line on the receipt. If you brought your own, say "У мене свій пакет"

   Grammar Note

   "Коштує" is the 3rd person singular of "коштувати" (to cost); for plural items use "коштують". The currency is the hryvnia (гривня)

5. Готівкою чи карткою?

   Ho-TIV-ko-yu chy KART-ko-yu?

   Cash or card?

   Usage

   Said by staff. Ukraine is heavily cashless and contactless works even in small shops. A one-word answer suffices: "Карткою" or "Готівкою". Phone payments are also widespread

   Grammar Note

   Means of payment take the instrumental: готівка → готівкою, картка → карткою. "Чи" links alternatives in a question and can also turn a statement into a yes/no question

6. Чи є мінімальна сума для оплати карткою?

   Chy ye mi-ni-MAL-na SU-ma dlya op-LA-ty KART-ko-yu?

   Is there a minimum amount for paying by card?

   Usage

   Card minimums are rare in urban Ukraine, where paying by card for anything is normal, but small owner-run shops in the regions or near markets may still prefer cash. Worth a quick check for a very small purchase

   Grammar Note

   Sentence-initial "чи" marks a yes/no question; it can be dropped, but including it sounds clearer and more polite. The preposition "для" governs the genitive, so "оплата" becomes "оплати"

7. Термінал не працює, тільки готівка.

   Ter-mi-NAL ne pra-TSYU-ye, TIL-ky ho-TIV-ka.

   The card terminal is down — cash only

   Usage

   Said by staff. Power cuts and network outages knock terminals offline, and then only cash works. Ukrainians live largely by card but many still carry some notes precisely for these moments

   Grammar Note

   "Готівка" is a feminine noun from "готовий" (ready) — literally "money at the ready". Here it stands in the nominative; "to pay in cash" would take the instrumental "готівкою"

8. У вас є наша картка лояльності?

   U vas ye NA-sha KART-ka lo-yal-NOS-ti?

   Do you have our loyalty card?

   Usage

   Said by staff. Member pricing is standard in Ukrainian chains, and shelf tags often show both the member and the regular price. If you have no card, just say "Ні". Many shops now scan a code in their app instead

   Grammar Note

   Possession uses "у + genitive + є + nominative". "Картка лояльності" is a genitive chain — "card of loyalty" — a very common way of building compound nouns in Ukrainian

9. Розігрійте це, будь ласка, у мікрохвильовці.

   Ro-zi-HRIY-te tse, bud LAS-ka, u mi-kro-khvy-LYOV-tsi.

   Could you heat this up in the microwave, please?

   Usage

   Ukrainian shops and supermarkets often have a hot deli counter ("кулінарія") where staff will warm food for you. It is not as routine as in Japan, and where there is no microwave you will hear "У нас немає мікрохвильовки"

   Grammar Note

   "Мікрохвильовка" is built from "мікро" + "хвиля" (wave) — literally the microwave machine. The locative preposition "у" triggers the locative case, changing the ending to "-ці"

10. Одну каву з собою, будь ласка.

    Od-NU KA-vu z so-BO-yu, bud LAS-ka.

    One coffee to go, please

    Usage

    Coffee culture runs deep in Ukraine and machines are everywhere — corner shops, kiosks, petrol stations. "Кава з собою" (coffee to go) is one of the most common signs on the street. Give the size as "маленька", "середня" or "велика"

    Grammar Note

    Ukrainian "кава" (coffee) is a feminine noun that declines — in contrast to Russian "кофе", which is masculine and indeclinable. In the accusative it becomes "каву", and the numeral agrees as feminine "одну"

11. До котрої години продають алкоголь?

    Do ko-TROY ho-DY-ny pro-da-YUT al-ko-HOL?

    Until what time is alcohol sold?

    Usage

    Under martial law, alcohol sales hours in Ukraine are set locally, and many cities including Kyiv ban night-time sales. The hours — and whether beer is included — vary by region and change over time, so ask in the shop

    Grammar Note

    The preposition "до" (until) governs the genitive, so both words shift: "котра година" → "котрої години". "Продають" is an indefinite-personal form with no stated subject, meaning "it is sold"

12. Чи можна забрати тут посилку Нової пошти?

    Chy MOZH-na za-BRA-ty tut po-SYL-ku NO-vo-yi POSH-ty?

    Can I pick up a Nova Poshta parcel here?

    Usage

    Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest courier, runs pick-up points inside small shops — look for the logo sticker on the door. Parcel lockers ("поштомат") often stand outside too, and travellers can use them for SIM cards or everyday deliveries

    Grammar Note

    "Можна" is an impersonal word meaning "one may / it is possible", followed by an infinitive. Slavic languages decline company names too: "Нова пошта" becomes the genitive "Нової пошти"

13. Магазин працює без світла?

    Ma-ha-ZYN pra-TSYU-ye bez SVIT-la?

    Is the shop open during a power cut?

    Usage

    Rolling blackouts continue in Ukraine, and most small shops keep trading on a generator ("генератор") or battery. During an outage, though, card terminals and chillers may be off, leaving cash as the only option. Colloquially "світло" (light) simply means electricity

    Grammar Note

    The preposition "без" (without) governs the genitive: "світло" → "світла". Everyday exchanges use "Є світло?" (is the power on?) and "Немає світла" (the power is out) constantly

14. Зважте це, будь ласка.

    ZVAZH-te tse, bud LAS-ka.

    Could you weigh this, please?

    Usage

    Fruit, vegetables, cheese and deli food in Ukrainian shops are sold by weight, with prices per kilo. Staff weigh the item and add a sticker. State the amount as "Двісті грамів" (200 grams) or "Півкіло" (half a kilo)

    Grammar Note

    "Зважити" (to weigh something) is the perfective of "важити" (to weigh, be heavy) with the prefix "з-"; the imperative is "зважте". "Будь ласка" literally means "be so kind" and serves both as "please" and as "you're welcome"

15. Який термін придатності у цього?

    Ya-KYY TER-min pry-DAT-nos-ti u TSYO-ho?

    What is the shelf life on this?

    Usage

    Near-date dairy and deli items usually carry a discount sticker. Packaging shows "Придатний до" (good until) followed by the date. Kefir ("кефір") and smetana ("сметана") have short shelf lives and are worth checking

    Grammar Note

    "Термін придатності" is a genitive chain — "term of fitness". "У цього" is the possessive "у + genitive" construction, with the demonstrative "це" taking the genitive form "цього"

16. Зараз повітряна тривога, спустіться в укриття.

    ZA-raz po-VIT-rya-na try-VO-ha, spus-TIT-sya v uk-RYT-tya.

    There's an air-raid alert — please go down to the shelter

    Usage

    Said by staff. During an alert many shops pause trading and direct customers to the nearest shelter ("укриття") — usually a metro station or a building's basement. Install the "Повітряна тривога" alert app for the duration of your stay

    Grammar Note

    "Спустіться" is the formal imperative of the reflexive verb "спуститися" (to go down). Directional "в" takes the accusative, and the neuter noun "укриття" looks the same in both cases. Worth memorising as a whole — you are likely to hear it

17. Дрібних не буде?

    DRIB-nykh ne BU-de?

    Have you got any small change?

    Usage

    Said by staff. Corner shops often run short of change, so a large note prompts this question; if you have none, say "Ні, вибачте". Sub-hryvnia coins ("копійки") have largely gone out of circulation, so totals are frequently rounded

    Grammar Note

    In negated existential sentences the object takes the genitive: "дрібні" → "дрібних". A negated future question ("не буде?") functions as a softened request, close to "you wouldn't happen to have…?"

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