You’ve probably noticed that Ukrainian words change their endings a lot.

You learn that “coffee” is kava. But then you hear someone say kavu. Then you see it written as kavy.

What’s going on?

Welcome to the world of Ukrainian cases.

”Cases” sounds like a scary grammar term. But in reality, it is just a system to help you understand who is doing what in a sentence.

In English, the order of words is very strict. “The dog bit the man” means something totally different from “The man bit the dog.”

In Ukrainian, because we change the endings of words (cases), the word order is much more flexible.

Think of it like this:

In English, we actually have a tiny bit of this too.

• I see him. (“I” is the subject).
• He sees me. (“Me” is the object).

We don’t say “He sees I”. The word changes from “I” to “Me” depending on its job in the sentence.

Ukrainian just does this with all nouns, adjectives, and pronouns.

There are 7 cases in Ukrainian. It sounds like a lot, but I’m going to break them down simply so you understand the logic behind them.

1. Nominative case (Nazyvnyi vidminok)

This is the easiest one. It is the starting point.

When you look up a word in the dictionary, it is in the Nominative case. It answers the questions who? or what?

We use this case for the subject of the sentence - the person or thing that is doing the action.

In these examples, “book” and “student” are in their basic forms. No changes needed!

2. Genitive case (Rodovyi vidminok)

This is probably the most commonly used case after the Nominative, and it is very important.

The Genitive case answers the questions whom? or of what?

We use the Genitive case mainly for three things:

1. Possession: To show something belongs to someone (like ‘s in English).
2. Absence: To say something is NOT there.
3. After “Of”: A cup of tea.

If you want to say “I don’t have [something],” that [something] must change to the Genitive case.

(Note: “Mama” changes to “mamy”)

(Note: “Brat” changes to “brata”)

3. Dative case (Davalnyi vidminok)

The name “Dative” comes from the Latin word for “to give.”

This helps you remember its function. We use it when we are giving something to someone, or doing something for someone. It represents the indirect object.

It answers the question to whom?

(Note: “Druh” changes to “druhu”)

We also use this with certain verbs, like “to help” (dopomahaty). In English, you “help someone,” but in Ukrainian logic, you give help to someone.

4. Accusative case (Znahidnyi vidminok)

The Accusative case is for the direct object. This is the person or thing that the action is happening to.

It answers the questions whom? or what?

For example, in “I love pizza,” “I” is the subject (Nominative), and “pizza” is the object being loved (Accusative).

A quick tip for beginners:

For masculine inanimate objects (things that are not alive), the Accusative usually looks exactly the same as the Nominative! You only really have to worry about changing the endings for feminine words or living masculine things (like people or animals).

(Note: “Knyha” changes to “knyhu”)

(Note: “Avtobus” stays the same because it is an inanimate masculine noun!)

5. Instrumental case (Orudnyi vidminok)

This is one of my favorite cases because it is very logical. It answers the question with whom? or with what?

We use the Instrumental case for:

1. Tools: The instrument you use to do something (writing with a pen, eating with a spoon).
2. Company: Doing something with someone.

(Note: “Ruchka” changes to “ruchkoyu”)

(Note: “Druh” changes to “druhom”)

Also, interesting fact: We use this case to say what we want to become (professionally).

• Ya khochu buty likarem (I want to be a doctor).

6. Locative case (Mistsevyi vidminok)

As the name suggests, this is all about location.

It answers the questions on whom? or on/in what?

The special rule for the Locative case is that it is always used with a preposition (like in, on, at). You will never see a word in the Locative case all by itself.

Common prepositions used here are v/u (in) and na (on).

(Note: “Stil” changes to “stoli”)

7. Vocative case (Klychnyi vidminok)

This is the case that makes Ukrainian unique compared to some other Slavic languages (like Russian, which doesn’t really use it anymore).

We use the Vocative case when we are addressing or calling someone.

If you are talking about Oksana, you say “Oksana” (Nominative). But if you are talking TO Oksana, you say “Oksano!”

(Note: “Andriy” changes to “Andriyu”)

(Note: “Mama” changes to “Mamo”)

Summary Table of Endings (Singular)

Here is a simplified cheat sheet for how nouns usually change in the singular.

Note: There are always exceptions in languages, but this table covers the most common patterns.

How to learn cases without going crazy

When I studied Second Language Acquisition, one thing became very clear: memorizing huge tables of grammar rules usually doesn’t work for speaking.

If you try to think “Okay, this is feminine singular instrumental…” while you’re speaking, you’ll pause for five minutes before saying “Hello.”

Here’s my advice:

1. Don’t panic. You will make mistakes. It is okay. Ukrainians will still understand you if you use the wrong ending.
2. Learn chunks. Learn whole phrases like “U mene nemaye…” (I don’t have…) and remember that whatever comes next sounds different.
3. Listen. The more you listen to Ukrainian, the more your brain will naturally “hear” what sounds right.