Learning Slavic Languages | Differences in Russian and Ukrainian

In this video we will talk about 12 Slavic Languages, and how to start to learn a Slavic language.
00:00 - are Slavic languages similar?
2:26 - differences in dialects, grammar and vocabulary
3:37 - in what countries do people speak Slavic languages
4:27 - comparing Russian and Ukrainian
5:32 - can Ukrainians understand Russian?
8:24 - can Russians understand Ukrainian?
11:13 - where to start with learning Slavic languages
/FAQ/
- What do I do?
My name is Elina, some friends call me Eli. I am from Russia, but always travel for studying or working abroad.
- What is my channel about?
Here I share my experiences of finding scholarships to study abroad for free, opportunities all over the world; I also talk about my home country Russia and compare cultural aspects of different countries.
More videos:
• Foreigners about educa... - studying in Russia, foreigners about living in Russia
• How to find a job abro... - teaching English abroad, how to find a job without a teching degree
• Video - how to write a motivation letter to apply for universities and internships abroad
• Video - moving abroad alone after college, 5 sources to find opportunities abroad
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/ elibakunova - on my Instagram I share more content about programs abroad, traveling and my daily life

[@jimmycricket7385]

I hope your friendship will continue through these difficult times.

[@user-cr5jw6pc2g]

No friendship with terrorists

[@giuseppebeppe2770]

Yeah, sure...

[@jaygold7317]

I hope so too, do a follow-up Eli!

[@tjohanne]

A follow-up would be cool!

[@TheGrindcorps]

Same!

[@jonatanborowicz]

As a Polish person, this video was very entertaining, because all the words that Eli didn’t understand from Julia’s Ukrainian, I did because those words were similar to Polish xD And the words Eli understood, I didn’t.

[@jonatanborowicz]

The funny thing is, we usually don’t hear any difference between Russian and Ukrainian. We don’t even notice the similarities between Polish and Ukrainian. But it really is like (to generalise a lot) ”Polishfied Russian.” Belarusian to me is a lot more similar to Polish and I can hear the similarities a lot clearer. So that, I would call ”Rusified Polish” instead. xD

[@ctrl-del630]

As to how see the Ukrainian language, it is mostly a mix of Polish and Russian. So no wonder you understand only one half. A native Russian speaker would understand the other half.

[@ctrl-del630]

That is an interesting remark, thanks. I know a little bit of Polish, and Russian but Belarussian is completely unknown to me. I have a Belarussian teacher, theaching me Russian. I will ask her more about Belarussian.

[@jjs6069]

omg, Im Polish and I understand basically everything what was said in Ukrainian :)) cool

[@goranjovic3174]

Kocham to ! Pozdrav iz Srbije ! :) ))

[@ThePolishlucca]

@@goranjovic3174 Pozdrowienia z Polski Goranie.

[@goranjovic3174]

@@ThePolishlucca Srdačni pozdravi iz Srbije ! :)

[@ProfessorBiceps]

I'm russian and i understood everything said in ukranian too ._.

[@thomaszaccone3960]

Ukraine was once part of the Polish Empire

[@andrejspi]

As a native speaker of both Russian and Polish language I can understand completely what was said in Ukrainian (although I don't know Ukrainian and never learned or conversed in it). The words that are "strange" or unfamiliar for a Russian speaker usually (in 90 % of cases) sound like their Polish counterparts. Ukrainian is a part of continuum of languages between east and west Slavic tongues. The same goes for the Belarussian tongue, no problem in understanding it. Greeting from Lithuania

[@Dzidekification]

This is correct what you said about Poles understanding Ukrainian, but Ukrainians have hard time to understand Polish language--a strange phenomenon . Cheers from Canada.

[@Pilum1000]

As Russian who never studied Ukrainian specially and never lived on the Ukraine - i just understood everything that Ukrainian girl said here. quote myself : " It depend on your size of vocabulary of native language too. :> And on acumen. And, probably, a few literature scope. "Dobry den", hah... well, it's not the "Zdrastvute", yee, - it's just the Russian "Dobry den" (Good day). :> "Jak spravi?" well, i don't know any Russian who don't know what is it means "jak" like ukrainism, - kak (how/what) and is words like - spravni,is-pravny, spravitsa, etc... what have relation with deals. Ok, it's more complcated. "Laskava prosimo v Ukrainu" - Russian "Laskovo prosim" :))) how you can didn't understand this? :> Other accent in word "Ласково"? :> Of course we say - it's not a "completely different", we shall say - it's practically equally. :> What she said about her - it is just clear :)))) : "Меня звать Юлия, Мне 22 года, я народилась в( фига - НА!) Украине, но с 15 лет живу в России, я обучаюсь в университете, в магистратуре, изучаю психологию, буду работать психологичным (-ческим, конечно :>) консультантом" HOW... YOU CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THIS? :))) I NEWER LEARN UKRAINIAN ! :))))) You are kidding us... or deceiving? well, "працую" - ну хорошо, с этим могут быть проблемы (если не слыхала "без працы ни бенды кололацы" что такое :>), хотя по смыслу всей речи догадаться о сём - без проблем... Но остальное? :> Да ты паришь... :> Гоголя читать надо, и Катаева; и вообще побольше читать. :> Даа-ааа ладно, сказку она не может прочитать... : "Жили cебе дед да баба. Уже и стары стали, а детей нема.Журятся( "не журись", "пожурился", не слыхала никогда такого?:>) - Печалятся дед да баба - Кто за нашей смертью приглядит, раз у нас детей нема? Вот баба и просит деда..." Я не знааааааю просто ... для меня эти украинизмы или архаизмы - вещь привычная, на самом деле... Но никогда я специально украинский не учил и на Окраине не жил... :> Well, this girl Eli just cheat you all, people! With her "misunderstanding". I suppose... No, it's not "completely different language", and it's not "difficult for Russians". бачить - видеть. Украинизм."

[@kazimierzgaska5304]

@@Pilum1000 You understand everything ? Really ? How about months' names in ukrainian ? The same language ? Не смеши ! Here, in Poland, I met many people from east Ukraine not speaking Ukrainian, only Russian. And lerning Polish always was terrible work for them. But these, who speak Ukrainien - start speaking Polish after 1 month of living among us. What conclusions ?

[@Pilum1000]

@@kazimierzgaska5304 see above, the IQ=2. и мне плевать - кого ты там встречал или "встречал" или не встречал, и что ты думаешь об этом - подобное не имеет никакого значения в данном вопросе и имеет массу иных объяснений ;> Причем тут вообще твой польский - он не критерий :>

[@josephstalin9357]

​@kazimierzgaska5304 months is one thing which is 100% completely different between Russian and Ukranian

[@MI_Prepper]

I was actually a Russian Linguist in the US Army, I graduated from the Basic Russian Language course from the Defense Language Institute, (military Language school in Monterrey, California), 30 years ago. It was an intensive 47 week course of seven hours a day of Language instruction, (I started in the German course first, but when Germany reunified, there was no more East Germany so they switched me to Russian. After the Army I got a Russisn Studies degree from a University. Russians are really great, kind, and FUN people.

[@remaguire]

Same here. I was a Navy cryppie for 25 years. Basic and intermediate, 1980 and 1989. I adored many of my teachers. Salt of the earth. And I loved Monterey. Absolutely fantastic place to live.

[@yaboyed5779]

@@remaguire you both are lucky.

[@rezagrans1296]

Hihhiiiihehheeh

[@evgdjim]

Thank you very much!

[@mickeybowmeister1944]

I'm from New Zealand and met my Russian Wife in Thailand back in 2002, when visiting Moscow I happened to sit next to an older gentleman in a coffee shop on Tverskaya street, he too was an American and fluent in Russian from his military days. I felt like a very small fish in a really big pond!

[@angelarch5352]

Interesting watching this video today-- such smiling faces between Russia and Ukraine. Wish it could get back to that.

[@ksilva2001au]

There's actually no enemity between Russian and Ukrainian people in general, it is mostly a propaganda war by the sanctioners 😉

[@tropicalpalmtree]

It still is. Basically half of Ukraine is pro-russia. The other half never liked Russia or Russians anyway (mainly western Ukraine)

[@alessandro.calzavara]

@@tropicalpalmtree Don't confuse relations between individuals with national sentiment about a state

[@the2ndcoming135]

Right. Love how you can’t really tell them apart based on appearance😎

[@haverjamarosi680]

@@tropicalpalmtree yeah dude ... i am sure those "pro-russian" ukranians in eastern ukraine are thrilled by russains bombing the sht out of their homes and killing their loved ones! They just LOVE IT!

[@chaos-kun7310]

Considering what's going on right now, this video has a new meaning. It's so beautiful and wholesome. It makes me want to cry. Why should these two girls be enemies? Why should this be happening? I can't quite express what I'm trying to say. I just know it feels so wrong that these two girls' countries should be at war. I pray that Juliya is okay, wherever she is. I pray that peace will come and that everyone can be like these friends.

[@NoamTheGOAT50]

Who said they're enemies?

[@chaos-kun7310]

@@NoamTheGOAT50 I don't necessarily mean the girls themselves, I mean that Russians and Ukrainians shouldn't be enemies. They are cousins. They are neighbors. Many Ukrainians have Russian family members and many Russians have family in Ukraine. War is usually senseless but this one is especially senseless.

[@NoamTheGOAT50]

@@chaos-kun7310 that's a better way to rephrase it. Thank you.

[@customfantasyhotwheels]

@@chaos-kun7310 - I very well understood what you meant to say without the explanation response to Noam Ben-Shalom. I completely agree with you. This current war isn't their fight, it's Putin's grudge and his war alone. Too bad that young Russian men have to be his puppets with guns.

[@jameseckman3639]

The Russian and Ukrainian people are not enemies. That war is the result of one person, Putin. He is just trying to make a name for himself, unfortunately he dose this with other peoples lives. Everyone including the people of Russia and Ukraine are against that war. It is not Russians vs Ukrainians, It is the result of a mad man in office.

[@rogereaston1188]

My wife (who is Polish) and myself (American) really enjoy your videos. This one was interesting to us both. My wife's first language is Polish, but she also speaks Russian. It seems Ukranian is also very similar to Polish. I enjoy exploring the differences in our cultures. I enjoyed the video where you talked about stereotypes between our countries. When you interview others, you seem to speak mostly with people close to your own age. Perhaps get a few more older folks to talk. I am 59 years old. Also, it would be very interesting to hear from the people who live outside your cities. Country or village people. I have lived most of my life in very small communities. Farming communities. I hope you can get this message with all that is going on now. Best of luck and take care.

[@qlango]

I agree that people Eli is interviewing are from Moscow and in her age and that does not represent Russians in general. But maybe it is intentional, because most viewers are probably also young and are interested in what young people think. But you still do not get opinions of people in other cities and from rural areas.

[@BartBart22]

@@qlango Seriously? I've watch a couple dozen of her videos now, and really enjoyed them, and in addition to some places outside the Russian Federation she goes all over Russia and the old Soviet Union and talks to people from all walks of life and all age groups. I think you've focused on a specific portion of her work.

[@kevingrimbeek2106]

Hi Roger, I am an "Olde Fossil" @ 74 years and have viewed most of Eli's Vlogs, which IMO are excellent! Just as an aside, the "bias" towards the russian language in the Slavic Coutries was imposed upon the people of the U$$R by the CR€ML!N where jail was meted out to nonconforming individuals!

[@vanklompf]

I'm Polish and I had 4 years of Russina class in my primary school 30 y ago and I undertstood almost all you said both in Russian and Ukrainian. For me Ukrainian is somewhere between Polish and Russian and if I new Russian better I would survive with no problem in Kiev and In Moscow.

[@peterjobovic3406]

As Slovak, I understood almost everything in Ukrainian. I think Ukrainian is very similar to the Ruthenian dialect. Many words have the same basis as Slovak or Polish. And words that are different in Slovak are again found in one of the Slovak dialects. The fact is that when I speak a dialect in a Slavic country, people understand me more than when I speak standard Slovak. This is probably due to the fact that the dialect is essentially the original language and is closer to the original Proto-Slavic language.

[@tarasshuliakevych3849]

for me, as a Ukrainian speaker, Slovak is understandable like for 99% 😹 Vitannia z Ukrajiny Slovaččyni! 🇺🇦🇸🇰

[@guccianddodul]

Hi Peter. Do you live in Slovakia? It would be great to make a cultural exchange. I speak 4 languages and French is one of them.

[@wilsonball7171]

@Моль и Окурок ахаха окраинец, ты несколько веков был под монголами и турками, пока вас русские не приютили и не "отмыли" ваши гены

[@RadoDani]

I totally agree. This is my experience as well. Especially, if you come from eastern part of Slovakia and was exposed to the eastern dialect as well as Ruthenian, you'll have easy time understanding Polish or Ukrainian.

[@Damian.99]

@@wilsonball7171 hello bot

[@ThePolishlucca]

This video made me realize how close Polish And Ukrainian languages are. Thank you Eli."do zobaczenia":)

[@vyrobnyk6362]

But there are different synonyms in Ukrainian. For example, instead of dyakuyu you can use spasybi, instead of trymaty - derzhaty.

[@andriyos45]

@@vyrobnyk6362 if ppl say spasybi or derzhaty it means the speak in 'surzhyk'

[@user-ks3zz1wb4g]

@@andriyos45 ні, це не суржик. Держати таке ж українське слово, яке у нас із прачасів, а спасибі - спаси Боже, тобто прийшло з Християнством

[@anirbanroy9431]

We are the same ..we are common people .. those political elite just device and rule 😂 ... My land was trone into 3 pieces ...

[@user-cr5jw6pc2g]

Досить вже говорити про ми однакові. Ми всі різні, і ніхто нас не ділив

[@maybeantoniovivaldi2522]

I'm Croatian, and I learned Russian, between the two I can understand about 80% spoken Ukrainian and 95% written. The more you learn the more you'll understand.

[@maybeantoniovivaldi2522]

Awesome video btw

[@eduardoschiavon5652]

Zdravo, ja sam Eduardo, drago mi je!

[@maybeantoniovivaldi2522]

@@eduardoschiavon5652 bok

[@d.d.6045]

Slovenian here, I could not make head or tail from Ukranian, but could catch some Russian, never learned it though.

[@BartBart22]

How did you learn the Russian alphabet?

[@janetescalona6517]

My husband is Cuban and he says that you have to be careful in other Spanish speaking people because some words have a different connotation....meaning being something common in one culture and something naughty in another😂 Your feed is so informative I've been sharing your channel with my friends 💕❄️💕

[@fem5351]

Very informative, thank you Eli keep up the good work.

[@nieltams8665]

You two are cute, continue your friendship despite what is going on right now in your countries.

[@marknovak9310]

Being from the state of Montana, USA I was very grateful for your Slavic language discussion. A very informative video in a short amount of time. Well done. Keep creating excellent work!

[@irinaivanovic9792]

Are there many Slavic people living in Montana?

[@loganflatt]

@@irinaivanovic9792 Probably not. In the USA most Slavic language speakers live in the Chicago and New York City areas as that is where multiple generations of Slavic immigrants have accumulated over decades. There are some in other US cities but few cities have large Slavic communities like Chicago and NYC. In these communities immigrants can live and work successfully and never learn English if they do not care to for their entire lives because they only trade or do business with other Slavs. It’s the same for many Asian immigrants in the US, especially Vietnamese, Chinese, and Koreans. They become Americans but English is unnecessary to earn a living in their communities if they do not care to.

[@alfaman8386]

@@ElifromRussia , privet Eli, Видите ли, в бывшей Югославии говорили на одном языке: сербский, боснийский, хорватский, словенский, черногорский и македонский. И все они понимали друг друга.

[@alfaman8386]

@@irinaivanovic9792 , koliko Srba zivi u Montani i imali pravoslavna srpska crkva, Pozdrav

[@joecapesius2887]

This is very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I learn so much watching your videos Eli 🧠

[@asahelmarin9324]

I am learning Russian. This video was very helpful. Thank you, Elina!

[@Veshgard]

For those who keep wondering if Yulia is safe: During the part where she speaks Ukrainian, she mentions that she has been living in Russia for the past 7 years (in other words, since 2014, because this video was released in 2021). Gee, I wonder why a girl born in a Russian-speaking city left Ukraine in 2014... Those who know the recent history of the country, know the answer.

[@meowchat6175]

God bless President Putin💜

[@mitchyoung93]

Hmmm, what happened in 2014?

[@d.d.6045]

@@mitchyoung93 Nazis took over with the help of Nuland a.k.a. the US

[@jonbasa]

@@mitchyoung93 Russia invaded (annexed) Crimea.

[@mitchyoung93]

@@jonbasa Russia sent troops there. Once the Ukrainian enforcers were gone, the populace voted overwhelmingly to join Russia because...you know...they are Russian. It was never Ukraine until the Soviets gave it to the Ukrainian SSR

[@ronmcfarlandUnika]

Great program Eli. I have a friend here in Tokyo from Sumy, Ukraine, and she introduced me to her friend from Omsk, Russia who is married to an American like me. It was interesting to learn they some Russians don't understand Ukrainian. Thank you for sharing that.

[@jerryfischer3988]

You 2 were great!! Really enjoyed this video. My grandmother and her family immigrated from Ukraine. She spoke German and Russian. I have a copy of my great grandfather signature from Ellis Island New York when they arrived. I could sit for hours and l8sten to her tell stories from her former country. So you folks talking and teaching and sharing language and friendship really warms my heart ❤️

[@AtlantDnepr]

I think they were from Zaporizhya or Dnipro region, there was German colonies

[@edabohner3490]

Two beautiful young souls. I hope peace will return and you will all recover.

[@stradtman123]

Так чарующе ! Thank you Eli. This one of my favorite KZbin videos.

[@lucianasuwu7480]

Your videos structure is really nice, well planned and organized :)))

[@Ofek_92]

Very nice video, thanks Elli! Plus, Yulia is so adorable 😊

[@aeganratheesh]

I'm learning Ukrainian and will start Russian once I'm close to B1/B2,I will also start Polish after 2 or 3 years

[@dociebiemowie915]

Cześć!! Pozdrawiam z Polski!

[@maxspirin3945]

Удачи в изучении всех этих языков!

[@MMAptou]

Good luck with it haha polish is the most coplicated language in the eu. I once bought a book for beginners for polish and also had help of my that time still fience, native polish girl, - and still did not made it till page 2 of this book. Maybe its just me, you may think. Well try it your self ;)

[@aeganratheesh]

@@MMAptou complicated* ... Btw are you American or British? Polish isn't complicated compared to Hungarian or Finnish lol

[@MMAptou]

@@aeganratheesh why are you trolling?

[@yaltazhu9683]

Thanks for the video! I wanted to know this for a long time!

[@mamo4678]

I’m an American who lived in Ukraine for a few years but where I was everyone spoke Russian so I learned that. When I hear Ukrainian I feel like I should be able to understand but can’t quite get it. Good to know Russians feel that way about Ukrainian too!

[@volodymyrdrobot9454]

Not anymore. After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, many Ukrainians switched from Russian to Ukrainian because as Russian speakers, they did not want Russian troops to come and "protect" them.

[@BibEvgen]

@@volodymyrdrobot9454 Read the comments to the video, foreigners, while in Ukraine, want to learn Ukrainian, but they can't, because everyone speaks Russian. The junta seized power in Kiev in 2014, staged a civil war, killed tens of thousands of people, forbids speaking in their native language, changes history,.................

[@volodymyrdrobot9454]

@@BibEvgen if this is a "civil war" as you claim, why is Russia getting sanctions for that? Maybe, because everyone knows that it is not really a civil war? Since 2014 many Ukrainians switched to Ukrainian as their primary language. Because they don't want to wake up one day and see Russian troops on their streets that were sent to "protect" them.

[@BibEvgen]

@@volodymyrdrobot9454 Sanctions were imposed on Russia, but rather restrictions, economic barriers, always, before 2014 and after. Russia also had (has) sanctions that were inherited from the USSR. The exchange of prisoners of Ukrainians is changed to Ukrainians, see the lists. For seven years, in fact, there is no evidence of the participation of Russian troops (mobile phones, satellites,.................), there should be thousands of video clips, there are none. Ukrainian, this is citizenship, not nationality. Ukraine is a multinational country, for most Ukrainian is not a native language.

[@anirbanroy9431]

@@volodymyrdrobot9454 please Stop miss information the government made policy to abandoned russian ... I know English how the fuck I can forget it or stop using it i need it ...even those fucker destroyed my country for 200 years .. in that part of the world they need it ... Please put facts and analysis before consuming propaganda ... Every media in the world is that .. be save my friend

[@davidroberts405]

Great video! Learning the alphabet and some conversational phrases, both of my paternal grandparents spoke Russian but my father did not speak the language at all and just curious about the language Thank you for putting out this great content!

[@thevbat]

Elina your videos are so interesting and practical. I am learning Russian and love Russian history and literature. I am from Australia

[@windswept8123]

Eli, thank you for another fascinating and educational video. I love languages so this was especially interesting.

[@gregorysmith3341]

What a wonderful way to explore the topic. I watched the LangFocus video on the same topic, but your conversation with your Ukrainian friend was so much more personal.

[@chantschu]

I‘m from Austria and I‘m learning Russian right now 😊

[@MiguelSanchez-rl8kc]

Hi Eli! I really like it because I love Slavic languages and culture!! It was really amazing

[@covin-xp6063]

Thanks for the wonderful video Red Saphire. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Xp

[@franktoledo6342]

Well that explains alot. Good topic.

[@geoffmaw4079]

Great Job Elina, I'm glad you posted this video as I'm trying to learn languages/cultures. I came across another vlogger who goes to E Slav countries and touring the less traveled places, like Degastan, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Eastern Europe and more. He learnt Russian to travel through these places. Hopefully once this pandemic is less stressful for all of us, I'd like to travel to these places too! Dam! Your friend Yulia has such a gorgeous smile. When you were trying to read the fairy tale, that's all I could look at. Does she have a channel to learn about UKR culture and language? Keep up the great work!

[@alexmercer4515]

Major groups, Western Slavs, Eastern Slavs and Southern Slavs. Linguistically some similarities between each groups but differences. So, the basic breakdown is Polish and Ukrainian 82% similar vocabulary. Russian and Ukrainian 62%. Ukrainian and Belorussian 92%. Most Western Ukrainians can understand Russian in my experiences. Some know but choose not to speak it.

[@arsenic5249]

Not so. The percentage of the general vocabulary of Ukrainian and Russian is 86%, Russian and Polish 77%. Main problems of mutual understanding are different pronunciation of word, which complicate the understanding of other Slavic languages. P.S. Sorry for Google translator

[@alexmercer4515]

@@arsenic5249 I can see why with the Ukrainian and Russian being higher than I said. Russian and Polish I would have to learn more Polish. P.S No problem, I have to consult a translator for the languages mentioned above

[@ThePolishlucca]

@@alexmercer4515 Learning Polish would be a valuable experience for you, just like learning Ukrainian or Russian for me, a Pole.

[@Damian.99]

@@arsenic5249 source?

[@RadoDani]

Also, exposure to other Slavic languages makes big difference. For example, Slovak and Czech are exposed to each other language through television and general cultural closeness, that the intelligibility between the languages goes well beyond the similarities in vocabulary. Someone from Slovenia would be exposed a lot to Serbo-Croatian, or someon from Ukraine is often exposed to Russian through media or education. Another issue is so-called "false friends", similar words in two languages with fairly different meaning. Czech and Slovak actually has few false friends, but Slovak and Polish for example has tons.

[@TallulahBelle3276]

Thank you for the enlightenment on these different languages. I learn something important whenever I watch you.

[@louiscervantez1639]

Excellent: started learning Russian, to further my language anthropology study - thanks for the vid - more please🤠

[@bill8216]

I'm learning Polish but interested in other languages. My great grandfather was from East of Warsaw while it was still Russia, so he spoke Russian but his brother knew Polish as a priest.

[@ChrisBattrick]

Both of you have excellent English! What beautiful intelligent and kind ladies! Молодец! Кахетия, я понимаю вас обоих одинаково как начинающих изучающих кириллицу и русский язык. I absolutely loved this video! Very well done!

[@robertoperezjr2631]

Very interesting, thank you for making this video.

[@christianbest6465]

Thanks a lot for these Informations! I dont know if i am able to learn Russian but these languages sound so cool to me i just might give it a try :)

[@jared40000]

Oh my God it's so hard to believe you took this video not that long ago.It really is amazing how fast things can change.But I can see you were honest in saying you're actually a happy and optimistic person.I guess we can all just hope for something really good will come out of this.Me personally I've never had a problem with Russian people I think some of the most beautiful women are Russian.

[@lenniebaby17]

awesome video, made me realize how much of my childhood-learned Ukrainian I retained! I grew up in Eastern Ukraine and "absorbed it" like Yuliya through TV and school. Some of it actually stuck, because I could read the children's tale at the end with the right stress and pronunciation. Thanks for making content!

[@paticomarquez5940]

great video once again..thank you!

[@dadzkiemalaco127]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge eli i love watching every vlog you uploaded.. 🇵🇭❤️

[@christianmiller1229]

Awesome video! Thanks! I've wondered for years what the difference is and how close they are. I think that learning one Slavic language, like Russian, will make it very easy to study other Slavic languages. I have Ukrainian and Polish friends and I often notice very similar words, even if the sentences or other important parts differ. What's more difficult is to tell how the different cultures will react to such comparisons. For example, I had some Polish friends who really did not like comparisons with Russian language because of the historical relations between their countries, even though I thought there were a lot of similar words. Keep making these videos and I'm glad I found your channel!

[@wielblad1344]

nie jest to prawda... język rosyjski jest zupełnie inny od języka polskiego i może czasem nawet utrudniać naukę... już szybciej nauka języka ukraińskiego vs języka polskiego vs czeskiego vs białoruskiego vs słowackiego... nauka któregokolwiek z nich pozwala zrozumieć komunikatywnie pozostałe języki... zdziwiłbyś się jakbym powiedział to samo co Ukrainka po polsku używając podobnych słów których użyła w swojej rozmowie...

[@bearth8498]

Your channel is culturally diverse and enjoy spending time watching

[@ghlscitel6714]

Very informative. You helped to answer a question I for a very long time could not solve.

[@MuhammadHussain-tv8gd]

Elina!I love your videos.keep them coming!I enjoy trying to remember the sounds of the Russian.❤

[@paulhenry6105]

Hello Elina. Please keep making videos comparing Slavic languages. I speak American English and German. Slavic languages are unlike any that I speak. They are beautiful and I love hearing and trying to speak them. Blessings from California and a 68 year old man.

[@jonmacdiarmid3671]

Really cool video

[@pratikmanavi]

I'm keen to know more about other cultures and this video is truly amazing 🤩

[@SaaRbn25]

Thank you, i always wondered this question

[@luckarl]

Thank you both for making non-Slavic understand that both Russian and Ukraine aren’t the same. I really hope both Ukraine and Russia will stand together as family. Peace peace peace.

[@user-cr5jw6pc2g]

What? Family? Tell me would you be family with a killer?

[@zaia8913]

@@user-cr5jw6pc2g I understand you because there are many people who, for example, saw their families burning while they were still alive, but people like Eli have nothing to do with it. They not supporting any war.

[@user-cr5jw6pc2g]

@Nemam Ime Don't call me a family with russians

[@giuseppebeppe2770]

@Nemam Ime a family that only the russians want, like Cain and Abel

[@giuseppebeppe2770]

@Nemam Ime None cares about the common ancestors, when your home is bombed by your "cousins". And they have also genetic differences. Russians were ruled by the mongols for centuries, ukrainians by the poles or the germanic populations. May East Ukraine is closer to Russia, but the West is very different. Anyone knows, protecting the russian minority, was just a lame excuse to attack. Ukraine and Belarus want to move to the west and the EU. Russia is far less rich and attractive to keep her former puppet states, so they have to use the military power to block this process. It's the only chance they have, so they are using.

[@colinbowen8620]

Thank you for this insight into the languages of the region. I want to learn Russian but I’m currently studying Mandarin so after this then I’ll take it on.

[@skyedog24]

This was the most interesting yet.thank you.

[@timothykelleher6336]

A very charming channel. Thank you for your videos. They are Interesting, fun, and informative. You have a genuine gift for communicating. Спасибо большое!🕊

[@Marmocet]

Your reaction is like how I feel when I hear spoken Dutch. I can speak German, Danish and English. Dutch is closely related to all three of these languages, and when I hear Dutch, in some sense I feel like I should be able to understand it, and I can pick out many words and phrases, but I really can't follow a conversation. It wouldn't be as hard as learning Chinese, but Dutch is a language I would definitely have to study.

[@TheTexican05]

Thank you so much for making this video! I discovered your channel by accident, but I am completely enjoying it. I started learning Russian a couple of months ago, and I will see it through to the end. I have a Ukrainian coworker and I mistook her language for Russian, now I am learning Ukrainian out of respect so I can communicate with her in day-to-day conversations . The way you handled this video was perfect, because it helped bridge the gap between the two languages I am learning this year. Your confusion as a native Russian speaker matches my confusion as a Russian learner. The best way I would tell Westerners is to compare Spanish and Portuguese to Russian and Ukrainian. They have historical influences and similarities, but they are very different overall. Love and encouragement from Central Texas, USA, ❤️ This is probably the fifth video I’ve seen from you, and I enjoy everyone of them. .

[@cadicamo8720]

Spanish and Portuguese are not good examples as, in fact, they are quite similar.

[@rthib1960]

That was so fun! Thank you :)

[@claudewells]

Thank you, Eli you have excited me into learnings your mother language.

[@johnarroyo4813]

Does Julia have her own channel?

[@porterbrass]

Thanks Eli for helping the world to understand the difference between Slavic countries!! “Ukraine is a different country with a different language and different culture.” Although this is true, your Ukrainian friend adds that many Ukrainians speak Russian. It’s a mix of cultures and languages.

[@BartBart22]

Yeah about as mixed as Ulster and Dublin.

[@HershelLacey]

Stalin made Russian mandatory in all lands it ruled.

[@nassermess7272]

Thank you Eli👏😻

[@spiderbytz]

Visiting Bulgaria next year so I’m immersing myself in Slavic languages and alphabet. Your channel was first to pop up in my search! New sub!

[@dimasveliz6745]

My native language is Spanish, studied in Poland, there took some courses and can speak some of it, I also speak Russian fluently and understood everything that the Ukrainian girl said 😊

[@brucedavidson5400]

How incredible this conversation is today, March4, 2022!

[@HershelLacey]

The same April, 2024.

[@carolcohen1790]

I am learning so much from your videos. Thank you Eli.

[@kamuzumazamoyo7116]

GREAT Job, well prepared, I like what you do and how you do it 🙏💐

[@spencerwinston4334]

Would like to read Dostoevsky in Russian as the German philosopher Nietzsche was deeply influenced by Dostoevsky. The book the Gambler and Notes from the Underground in particular. Fascinating to see all the different Slavic languages and dialects. Bravo!!!!

[@kazimierzgaska5304]

Do you speak Russian a little now ? Do you know such a book by Lev Shestov: "Dostoevsky and Nietzsche. The Philosophy of Tragedy" ?

[@spencerwinston4334]

@@kazimierzgaska5304Ty for the book recommendation, and will try to find an English translation. Only the most basic Russian I know 😂, as in, the labels on the popular Russian vodkas at Las Vegas Clubs. Wish I could read Dostoevsky in Russian as well as your book suggestion on Dostovesky's profound influence on Nietzsche. The Russians have such a profound, deep perspective, and window on the world in the arts and literature. Best Regards and Vodka cheers for a relaxing weekend.

[@missymoonwillow6545]

This is fascinating! I been studying the history of the coptic alphabet and it's amazing to hear regional differences that use it. So when the bible says the languages got jumbled up, they sure are not kidding!! This was wonderful. I really enjoy videos like this that compare cultural differences with language. Blessings from USA. 🥰

[@annihilationHaven]

Great, I'm addicted to this channel now...

[@denzilfernando11]

Very enlightening , more of the same will be appreciated, Denny from UK

[@jparsit]

Very intelligent video, I learn about the people of Russia and the E.U. from your videos which are easy-going and smart content. Thank you.

[@bartoszkwiecien1477]

That's pretty interesting to me. As a Pole I've understood every word which Yulia said. I have always thought that Ukrainian language is more simmilar to Russian than to Polish. Cheers!

[@sashaweber3663]

As a Ukrainian , I think it really has more similarities with Polish than with Russian. I finished playing Witcher 3 in Polish and had no troubles understanding most of the dialogue throughout the game after 20-30 minutes to adjusting to the phonetic differences.

[@Mediaflashmob]

As for me Russian, Polish is about 40-50% intelligible. Less, than Ukrainian, but much more than German for example

[@amalgama2000]

@P.I Vught Russian is based of Old Church Slavonic (South Slavic) and both Ukrainian and Belarus are based on the Rus' common people language. Naturally, Ukrainian is closer to Polish and Slovak. Especially if we take the PLC time in to account

[@YamnayaSintash]

@@amalgama2000 Almost, Russian was formed through a tug of war between church Slavonic and native east Slavic dialects. If you where to remove all church Slavonic from Russian, you would very likely end up with something very close to Ukrainian.

[@CVery45]

@@amalgama2000русский не основан ни на каком южнославянском и старославянский был для всех славян, а не только для русских, а вот насчет украинской мовы то это был малороссийский говор который захотели превратить в монстра сегодняшнего

[@erikbruner]

Very well done, Thank you)

[@cmd406]

So interesting! I love this!

[@tiktak9827]

As a Pole, I understood my friend from Ukraine more, having a very similar vocabulary to Polish. (do pobaczenia - do zobaczenia, kohaju - kochać ) 😁

[@user-David-Alan]

That was very interesting. I always thought those two languages were very similar. I just enjoy learning about Russia. How people all over the world are the same. Thanks for your videos. Stay well.

[@SuperLaurentd]

I'm an old french canadian citizen and I have to tell you I appreciate soooooo much everything you teach me about Russia, the different cultures, languages, dialects, history, geography and everything. You are quenching my thurst for learning what we were held from learning in the days of the cold war with USSR. I see you as the ambassador of the normal russian citizen, not the political as we were made to believe. What you show and teach makes me see the truth of what was hidden to us and still is being hidden today. The differences in cultures are so numerous and fascinating and yet I can finally see through you, your videos and the russian people you introduce to me the unity of humankind. You are such a beautiful person in all sens of the word, especiallay your heart. I encourage you to keep on doing what you have been doing. This is teaching that contributes towards peace on earth. Big hug. Laurent

[@zenpro8164]

thank you Eli, I enjoyed this lesson and loved it...thank you thank you...hugs

[@davidlockwood6088]

I used to be a Librarian at a U.S. Federal Court. After the Iron Curtain came down we were often visited by groups of Ukrainian Judges and Court employees. I would always greet them in Russian, which irritated the Americans accompanying the Ukrainians, but not the Ukrainians. I knew they understood Russian and always seemed pleased to have someone greet them in a language other than English.

[@royrockstein6520]

Eli, Thank you for this presentation on Russian and Ukrainian languages. Your friend Yulia and you both are so fluent in English. Both of you have such a command in English that I feel very inadequate since I do not speak any other language beside English. I take my hats off to you. You both are also very beautiful.

[@amalgama2000]

Nowadays if you are not fluent in English, you are f... let's just say you'd better start studding it ASAP :D

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Very practical and interesting video. Thank you!

[@malcolmbrown5331]

You and Yuliya made a very informative video. I have studied a bit of Russian over the years and as an Alaskan I have had a lot of exposure to Russian speakers and place names.

[@almounasaddiyeh8685]

I didn't know there were so many slavic languages. Please make more videos like these. I went to Ukraine many years ago and learnt some words but decided to study Russian first and formally.

[@jameseckman3639]

I started learning Russian through Rosetta Stone. I am not very good, at least not yet. Also I now have a Ukrainian girlfriend. So this video was especially interesting to me. Thanks

[@bayliner6296]

You are so much joy in your videos that anyone would enjoy watching you. Good Job

[@thedude85447]

Thank you for making this video. As someone of direct central European and distant eastern European/Russian heritage, I've often wondered the differences between the various Slavic languages. Also, I just started learning Russian in January and I must say reading the alphabet is by far the biggest challenge I've had so far. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

[@thedude85447]

@@ElifromRussia Thank you. Hopefully someday soon I will be able to visit Russia.

[@antoniomontana9430]

I was born in Odessa, Ukraine and Russian was my first language (USSR days) before we immigrated to the USA when I was a child. My parents never taught me Ukrianian but I picked up a few words over the years. My wife is from Khmelnitsky, Ukraine and she is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian, as well as English to some extent. When I hear my wife or her mother speak in Ukrainian, it's a completely foreign language to me and I can only make out a few words if they sound similar to Russian.

[@rogerjackson484]

Haha , good video Alina, my wife is Ukrainian but speaks Russian fluently , she has the same advantage Yulia has of knowing both languages. Me, I’m an English speaker but it’s fun watching your language videos and my wife enjoyed this particular video. Also even though I do not understand German, French or Spanish I still know if those languages are being spoken, but there is no way I would be able to tell you who is speaking Russian and who is Speaking Ukrainian. Cheers from Utah USA

[@interestingproducts304]

Do you not hear the difference between Ukrainian and Russian at all??

[@CVery45]

@@interestingproducts304no one foreigners cannot hear the difference between Russian and Ukrainian

[@HershelLacey]

Stalin made Russian mandatory even in East Germany.

[@n.k.chauhan2011]

_Slovak women are really among one of the most beautiful in the word. A pretty woman still walks on the street. They are the Slavic type, in a group with Russian, Ukrainian and Polish women. Beauty doesn't need a language or a code to enter one's feelings. The wordly expressiveness of love needs it. Learning Slavic language from a Slovak woman is itself a feeling of blessing._ _A beautiful woman feels beautiful within, from the love she gives to her ideas and the creative ways she expresses her soul. She isn't just beautiful, she makes every byte of space around her beautiful too, she affects others and brings their beauty out of them. And she does it with ease. It is who she's. She's a flower that makes others bloom, that makes even the flowers bloom in the real sense which when strongly influences your feelings._

[@HershelLacey]

Sounds like you are describing Eli.

[@karolbagh3793]

Definitely very informative video 👍👍👍

[@lukadundur8341]

I know polish and serbo croatian and i understand everything in ukrainian

[@baronj4210]

If you live long and speak Czech and Polish, you understand Slovak and may understand Ukrajisky better than Rusky. Lets get all the Slavs in the USofA together as the Hispanic/Latinos are that we have some political say also.

[@dwitcraft]

Thanks for approaching difficult topics