This week’s episode is your ultimate survival guide — 50 essential words and phrases that will help you in Ukraine:

- Find the bathroom (because, trust me, you’ll need it)
- Order food without accidentally getting something terrifying
- Ask directions without looking totally lost (ok, maybe just a little)
- And actually connect with locals!

But here’s the twist — it’s not just about words. It’s about sounding like you belong.

In this episode, Larissa and Alex decode why your feed keeps saying “varenyky floor,” “loud cotton,” or “go to Kobzon’s concert”—and how bad auto-translate + dark humor turn into Ukrainian memes. Beginner-friendly, cozy, and practical.

You’ll pick up simple lines (and meme keys):

• «Pidloha varenyka» — really “varenyky floor.”

• «Bavovna» — “cotton” → cheeky “boom.”
• «Swan Lake» — TV shorthand for “the end is near.”
  

Grab the word list + your free explainer video in our Facebook group Ukrainian Up Podcast — practice with kind humans and start decoding your feed in 💛💙

Heard Episode 2.11 and caught the vibes… but not the words? Same, friend. Here’s your cozy remedy:

Podcast Pack 2.11 — a simple, gentle way to finally hear it, say it, and keep it. ⁠⁠⁠Check it here!⁠⁠⁠

What’s inside (only $5):

• 🎧 Full episode audio

• 📄 Script (PDF) with English translation + timecodes + explainer + 5 control questions

• 🎬 Mini word video (learn + pronounce key phrases)

• 🃏 Ready-to-import Anki deck

Mom takes a vacation day… and Dad spends all day with their toddler daughter. Chaos, snacks, tears, triumph—this narrated episode walks you through daily-routine & clock-time vocab (wake-up, meals, naps, errands, bedtime).

Today’s handy lines:

• «Ya tykho vmylasya, posnidala, pochustyla zuby...» — I quietly washed my face, had breakfast, brushed my teeth...

• «O chotyrnadtsyatiy vin tantsyuvav...» — He was dancing at 2 PM...

• «My razom podyvylysya serial pro kokhannya...» — We watched a series about love together...

Find the full routine list in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ukrainian Up Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Listen, repeat, save—and enjoy a funny, tender reminder that small wins count 💛💙

Читає Світлана Соколовa, Телеграм: @svitsokolova

You’ll learn why long Ukrainian words are delicious like borshch (not scary), how to tame the beastly “И”, and finally roll your Rs like a Ukrainian tractor. Warning: tongue twisters ahead. But don’t worry — we’ve got your back (and your mouth).

Reading Text: Привіт, час для граматики — і цього разу ми тренуємо язик. Ми говоримо про дикі українські звуки — ті самі, що розтягують рот, випробовують терпіння і змушують відчути себе мовною зіркою. Ви дізнаєтесь, чому довгі українські слова такі ж смачні, як борщ.

This episode is all about Ukrainian food and drinks — the real stuff. No clichés, no propaganda, just honest answers to your spicy questions. Let’s go:

- Is borscht russian or Ukrainian?
- Do we really eat only meat and potatoes? ...

- And yes… do Ukrainians cry over bread?

This one’s cozy, cultural, and a little chaotic. Like grandma’s kitchen after a wedding.

Larisa and Alex talk about old and modern Ukrainian films that are definitely worth watching. From a tragic mountain love story to a modern smuggling thriller, this list isn’t your average “cinema classics” roundup. Beginner-friendly, cozy, and practical.

You’ll pick up simple lines:

• • «Smishna narodna komediya.» — “A funny folk comedy.”
  • «Pochnemo z p'yatoho mistsia…» — “We’ll start at number five…”
  • «Tse kultovyi film.» — “This is a cult film.”

Grab the movie list + free phrase video in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠Ukrainian Up Podcast⁠⁠⁠ — practice with kind humans and say your first hello in 💛💙

Heard Episode 2.7 and caught the vibes… but not the words? Same, friend. Here’s your cozy remedy:

Podcast Pack 2.7 — a simple, gentle way to finally hear it, say it, and keep it. ⁠⁠⁠Check it here!⁠⁠⁠

What’s inside (only $5):

• 🎧 Full episode audio

• 📄 Script (PDF) with English translation + timecodes + links + 5 control questions

• 🎬 Mini word video (learn + pronounce key phrases)

• 🃏 Ready-to-import Anki deck

An old shelter dog wanders into the life of a disheartened woman—and quietly leads her back to hope, friendship, and a chance at love. This narrated episode guides you through feelings vocabulary (sadness, gratitude, fear, affection).

Today’s handy lines:

• «Mene tse vzhe ne khvylyuvalo.» — I didn't care anymore.

• «Ty zalyshayesh mene zarady...» — You're leaving me for...

• «Vin usmikhnuvsya i potsiluvav mene.» — He smiled and kissed me.

Find the full feelings list and a mini-quiz in our Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠Ukrainian Up Podcast⁠⁠⁠. Listen, enjoy, save—and let this gentle story soften your Ukrainian, one feeling at a time 💛💙

Читає Світлана Соколовa, Телеграм: @svitsokolova

In this episode, Alex untangles two easy ways to say “have” in Ukrainian—natural «U mene ye…» and the verb form «Ya mayu…»—so you know when each shines. Larissa coaches your pronunciation line by line, moving from slow to natural speed. Beginner-friendly, cozy, and practical.

Today’s handy lines:

• «U nas ye vilnyi stolyk.» — "We have a free table."

• «Ty mayesh brata?» — "Do you have a brother?"

• «Ya mayu kvytok.» — "I have a ticket."

Grab the word list in our Facebook group ⁠Ukrainian Up Podcast⁠ — practice with kind humans and post one true sentence about your life 💛💙

Heard Episode 2.5 and caught the vibes… but not the words? Same, friend. Here’s your cozy remedy:

Podcast Pack 2.5 — a simple, gentle way to finally hear it, say it, and keep it. ⁠⁠⁠Check it here!⁠⁠⁠

What’s inside (only $5):

• 🎧 Full episode audio

• 📄 Script (PDF) with English transcriptions + timecodes + guidelines

• 🎬 Mini word video (learn + pronounce key phrases)

• 🃏 Ready-to-import Anki deck

In this episode, we meet Oleksandr — and guess what? He’s kind of a goody two-shoes (or so he says😏). Join us as we dive into the thrilling world of everyday stuff: brushing teeth, saving students, making a mess, pretending not to be tired… you know, normal life. Perfect for practicing Ukrainian about daily routines — with a twist of attitude.

Hey! It’s Larissa here — and today I’m in a mood that smells like vanilla, sausage, and just a hint of pussy willow. Because we’re diving into Easter, Ukrainian style!

I hope you've already shaken out your blankets, dug out that Easter basket from the back of your closet, and stocked up on eggs by the dozen. This holiday episode is packed with good stuff — and trust me, Ukrainian Easter is anything but boring! There will be greetings, baking, egg decorating, and yes... a bit of egg combat (don’t worry, it’s just a tradition 😄)