Key greetings and gestures to use in Ukraine

Understanding Ukrainian Etiquette: A Guide for Learners: Key greetings and gestures to use in Ukraine

Key greetings and gestures to use in Ukraine include a mix of formal and informal expressions along with culturally specific physical greetings.

Informal: “Привіт” (Pryvit) means “Hi” and is used among friends and peers.
Formal greetings change according to the time of day:
- “Доброго ранку” (Dobroho ranku) – Good morning (before noon).
- “Добрий день” (Dobryi den) – Good day/Hello (used commonly throughout the day).
- “Добрий вечір” (Dobryi vechir) – Good evening (used after sunset).
Polite/Respectful: “Здрастуйте” (Zdrastuite) is a formal hello used with elders or in professional settings.
Versatile: “Вітаю” (Vitayu) can mean “I greet you,” “Welcome,” or “Congratulations,” used in both formal and informal contexts.
Religious greetings in Western Ukraine include “Слава Ісусу Христу!” (Glory to Jesus Christ!) with the response “Навіки слава!” (Glory forever).
Common polite phrases: “Дякую” (Dyakuyu) means “Thank you,” and “Будь ласка” (Bud’ laska) means “Please.”
Farewells: “До побачення” (Do pobachennya) is formal goodbye; friends may say “Бувай” (Buvai) or “Пока” (Poka), and “До завтра” (Do zavtra) means “See you tomorrow.”

Handshakes are common, especially in formal situations, often firm and accompanied by direct eye contact. Remove gloves before shaking hands.
Between close female friends and family, it is customary to kiss on the cheeks three times, starting with the left cheek.
Close male friends often greet with a hug and a pat on the back.
Waving with a finger should be avoided as it is considered rude unless beckoning a child or pet.
The gesture of making a fist with the thumb between the middle and index finger is extremely rude and should be avoided.
Ukrainians stand close during conversations, less than arm’s length, but touching is minimal in first meetings.

Using proper greetings and gestures shows respect and helps build genuine connections in Ukrainian social culture.¹^{, 2}^{, 3}^{, 4}

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