Hand-written Ukrainian alphabet

Ukrainian Alphabet – Ukrainian Letters, History, Facts

If there are no comparable letters in your native tongue, certain letters in a new language pique people’s interest. Regarding linguistic use, Ukrainian is the 26th most frequently spoken language in the world by number of speakers. It is the first language of around 37 million people and the second language of about 15 million. With the alphabet, all languages begin. What facts regarding the alphabet should you be aware of if you want to learn Ukrainian?

Earlier we wrote – How to Say Hello, Hi in Ukrainian – Examples, Tips, and Pronunciations.

Peculiarities of the Ukrainian Alphabet

The Ukrainian alphabet is a variant of the Cyrillic script. It has 33 letters in total, some of which can not be found in other languages, like letters [ Ї, Ґ, Ь]. The alphabet differs from other Cyrillic-based alphabets with its own qualities and rich historical background.

Most European alphabets are Latin-letter-based, so reading Ukrainian texts may turn out to be a real challenge. Why? Look at the letters in comparison to the Latine ones. 

CategoryCyrillic LetterSoundLatin Equivalent
Similar pronunciation and appearanceА а/a/A a
Similar pronunciation and appearanceЕ е/e/E e
Similar pronunciation and appearanceІ і/i/I i
Similar pronunciation and appearanceО о/o/O o
Similar pronunciation and appearanceЗ з/ze/Z z
Similar pronunciation and appearanceК к/ka/K k
Similar pronunciation and appearanceМ м/em/M m
Similar pronunciation and appearanceС с/es/S s
Similar pronunciation and appearanceТ т/te/T t
Looks like ‘B’ but sounds like ‘V’В в/ve/V v
Looks like ‘N’ but sounds like ‘I’И и/y(i)/I i
Looks like ‘H’ but sounds like ‘N’Н н/en/N n
Looks like ‘n’ but sounds like ‘P’П п/pe/P p
Looks like ‘P’ but sounds like ‘R’Р р/er/R r
Looks like ‘Y’ but sounds like ‘U’У у/u/U u
Looks like ‘X’ but sounds like ‘Kh’Х х/kha/X x
Unique pronunciationБ б/b/B b
Unique pronunciationГ г/h/
Unique pronunciationҐ ґ/g/
Unique pronunciationД д/d/D d
Unique pronunciationЄ є/ye/
Unique pronunciationЖ ж/zh/
Unique pronunciationЇ ї/yi/
Unique pronunciationЙ й/y/
Unique pronunciationЛ л/l/L l
Unique pronunciationФ ф/f/F f
Unique pronunciationЦ ц/ts/
Unique pronunciationЧ ч/ch/
Unique pronunciationШ ш/sh/
Unique pronunciationЩ щ/shch/
Unique pronunciationЮ ю/yu/
Unique pronunciationЯ я/ya/

Watch the Video-Pronunciation Guide of the Ukrainian Alphabet

Watch the video to find out how native Ukrainians pronounce the alphabet’s letters. Some letters in the alphabet are pronounced slightly differently, such as when reading them in words, just like in English.

Ukrainian alphabet with words that contain named letters

Facts About Ukrainian Letters

The majority of Ukrainian spelling is phonemic, which means that words are spelt exactly as they are pronounced. Once the alphabet is grasped, learning to read and write in this language is quite simple. 

  • In the Ukrainian alphabet, the letter used the most is “П” (p), while the letter used the least is Ф” (f);
  • The 33 letters in the Ukrainian alphabet consist of one semivowel, twenty-one consonants, one palatalization sign, and ten vowels;
  • The alphabet consists of 33 letters, which translate into 40 phonemes;
  • In the Ukrainian script, the apostrophe (‘) is utilized to differentiate a consonant from the subsequent soft vowel, as in the word “в’яз” (vyaz).

Also read our article – How to Say Goodbye in Ukrainian – Easy Phrases and Examples.

Ukrainian Alphabet: Historical Overview

The first recorded mention of Ukrainian dates back to 858. The language was first acknowledged as a literary language at the end of the 18th century when Ivan Kotlyarevsky’s first edition of «Eneiida» was published in 1798. He is also recognized for having invented the newly-created literary language in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian alphabet started from the Cyrillic script, which Saints Cyril and Methodius created in the ninth century for the Slavic peoples. Following decades of development, the modern alphabet was standardized in the early 20th century. Several changes were made, especially during the Soviet era.

Saints Cyril and Methodius in Macedonia, who invented the Cyrillic script

Russian rule had always imposed severe limitations on Ukrainian identity, including legislation that forbade the use of language and frequent persecution of intellectuals. Harassment, the standardization of the alphabet by the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire, and Ukrainian language traditions were neglected.

Despite this, the language has thrived because of the literary heritage left by hundreds of works that showcase the unwavering Ukrainian identity. The most often translated poetry from Ukraine is “Testament,” by Taras Shevchenko, which has been translated into different languages 147 times.

Final Thoughts

Ukrainian letters are like bricks that compose the language. One of the best modern poets in Ukraine, Lina Kostenko, once said, ’Nations do not die from heart attack. First, they become speechless!’ Being one of the top three harmonious and melodic languages in the world, Ukrainian owes its origins to the alphabet, which unites it into the mother tongue of millions of people across the globe!  

FAQ’s About Ukrainian Alphabet

What does the Ukrainian alphabet’s palatalization symbol (Ь) mean?

To show that the consonant before it has been softened, use the palatalization symbol.

Is it possible to Romanize the Ukrainian alphabet?

There are several methods available for transliterating for academic writing, travel, and international situations.

How has the Ukrainian alphabet adjusted to modern technology?

The alphabet in Ukraine has been modified for use on contemporary devices, such as internet-connected keyboards and cell phones.

Ludmila Khedyk – Expert Copywriter with 11+ Years of Freelance Experience
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Ludmila Khedyk is an experienced copywriter with over 11 years of freelancing expertise and a graduate of Uman National University of Horticulture. She collaborates with WeaveMoney, skillfully turning complex information into accessible insights. With a portfolio of more than 100,000 written works, Ludmila excels at making intricate topics both understandable and engaging.

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