Food, Drinks & Shopping
Warm-up
Food is at the heart of Ukrainian culture. From the world-famous борщ (borshch) to the beloved вареники (varenyky), Ukrainian cuisine tells stories of tradition, family, and history.
But to eat, you must shop! Whether it's a bustling ринок (market) full of fresh produce or a modern супермаркет (supermarket), shopping in Ukraine is a daily ritual. Today, you'll learn everything from reading a menu to bargaining for the best tomatoes.
💡 Did You Know?
Борщ (borshch) entered English directly from Ukrainian, not Russian! UNESCO recognized Ukrainian borshch cooking culture as part of Ukraine's intangible cultural heritage in 2022. Each region has its own recipe, but beets (буряк) are always the star.
Presentation
Part 1: Food & Drinks (Їжа та Напої)
Ukrainians typically eat three main meals:
- Сніданок /ˈsnidɑnɔk/ — Breakfast.
- Обід /ɔˈbid/ — Lunch (main meal, 1-3 PM).
- Вечеря /vɛˈt͡ʃɛrʲɑ/ — Dinner (lighter, 6-8 PM).
Essential Vocabulary
1. Main Dishes (Основні страви)
- Борщ /bɔrʃt͡ʃ/ — Beet soup.
- Суп /sup/ — Soup.
- Вареники /vɑˈrɛnɪkɪ/ — Dumplings.
- М'ясо /ˈmjɑsɔ/ — Meat.
- Риба /ˈrɪbɑ/ — Fish.
- Курка /ˈkurkɑ/ — Chicken.
2. Basics
- Хліб /xlʲib/ — Bread.
- Сир /sɪr/ — Cheese.
- Яйце /jɑjˈt͡sɛ/ — Egg.
3. Fruits & Vegetables (Фрукти та Овочі)
- Овочі: Картопля (potato), Помідор (tomato), Огірок (cucumber), Цибуля (onion).
- Фрукти: Яблуко (apple), Банан (banana).
4. Drinks (Напої)
- Вода /vɔˈdɑ/ — Water.
- Чай /t͡ʃɑj/ — Tea.
- Кава /ˈkɑvɑ/ — Coffee.
- Сік /sik/ — Juice.
- Вино /vɪˈnɔ/ — Wine.
- Пиво /ˈpɪvɔ/ — Beer.
🎬 Pop Culture Moment
In the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R., тушонка /tuˈʃɔnkɑ/ (canned meat) is iconic. It's a survival staple every Ukrainian knows!
Part 2: The Action — їсти & пити
You learned these verbs in Module 08. Use them now!
їсти /ˈjistɪ/ (to eat): я їм, ти їси, він їсть, ми їмо, ви їсте, вони їдять. пити /ˈpɪtɪ/ (to drink): я п'ю, ти п'єш, він п'є, ми п'ємо, ви п'єте, вони п'ють.
Example:
— Ти їси борщ? (Are you eating borshch?)
— Так, я їм борщ і п'ю чай. (Yes, I'm eating borshch and drinking tea.)
The Magic Word: When eating, always say Смачного! /smɑt͡ʃˈnɔɦɔ/ — Bon appétit!
Part 3: How Cases Work in Shopping (Accusative + Genitive)
Now, let's go shopping. You need two cases here:
1. Accusative: «I want X» When you want/buy something (direct object), use Accusative.
- Я хочу каву. (coffee - f)
- Я купую хліб. (bread - m)
2. Genitive: «Quantity OF X» When you ask for a specific amount, use Genitive (of...).
- Чашку кави. (A cup of coffee)
- Кілограм яблук. (A kilo of apples)
- Пляшку води. (A bottle of water)
- Пачку чаю. (A pack of tea)
3. Asking Price
- Скільки коштує ...? (How much does ... cost?)
- Яка ціна? (What is the price?)
🌍 Real World: Supermarkets
Popular chains: Сільпо (Silpo), АТБ (ATB), Новус (Novus). Be ready at the каса (checkout) — cashiers are fast!
Dialogues
Waiter: Добрий день! Ось меню.
You: Дякую. Я хочу борщ і вареники.
Waiter: Що ви будете пити?
You: Чай, будь ласка.
Waiter: Ви хочете цукор? (Do you want sugar?)
You: Ні, без цукру.
Waiter: Добре. Смачного!
Translation:
— Good day! Here is the menu.
— Thank you. I want borshch and varenyky.
— What will you drink?
— Tea, please.
— With sugar?
— No, without sugar.
— Good. Bon appétit!
Seller: Добрий день! Свіжі помідори!
You: Добрий день. Скільки коштує кілограм?
Seller: Тридцять гривень.
You: Дайте два кілограми, будь ласка.
Seller: Щось ще? Огірки?
You: Ні, дякую. Тільки помідори.
Seller: Дякую!
Translation:
— Good day! Fresh tomatoes!
— Good day. How much is a kilo?
— Thirty hryvnias.
— Give me two kilos, please.
— Anything else? Cucumbers?
— No, thanks. Only tomatoes.
— Thank you!
Practice
Shopping List Challenge
Translate these orders:
- I want water. (Accusative) -> Я хочу воду.
- A bottle of water. (Genitive) -> Пляшку води.
- I eat meat. -> Я їм м'ясо.
- How much is the coffee? -> Скільки коштує кава?
Menu Reader
Imagine you are at a cafe. Order a full meal (soup, main, drink).
- Я буду борщ, курку і сік. (I will have...)
Cultural Insight
Bread is Head (Хліб усьому голова)
Bread is sacred. You'll see коровай (wedding bread) and be greeted with хліб і сіль (bread and salt). Never throw bread away!
Also, борщ is the soul of the kitchen. «Борщ — душа української кухні.»
📋 Підсумок
You can now feed yourself in Ukraine!
- Eat & Drink: їсти, пити, снідати, обідати, вечеряти.
- Shop: Скільки коштує?, Я хочу..., кілограм...
- Enjoy: Смачного!
Next up: Module 19 - At the Café (more conversation!).
Need More Practice?
External Review
🎯 Activities
Food & Drinks Vocabulary
Shopping Phrases
Food vs Non-Food Items
Food (Їжа)
Non-Food (Не їжа)
Shopping Situations
Where do you pay for items?
What do you use for small shopping?
How do you accurately ask for a bag?
How do you ask for the price?
How can you say accurately "I pay by card"?
Which phrase means accurately "The discount is 10%"?
What do you use for a big shopping?
How do you accurately say "Show me the receipt"?
Where is the milk usually stored?
How do you say accurately "I have fresh vegetables"?
How do you accurately ask for cash payments?
How do you say accurately "This is cheap"?
Shopping Culture
Ukrainian markets (ринки) are popular for fresh produce.
You should never greet the salesperson in a small Ukrainian store.
«Скільки коштує?» means "How much does it cost?"
Bread (хліб) has no cultural significance in Ukraine.
Ukrainian supermarkets often have multiple floors.
You use accusative case for quantities like "a glass of water."
UNESCO recognizes Ukrainian borsch culture as endangered heritage.
«Дешево» means "expensive."
«Каса» is where you pay at a supermarket.
Ukrainians only use cash, never cards.
«Офіціантка» is the feminine form of "waiter."
It's rude to ask «Ще щось?» (Anything else?) in a store.
Shopping Sentences Order
Identify the correct order: "I want coffee."
Identify the correct order: "How much is bread?"
Identify the correct order: "I'll take cheese, please."
Identify the correct order: "A glass of water, please."
Identify the correct order: "We buy vegetables and meat."
Identify the correct order: "Is there dessert on..."
Identify the correct order: "The bill, please."
Identify the correct order: "Borscht is very tasty."
Identify the correct order: "I'm looking for toothpaste."
Identify the correct order: "Excuse me, where is..."
Identify the correct order: "I'll take soup and salad."
Identify the correct order: "The store opens at 8."
Non-Food Items
Café Dialogue
Beverages vs Food vs Items
Beverages (Напої)
Food (Їжа)
Items (Предмети)
📚 Vocabulary
| Word | IPA | English | POS | Gender | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| атб | /atb/ | ATB | noun | ч | |
| душа | /duʃˈa/ | soul | noun | ж | |
| коровай | /kɔrɔʋˈaj/ | korovai (wedding bread) | noun | ж | |
| курко | /kˈurkɔ/ | chicken (diminutive) | noun | ч | |
| напій | /napˈij/ | drink, beverage | noun | ч | |
| новус | /nɔʋus/ | Novus (supermarket) | noun | ч | |
| огірок | /ɔɦirˈɔk/ | cucumber | noun | ч | |
| пачка | /pˈat͡ʃka/ | pack, packet, tutu | noun | ж | |
| пляшка | /plˈjaʃka/ | bottle | noun | ж | |
| супермаркет | /supɛrmˈarkɛt/ | supermarket | noun | ч | |
| сільпо | /silʲpˈɔ/ | Silpo (supermarket) | noun | с | |
| тушонка | /tuʃˈɔnka/ | stewed meat, tushonka | noun | ж |