Russian and Ukrainian: 161 words that are the same
Among the two thousand words each language uses most, these are written identically and carry the same meaning in both. If you have one of the two, this is the part you do not have to learn.
A shared word is not proof of a shared root. Two languages can land on the same spelling by borrowing from a third — that is all tren and bomba are — and a word that looks the same can still be said quite differently. What this list is good for is the head start.
| Word | In English | Russian | Ukrainian |
|---|---|---|---|
| я[ja] | I | #1 | #1 |
| неru [nʲɪ]uk [nɛ] | not | #2 | #2 |
| ноru [no]uk /no/ | but, yet | #20 | #31 |
| к[k] | to, toward | #37 | #73 |
| дляru [dlʲə]uk [dʲlʲa] | for | #38 | #28 |
| васru [vas]uk [ʋas] | you | #50 | #37 |
| нас[nas] | we | #52 | #36 |
| вамru [vam]uk [ʋam] | you | #59 | #50 |
| нам[nam] | we | #66 | #52 |
| там[tam] | there | #68 | #43 |
| думаюru [ˈduməjʊ]uk [ˈdumɐjʊ] | first-person singular present indicative imperfective of… | #86 | #72 |
| разru [ras]uk [raz] | once, one day, once upon a time | #90 | #93 |
| тут[tut] | here | #113 | #27 |
| мояru [mɐˈja]uk [mɔˈja] | my, mine | #118 | #81 |
| одинru [aˈdʲin]uk [ɔˈdɪn] | one | #123 | #85 |
| людиru [ˈlʲʉdʲi]uk [ˈlʲude] | people, humans | #173 | #126 |
| точноru [ˈtot͡ɕnə]uk [ˈtɔt͡ʃnɔ] | exactly, precisely, accurately | #178 | #146 |
| твояru [tvɐˈja]uk [twɔˈja] | your, yours, thy, thine | #180 | #127 |
| назадru [nɐˈzat]uk [nɐˈzad] | back, backward, backwards | #183 | #160 |
| дваru [ˈdva]uk [ˈdʋa] | two | #201 | #140 |
| людейru [lʲʉˈdʲej]uk [lʲʊˈdɛi̯] | genitive/accusative of лю́ди | #208 | #130 |
| люблю[lʲʊˈblʲu] | first-person singular present indicative imperfective of… | #211 | #178 |
| домаru [ˈdomə]uk [ˈdɔmɐ] | at home | #225 | #335 |
| прямоru [ˈprʲamə]uk [ˈprʲamɔ] | straight | #232 | #198 |
| найтиru [nɐjˈtʲi]uk [nɐi̯ˈtɪ] | to find | #235 | #347 |
| сам[sam] | self, -self | #244 | #150 |
| триru [trʲi]uk [trɪ] | three | #249 | #169 |
| вамиru [ˈvamʲɪ]uk [ˈʋame] | you | #262 | #186 |
| проru [prə]uk [prɔ] | about, concerning | #268 | #35 |
| вашru [vaʂ]uk [ʋaʃ] | your, yours | #269 | #191 |
| завтраru [ˈzaftrə]uk [ˈzau̯trɐ] | tomorrow | #275 | #185 |
| нашru [naʂ]uk [naʃ] | our, ours | #280 | #179 |
| моюru [mɐˈju]uk [mɔˈju] | my, mine | #288 | #211 |
| когоru [kɐˈvo]uk [kɔˈɦɔ] | who | #289 | #206 |
| вашаru [ˈvaʂə]uk [ˈʋaʃɐ] | your, yours | #310 | #189 |
| намиru [ˈnamʲɪ]uk [ˈname] | we | #316 | #195 |
| ясноru [ˈjasnə]uk [ˈjasnɔ] | clearly | #330 | #245 |
| надru [nət]uk [nad] | above, over | #335 | #232 |
| рукиru [rʊˈkʲi]uk [rʊˈkɪ] | genitive singular of рука́ | #355 | #244 |
| нормальноru [nɐrˈmalʲnə]uk [nɔrˈmalʲnɔ] | normally | #356 | #263 |
| вашеru [ˈvaʂɨ]uk [ˈʋaʃe] | your, yours | #368 | #361 |
| твоюru [tvɐˈju]uk [twɔˈju] | your, yours, thy, thine | #377 | #254 |
| смертиru [ˈsmʲertʲɪ]uk [ˈsmɛrte] | death | #407 | #642 |
| брат[brat] | brother | #410 | #269 |
| мирru [mʲir]uk [mɪr] | peace | #413 | #561 |
| одногоru [ɐdnɐˈvo]uk [ɔdnɔˈɦɔ] | genitive masculine/neuter singular | #420 | #188 |
| самаru [sɐˈma]uk [ˈsamɐ] | self, -self | #436 | #273 |
| проблемаru [prɐˈblʲemə]uk [prɔˈbɫɛmɐ] | problem | #450 | #363 |
| однуru [ɐdˈnu]uk [odˈnu] | accusative feminine singular of оди́н | #456 | #292 |
| машинуru [mɐˈʂɨnʊ]uk [mɐˈʃɪnʊ] | accusative singular of маши́на | #464 | #317 |
| чувакru [t͡ɕʊˈvak]uk [t͡ʃʊˈʋak] | dude, guy, dawg | #487 | #390 |
| словаru [ˈsɫovə]uk [ˈsɫɔʋɐ] | genitive singular of сло́во | #498 | #323 |
| нашаru [ˈnaʂə]uk [ˈnaʃɐ] | our, ours | #501 | #312 |
| годru [ɡot]uk [ɦɔd] | year | #514 | #887 |
| обаru [ˈobə]uk [ɔˈba] | both | #541 | #746 |
| аллоru [ɐˈɫo]uk [ɐˈɫːɔ] | hello! | #577 | #398 |
| нашихru [ˈnaʂɨx]uk [ˈnaʃex] | our, ours | #580 | #386 |
| телефонru [tʲɪlʲɪˈfon]uk [teɫeˈfɔn] | telephone | #595 | #500 |
| честьru [t͡ɕesʲtʲ]uk [t͡ʃɛsʲtʲ] | honor | #597 | #497 |
| план[pɫan] | plan, scheme | #600 | #432 |
| правдуru [ˈpravdʊ]uk [ˈprau̯dʊ] | accusative singular of пра́вда | #609 | #444 |
| комуru [kɐˈmu]uk [koˈmu] | who | #616 | #484 |
| сестраru [sʲɪˈstra]uk [seˈstra] | sister | #617 | #525 |
| мужru [muʂ]uk [muʒ] | husband | #667 | #817 |
| самиru [ˈsamʲɪ]uk [sɐˈmɪ] | self, -self | #675 | #1,335 |
| руку[ˈrukʊ] | accusative singular of рука́ | #682 | #424 |
| вашуru [ˈvaʂʊ]uk [ˈʋaʃʊ] | your, yours | #696 | #452 |
| мужчинаru [mʊˈɕːinə]uk [mʊʒˈt͡ʃɪnɐ] | man | #711 | #997 |
| кровиru [ˈkrovʲɪ]uk [ˈkrɔʋe] | blood | #722 | #765 |
| крутоru [ˈkrutə]uk [ˈkrutɔ] | steeply | #732 | #508 |
| винаru [vʲɪˈna]uk [ʋeˈna] | guilt, fault; blame | #738 | #634 |
| нашуru [ˈnaʂʊ]uk [ˈnaʃʊ] | our, ours | #740 | #436 |
| шоуru [ˈʂoʊ]uk [ˈʃɔʊ] | show | #745 | #797 |
| проблемru [prɐˈblʲem]uk [prɔˈbɫɛm] | genitive plural of пробле́ма | #753 | #496 |
| частоru [ˈt͡ɕastə]uk [ˈt͡ʃastɔ] | frequently, often | #769 | #574 |
| нашеru [ˈnaʂɨ]uk [ˈnaʃe] | our, ours | #798 | #542 |
| образомru [ˈobrəzəm]uk [ˈɔbrɐzɔm] | instrumental singular of о́браз | #801 | #1,332 |
| людямru [ˈlʲʉdʲəm]uk [ˈlʲudʲɐm] | dative of лю́ди | #806 | #586 |
| легкоru [lʲɪxˈko]uk [ˈɫɛɦkɔ] | lightly | #812 | #461 |
| агентru [ɐˈɡʲent]uk [ɐˈɦɛnt] | agent | #824 | #914 |
| самогоru [ˈsaməvə]uk [ˈsamɔɦɔ] | self, -self | #827 | #606 |
| маленькийru [ˈmalʲɪnʲkʲɪj]uk [mɐˈɫɛnʲkei̯] | little, small | #841 | #569 |
| школуru [ˈʂkoɫʊ]uk [ˈʃkɔɫʊ] | accusative singular of шко́ла | #842 | #691 |
| вашихru [ˈvaʂɨx]uk [ˈʋaʃex] | your, yours | #863 | #600 |
| абсолютноru [ɐpsɐˈlʲutnə]uk [ɐbsoˈlʲutnɔ] | absolutely | #886 | #562 |
| ногиru [nɐˈɡʲi]uk [nɔˈɦɪ] | genitive singular of нога́ | #895 | #514 |
| президентru [prʲɪzʲɪˈdʲent]uk [prezeˈdɛnt] | president | #920 | #1,008 |
| десятьru [ˈdʲesʲɪtʲ]uk [ˈdɛsʲɐtʲ] | ten | #925 | #599 |
| раноru [ˈranə]uk [ˈranɔ] | early | #946 | #627 |
| братаru [ˈbratə]uk [brɐˈta] | brother | #959 | #504 |
| однимru [ɐdʲˈnʲim]uk [ɔdˈnɪm] | dative plural | #983 | #602 |
| голосru [ˈɡoɫəs]uk [ˈɦɔɫɔs] | voice | #994 | #681 |
| вашимru [ˈvaʂɨm]uk [ˈʋaʃem] | your, yours | #1,027 | #948 |
| списокru [ˈspʲisək]uk [ˈspɪsɔk] | list, register, roll | #1,033 | #931 |
| дядяru [ˈdʲædʲə]uk [ˈdʲadʲɐ] | uncle | #1,058 | #1,211 |
| сонru [son]uk [sɔn] | sleep | #1,066 | #663 |
| фотоru [ˈfotə]uk [ˈfɔtɔ] | photo, photograph | #1,081 | #730 |
| нашимru [ˈnaʂɨm]uk [ˈnaʃem] | our, ours | #1,101 | #827 |
| славаru [ˈsɫavə]uk [ˈsɫaʋɐ] | glory | #1,128 | #747 |
| командаru [kɐˈmandə]uk [kɔˈmandɐ] | command, order | #1,132 | #813 |
| судru [sut]uk [sud] | court | #1,142 | #933 |
| неправильноru [nʲɪˈpravʲɪlʲnə]uk [neˈpraʋelʲnɔ] | incorrectly, wrongly | #1,166 | #858 |
| ключru [klʲʉt͡ɕ]uk [klʲut͡ʃ] | key | #1,169 | #828 |
| ротru [rot]uk [rɔt] | mouth | #1,178 | #1,126 |
| землюru [ˈzʲemlʲʊ]uk [ˈzɛmlʲʊ] | accusative singular of земля́ | #1,182 | #594 |
| корольru [kɐˈrolʲ]uk [kɔˈrɔlʲ] | king | #1,210 | #506 |
| народru [nɐˈrot]uk [nɐˈrɔd] | people | #1,211 | #702 |
| секс[sɛks] | sex | #1,214 | #880 |
| сержантru [sʲɪrˈʐant]uk [serˈʒant] | sergeant | #1,296 | #1,519 |
| книгуru [ˈknʲiɡʊ]uk [ˈknɪɦʊ] | accusative singular of кни́га | #1,329 | #917 |
| лейтенантru [lʲɪ(j)tʲɪˈnant]uk [ɫei̯teˈnant] | lieutenant | #1,344 | #1,836 |
| сезонru [sʲɪˈzon]uk [seˈzɔn] | season | #1,348 | #966 |
| головаru [ɡəɫɐˈva]uk [ɦɔɫɔˈʋa] | head | #1,350 | #700 |
| магазинru [məɡɐˈzʲin]uk [mɐɦɐˈzɪn] | shop, store | #1,361 | #1,053 |
| маму[ˈmamʊ] | accusative singular of ма́ма | #1,373 | #742 |
| сюрпризru [sʲʊrˈprʲis]uk [sʲʊrˈprɪz] | surprise | #1,391 | #1,030 |
| дорогуru [dɐˈroɡʊ]uk [dɔˈrɔɦʊ] | accusative singular of доро́га | #1,394 | #873 |
| водаru [vɐˈda]uk [wɔˈda] | water | #1,397 | #686 |
| книгиru [ˈknʲiɡʲɪ]uk [ˈknɪɦe] | genitive singular | #1,403 | #1,108 |
| водуru [ˈvodʊ]uk [ˈwɔdʊ] | accusative singular of вода́ | #1,454 | #719 |
| силru [sʲiɫ]uk [sɪɫ] | genitive plural of си́ла | #1,465 | #1,089 |
| рольru [rolʲ]uk [rɔlʲ] | role, part | #1,478 | #1,095 |
| вверхru [vʲːerx]uk [ʋːɛrx] | upwards | #1,486 | #1,706 |
| законru [zɐˈkon]uk [zɐˈkɔn] | law | #1,489 | #1,205 |
| одномуru [ɐdnɐˈmu]uk [ɔdnoˈmu] | dative masculine/neuter singular of оди́н | #1,503 | #675 |
| стоru [sto]uk [stɔ] | hundred | #1,514 | #847 |
| сигналru [sʲɪɡˈnaɫ]uk [seɦˈnaɫ] | signal | #1,528 | #949 |
| секретru [sʲɪˈkrʲet]uk [seˈkrɛt] | secret | #1,538 | #1,433 |
| рук[ruk] | genitive plural of рука́ | #1,556 | #1,067 |
| квартируru [kvɐrˈtʲirʊ]uk [kʋɐrˈtɪrʊ] | accusative singular of кварти́ра | #1,560 | #1,058 |
| ублюдокru [ʊˈblʲudək]uk [ʊˈblʲudɔk] | bastard | #1,570 | #1,662 |
| факт[fakt] | fact | #1,598 | #1,208 |
| учительru [ʊˈt͡ɕitʲɪlʲ]uk [ʊˈt͡ʃɪtelʲ] | teacher, instructor | #1,601 | #1,867 |
| запахru [ˈzapəx]uk [ˈzapɐx] | smell, odor, scent | #1,612 | #1,116 |
| костюмru [kɐˈsʲtʲum]uk [koˈsʲtʲum] | suit | #1,622 | #1,193 |
| мореru [ˈmorʲe]uk [ˈmɔre] | sea | #1,628 | #1,274 |
| генералru [ɡʲɪnʲɪˈraɫ]uk [ɦeneˈraɫ] | general | #1,635 | #1,740 |
| силуru [ˈsʲiɫʊ]uk [ˈsɪɫʊ] | accusative singular of си́ла | #1,646 | #993 |
| жертваru [ˈʐɛrtvə]uk [ˈʒɛrtʋɐ] | victim | #1,647 | #1,442 |
| собакаru [sɐˈbakə]uk [sɔˈbakɐ] | dog | #1,668 | #1,362 |
| доступru [ˈdostʊp]uk [ˈdɔstʊp] | access, admittance, admission | #1,682 | #1,304 |
| туалетru [tʊɐˈlʲet]uk [tʊɐˈɫɛt] | toilet, WC, restroom, lavatory | #1,684 | #1,262 |
| красивоru [krɐˈsʲivə]uk [krɐˈsɪwɔ] | beautifully | #1,693 | #1,779 |
| книгаru [ˈknʲiɡə]uk [ˈknɪɦɐ] | book | #1,709 | #1,154 |
| рука[rʊˈka] | hand | #1,722 | #1,060 |
| системаru [sʲɪˈsʲtʲemə]uk [seˈstɛmɐ] | system | #1,731 | #1,282 |
| чайru [t͡ɕæj]uk [t͡ʃai̯] | tea | #1,742 | #1,061 |
| звукru [zvuk]uk [zwuk] | sound | #1,752 | #1,041 |
| пивоru [ˈpʲivə]uk [ˈpɪwɔ] | beer | #1,766 | #1,185 |
| командуru [kɐˈmandʊ]uk [kɔˈmandʊ] | accusative singular of кома́нда | #1,771 | #1,456 |
| солдатru [sɐɫˈdat]uk [sɔɫˈdat] | soldier | #1,774 | #1,376 |
| короляru [kərɐˈlʲa]uk [kɔrɔˈlʲa] | genitive/accusative singular of коро́ль | #1,776 | #673 |
| земляru [zʲɪˈmlʲa]uk [zemˈlʲa] | earth | #1,810 | #895 |
| президентаru [prʲɪzʲɪˈdʲentə]uk [prezeˈdɛntɐ] | genitive/accusative singular of президе́нт | #1,834 | #1,508 |
| тест[tɛst] | test | #1,853 | #1,572 |
| кодru [kot]uk [kɔd] | code | #1,856 | #1,309 |
| холодноru [ˈxoɫədnə]uk [ˈxɔɫɔdnɔ] | coldly | #1,943 | #1,133 |
| рукамиru [rʊˈkamʲɪ]uk [rʊˈkame] | instrumental plural of рука́ | #1,944 | #1,268 |
| урокru [ʊˈrok]uk [ʊˈrɔk] | lesson | #1,969 | #1,285 |
| люк[lʲuk] | hatch, hatchway | #1,974 | #1,481 |
| романru [rɐˈman]uk [rɔˈman] | novel | #1,996 | #1,594 |
The speaker plays the voice the LangX app uses for that language — synthesised, not a native speaker, so treat it as a guide.
The overlap is the easy part.
The rest comes from using it with someone who speaks it.