Ukrainian Unique Sounds (Ї, Є, Ґ)

January 24, 2026

Ukrainian has several letters that don't exist in Russian or other Slavic languages. These unique sounds are part of what gives Ukrainian its distinct musical quality.

Let's master these special Ukrainian sounds:

1. The Letter Ї (YI)

Ї makes a "YEE" sound, like the beginning of "yield". This letter is unique to Ukrainian and doesn't exist in Russian.

The city name "Kyiv" contains this letter - that's why the correct pronunciation is "KY-yeev," not "KEE-ev."

2. The Letter Є (YE)

Є makes a "YE" sound, like the beginning of "yes".

3. The Letter Ґ (Hard G)

Ukrainian has two G sounds:

• Г г - A soft, breathy sound (like H in "hello")
• Ґ ґ - A hard G sound (like G in "go")

The hard Ґ is relatively rare but appears in important words:

4. Other Important Ukrainian Sounds

This is like saying "sh" and "ch" together quickly:

Like the "ts" in "cats" or "pizza":

5. Why These Sounds Matter

These unique letters are part of what distinguishes Ukrainian from Russian:

• Ї and І are used in Ukrainian where Russian uses other letters
• Є appears in many common Ukrainian words
• Ґ represents the true hard G sound that Ukrainian preserved from ancient times

Using these sounds correctly shows respect for the Ukrainian language and culture.

6. Practice Tips

1. Ї vs І: Remember that Ї has two dots and adds a "Y" sound. І (without dots) is just "EE."
2. Г vs Ґ: Regular Г is breathy (like H). Ґ is hard (like G in "go"). Most words use Г.
3. Practice Щ: Say "fresh cheese" - the "sh-ch" where those words meet is similar to Щ.
4. Practice Ц: Say "cats" or "pizza" - you already know this sound!