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Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture
Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture

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3.1 My name is…

In the next dialogue, Mary is talking to a child. Listen carefully and try to work out what is different from the previous one.

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Audio 23 transcript
Ukrainian Transliteration
Мері Привіт! Meri Pryvit!
Наталка Привіт! Natalka Pryvit!
Мері Мене звуть Мері, а як тебе звуть? Meri Mene zvut Meri, a yak tebe zvut?
Наталка Мене звуть Наталка. Natalka Mene zvut Natalka.
Мері Дуже приємно! Meri Duzhe pryiemno!
Наталка Мені теж! Natalka Meni tezh!
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Take a closer look (Audio 24 transcript)

Let’s look at the dialogue. Mary is talking to a child. She decided to choose informal way of addressing a child and says Pryvit which is informal for ‘Hello’. Let’s say together: Pryvit!. Then Mary introduces herself and asks child’s name: Mene zvut Meri, a yak tebe zvut?. You can recognise the answer already: child replies Mene zvut Natalka (‘My name is Natalka’). The dialogue finishes in a classic way: Duzhe pryiemno!Meni tezh. (‘Nice to meet you!’ – ‘Me too’). You might remember that in the first dialogue of this course there was a conversation between Mary and Natalia. In the last dialogue a child introduces herself as ‘Natalka’. This is the same name, but Ukrainians use a lot of diminutives – forms of words which depict something small or convey a sense of intimacy. Such forms are very common when talking with children. This is why the child replies ‘Natalka’.

Please pay attention, that talking to a child, Ukrainians use ‘normal’, singular ‘you’ – ty. Question ‘What’s your name?’ in singular is Yak tebe zvut? Let’s repeat together: Yak tebe zvut?.

Now listen to the dialogue again.

Table 3: Key language
Ukrainian Transliteration Translation
Привіт Pryvit Hello (informal)
Як вас звуть? Yak vas zvut? What is your name? (plural or ‘polite plural’)
Як тебе звуть? Yak tebe zvut? What is your name? (singular)
Мене звуть… Mene zvut… My name is…