Ukrainian Language vs. Russian Language: How Do They Differ?

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Ukrainian and Russian are basically the same…right? While the two languages share many similarities, there are also some key differences between Russian and Ukrainian. We’ll dive into these two languages to help you determine which language you should learn.There’s some conflicting, confusing information about how similar Russian and Ukrainian are. For aspiring language learners, this can muddy the waters in determining whether to learn Ukrainian and Russian.

Overview of Ukrainian and Russian Languages

The Ukrainian language vs. Russian origins are remarkably similar. Like many other Eastern European languages, Ukrainian and Russian are both East Slavic languages, forming from the same common tongue in the 600s and 700s CE.

A few hundred years later, significant changes took place. External influences began the Ukrainian language vs. Russian language split. While the two tongues remained the same in some areas, particularly with their (mostly) shared Cyrillic alphabet, other Eastern European languages folded into the Ukrainian language.

At the same time, the Russian language held firm, sticking to its roots in the Russian Orthodox Church, which uses the ancient East Slavic language.

Modern events also increased the linguistic schism. During the 20^th century, which saw the birth, expansion, and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian language spread elsewhere in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, taking on loanwords and subtle pronunciation modifications in the vast, quickly expanding Soviet empire. Interestingly, during this time Ukrainian language – much like Russian centuries ago – took its turn to honor its linguistic legacy, fiercely resisting Russian language influence around the capital, Kyiv, and elsewhere throughout Ukraine.

And yet, the influence of Russian on the Ukrainian language returned when the Soviets spread Russian throughout the country as a result of the Soviet occupation. Specifically, Russian became the primary language taught in schools throughout the Soviet Union as a result of the Russian Orthographic Reform of 1917 – 1918. This helped create some of the current similarities while also explaining the prevalence of Russian speakers in Ukraine today.

Key Differences Between Russian and Ukrainian

How similar are Russian and Ukrainian? The better angle to tackle is, what are the main differences between the languages?

Pronunciation. Ukrainian pronunciation is less harsh than Russian, with slightly more lyrical-sounding phonetics. The “harder” Russian pronunciation, typified with a more guttural approach, contributes to one of the main distinctions between the languages.
Working vocabulary. Plenty of shared words bond Ukrainian and Russian, but each tongue has its peculiar way of expressing emotions, time, place, etc. Even frequently used nouns differ slightly between Russian and Ukrainian.
Grammar. The S-V-O (subject – verb – object) sentence structure of Russian rarely varies, while Ukrainian is more versatile and flexible. Modified verbs – to explain or express mood, number, etc. – are another grammatical variation when comparing the Ukrainian language vs. the Russian language.

Regional linguistic modifications. Russia is by far the largest country in the world, and Ukraine’s no slouch in the land area department, either, with over 200,000 square miles. With such an expansive area, there are bound to be regional differences in pronunciation, expressions, dialects, and accents – just one more factor in the gulf between Ukrainian and Russian.

Writing Systems and Alphabet

The Ukrainian and Russian alphabets are mostly the same. As a benefit to learners wanting to acquire both languages, their two alphabets use the same Cyrillic script. This is a great benefit for novice language students, as they’re building their written vocabulary and trying to discern the Ukrainian language vs Russian language contrasts.

But as we touched on above, the two alphabets aren’t entirely the same. In the list of Ukrainian language vs. Russian language differences, the following letters provide some of the most glaring examples of the (sometimes) stark disparities between Ukrainian and Russian.

Here are three letters in the Russian alphabet you won’t find in Ukrainian:

“ы”
“Ё, ё”
“ъ”

On the other hand, Ukrainian uses four letters that don’t show up in Russian:

“Ґ ґ”
“Є є”
“Ї ї”
“І і.”

Can Russians and Ukrainians Understand Each Other?

The languages are similar enough that Ukrainians can generally understand Russian; however, Russians can’t always decipher the Ukrainian language.

So, a conversation between a native Russian and a native Ukrainian will have some degree of mutual intelligibility, but there will always be some uncharted linguistic waters where vocabulary, pronunciation, and even idioms are lost in translation.

Choosing to Learn Ukrainian or Russian

With all that information, the next question for curious language learners is…which language should you learn? Given the differences between Russian and Ukrainian – and some are minor – you might be tempted to acquire Russian first, then try to learn Ukrainian…or vice versa. Some people choose this option without ever really learning the second language. One thing to keep in mind…both languages are considered hard to learn, by none other than Dr. Paul Pimsleur himself!

Well, with Pimsleur, you don’t have to make that decision. You can learn both languages with our All Access subscription – which also includes every other language in our catalog, currently at 51!

But maybe you have relatives in Russia or elsewhere, or you’d like to learn Ukrainian to improve your career prospects. No problem – choose just one language with a Pimsleur Premium subscription and focus your efforts on just one language.