6 Tea with Viktoriia

You’ll also find the audio version of this explanation useful, for the pronunciation and to listen to when you are on the go!

Let’s look at this dialogue closely. Viktoriia asks: Meri, ty khochesh perekusyty? which literally means ‘Mary, do you want to have a snack?’ Ty khochesh means ‘you want’. Although there are some words in Ukrainian which can be used to start a question, very often difference between narrative sentences and questions is merely an intonation. ‘Khochesh’ means ‘you want’. Please repeat it with me: ‘khochesh’ _______. Since this form means ‘you want’ on its own, word ‘ty’ (you) can be avoided in the sentence and Viktoriia could have asked: Meri, khochesh perekusyty?

Perekusyty means ‘to have a snack’. Please repeat: Perekusyty_______, perekusyty_______.

Mary answers: Tak, khochu, which means ‘Yes, I want.’ As you can see, Mary does not say word ‘ya’ (I) here because verb’s ending shows this. This allows Mary to shorten her answer. Let’s repeat this together: Tak, khochu ____________, khochu __________.

After this Viktoriia asks: Shcho ty khochesh? which means ‘what would you like?’ (literally ‘what do you want?’). So, let’s repeat this together: Shcho ty khochesh? ____________ and once again: Shcho ty khochesh?

Mary replies briefly: Chai, bud laska – ‘tea, please’. Let’s repeat this together: ‘Chai, bud laska Chai, bud laska’_________. Viktoriia asks: Chai z molokom? (Tea with milk?) Mary answers: Tak, bud laska, which means Yes, please).

Viktoriia continues: Pryhoshchaisia! Os buterbrody, pechyvo i frukty. Smachnoho! which means ‘Help yourself! Here are sandwiches, biscuits and fruits. Bon appétit!’ So, let’s take a look at each of these sentences. Pryhoshchaisia! – ‘Help yourself! (singular form). Let’s repeat it together: Pryhoshchaisia! _________, pryhoshchaisia! _____________..

Viktoriia names the food: Os buterbrody, pechyvo i frukty. Those of you who are familiar with German have definitely recognised the word buterbrody. However, in Ukrainian it means ‘sandwiches’, and not simply bread and butter. Word ‘sendwich’ is also used in Ukrainian but more common one is buterbrod. Pechyvo means ‘biscuits’ and it is always used in singular. Buterbrody and frukty (fruits) are used in plural in this sentence. Let’s say them in singular: buterbrod ______, frukt_________ and in plural: buterbrody _________, frukty __________. And the last phrase which Viktoriia says is: Smachnoho! which means bon appétit!, ‘enjoy your meal.’ Say it with me please: Smachnoho! _____________, Smachnoho!

Mary replies: Diakuiu! (Thank you!).

And the last thing about this dialogue: English people prefer their tea with milk, while Ukrainians like black tea or tea with lemon. Try remembering these two phrases: chai z molokom __________, chai z lymonom ________ tea with lemon. Let’s repeat them: chai z molokom__________, chai z lymonom _________.

Now listen to the dialogue again.