Directions

1. Де знаходиться Собор Святої Софії?

   De zna-KHO-dyt-sya so-BOR svya-TOI so-FI-yi?

   Where is Saint Sophia's Cathedral?

   Usage

   Used to ask directions to Kyiv's UNESCO World Heritage cathedral

   Grammar Note

   "Знаходитися" (to be located) is a reflexive verb. The suffix "-ться" marks reflexive verbs in Ukrainian

2. Ідіть прямо, потім поверніть ліворуч

   i-DIT PRYA-mo, PO-tim po-ver-NIT li-vo-RUCH

   Go straight, then turn left

   Usage

   Basic phrase for giving directions

   Grammar Note

   Directions: "праворуч" (right), "ліворуч" (left), "прямо" (straight). "Потім" means "then/after"

3. Як далеко пішки?

   Yak da-LE-ko PISH-ky?

   How far on foot?

   Usage

   Used to ask how far a destination is on foot

   Grammar Note

   "Пішки" is an adverb meaning "on foot." Replace with "на таксі" (by taxi) or "на метро" (by metro)

4. Де найближча станція метро?

   De nay-BLYZHCHA STAN-tsi-ya met-RO?

   Where is the nearest metro station?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest metro station in Kyiv

   Grammar Note

   "Найближча" is the feminine superlative of "близький" (close). Kyiv metro has 3 lines with famous Soviet-era artistic stations

5. Покажіть мені на карті, будь ласка

   po-ka-ZHIT me-NI na KAR-ti, bud LAS-ka

   Please show me on the map

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are unclear and you need the location shown on a map

   Grammar Note

   "На + locative" means "on." "Карта" (map) takes the locative form "карті"

6. Поверніть праворуч на світлофорі

   po-ver-NIT pra-vo-RUCH na svit-lo-FO-ri

   Turn right at the traffic light

   Usage

   Used to give directions using a traffic light as a landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Світлофор" (traffic light) is masculine; locative form is "світлофорі." The locative case indicates place or time

7. Чи правильно я іду до центру?

   Chy PRA-vyl-no ya i-DU do TSEN-tru?

   Am I going in the right direction to the city centre?

   Usage

   Used to confirm you are heading in the correct direction towards the city centre

   Grammar Note

   "До + genitive" means "to/towards." "Центр" (centre) takes the genitive form "центру"

8. Який автобус їде до Львова?

   ya-KYY av-TO-bus yi-DE do LVO-va?

   Which bus goes to Lviv?

   Usage

   Used to find a bus to Lviv, the beautiful western Ukrainian city

   Grammar Note

   "Львів" (Lviv) takes genitive form "Львова." Proper nouns in Ukrainian also decline through cases

9. Пройдіть повз Майдан

   proy-DIT povz may-DAN

   Pass by the Maidan (Independence Square)

   Usage

   Used to give directions using Kyiv's famous Maidan Nezalezhnosti as a landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Повз + accusative" means "past/by." Maidan is the central square of Kyiv and a symbol of Ukrainian civic identity

10. Я заблукав

    Ya za-blu-KAV

    I am lost

    Usage

    Used when lost and asking for help. Females say "Я заблукала"

    Grammar Note

    Ukrainian past tense varies by gender: masculine -в, feminine -ла, neuter -ло, plural -ли

11. Праворуч

    Pravoruch

    Right

    Usage

    One word to show a taxi driver; readable at a glance while driving

12. Ліворуч

    Livoruch

    Left

    Usage

    One word to show a taxi driver

13. Прямо

    Priamo

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show this to keep going straight

14. Назад

    Nazad

    Back / turn around

    Usage

    Show this when you have gone too far and need to turn back

15. Зупиніться тут

    Zupynitsia tut

    Stop here

    Usage

    Formal imperative shown to a taxi or bus driver to be let off

16. Автобусна зупинка

    Avtobusna zupynka

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Show it to a passer-by to ask where the bus stop is

17. Метро

    Metro

    Metro (subway)

    Usage

    Used when looking for a metro entrance; Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have metro systems

18. Посольство

    Posolstvo

    Embassy

    Usage

    Shows you want to reach an embassy; the country follows in the genitive, e.g. "посольство Японії"

19. Банкомат

    Bankomat

    ATM

    Usage

    Show this to ask where you can withdraw cash

20. Обмін валют

    Obmin valiut

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Used when looking for an exchange booth; the same wording appears on their signs

21. Пральня самообслуговування

    Pralnia samoobsluhovuvannia

    Self-service laundry

    Usage

    Looking for a launderette; "пральня" alone can also mean a laundry service shop

22. Готель

    Hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it with your booking address when you need to get back to your hotel

23. Аеропорт

    Aeroport

    Airport

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi driver to say you are heading to the airport

24. Північ

    Pivnich

    North

    Usage

    The compass direction north. "Північ" also means "midnight", so point at a map or compass while showing it

25. Південь

    Pivden

    South

    Usage

    The compass direction south. "Південь" also means "noon", so point at a map or compass while showing it

26. Схід

    Skhid

    East

    Usage

    The compass direction east; "схід" also means "sunrise", so show it alongside a map

27. Захід

    Zakhid

    West

    Usage

    The compass direction west; "захід" also means "sunset" or "an event", so show it alongside a map

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