Ukrainian language

Your Polish neighbour is just a moron who has never been to Ukraine, but holds historical grudges.

sounds like a wishful thinking on your part. I am Ukrainian and I have never heard that Ukrainian was a peasant language. It is a language which had its ups and downs over the centuries, but it def survived and it is no peasant by any means.

I think it's logical that if you want to move to Ukraine, you should learn to speak Ukrainian in the first place. Russian won't hurt (you can take advantage of the opportunity to learn them both, since they're pretty close) too, particularly in Kiev and in Eastern cities of the Ukraine. Although in the West speaking Russian may bring you into troubles or have you treated not as well as you expected.

Ukrainian if not spoken by everyone is understood by everyone. Go for it and good luck.

P.S. If you are Polish, then studying Ukrainian will be easier for you than studying Russian for it's sort of bridge-language between us two. And I'm Russian.

This thread is old, but I still want to answer it, maybe my post will help smb. The thing is that I AM Ukrainian, and I do speak Ukrainian with my friends, my family, moreover, I'm proud of it, and I'm proud when foreigners want to learn my mother tongue :) I'm from Western part of Ukraine, and yes, almost all Ukrainians speak Ukrainian here, but we also understand Russian, and no, we won't beat you if you speak Russian in my town :)

I do understand Ukrainian language in 80% and Russian in 50% but when visited Ukraine always spoke English :)

because understanding and speaking are two different things

and because of that I don't want to be taken/mistaken for Polish or Russian.

There is no way for Ukrainian to mistake Polish language with Russian. However it's safer to use English as you can't know if the Ukrainian persoan you are speaking to has a good understanding of Polish.

Feel free to use Polish or English in Ukraine and don't worry - you will be understood. But if you add a few words in Ukrainian, it will always be appreciated. The locals, wherever you are or go, like when you show that you care. There were no known cases of somebody losing mind or having brain explosion for learning a few foreign words.

Polish could be useful in Western Ukraine where it's sometimes spoken but not always.

Why do you deliberately slip mentioning Russian as an option? Wait... I said 'deliberately'? Then no questions...
But that's funny.

Merged:

Who needs help with Russian/Ukrainian?

Does anyone has questions regarding Russian/Ukrainian languages? I would be glad to help.

1) Is it true, that Ukrainian has its roots amongst the transgender community of Ancient Rus?

2) Is it true, what they say, that the first book translated into Ukrainian was Mein Kampf?

3) Why does Ukrainian borrow so many words from pig dialect? Specifically phrases like "Oink!" and "Oink oink!"?

4) Why do "cat" and "whale" mean the same thing?

When an imperialist Russian asks such questions I immediately know they are lying. :):):)

@Vlad, objectively speaking, is Ukrainian closer to Polish than Russian?
I was told once that the closest living Slavic language to Polish is actually Czech,
numerous false friends notwithstanding:-)

When it comes to vocabulary, it is fifty fifty.

When to grammar, it is more Russian-like, I suppose.

There's a big difference between Ukrainian dialects. Listening to people from Lviv, I can understand 100%. due to similarity with Polish. Kyiv people? Maybe 50 or 60%

Probably correct.

Much more Slovak language.

Hmm, a variety of answers I see.
Many thanks all the same, folks!