Despite what you’ve heard, Ukrainians are incredibly warm and affectionate people.

If you visit Ukraine or make Ukrainian friends, you’ll quickly notice that we rarely call people by their full, formal names once we know them well.

Instead, we use “diminutives” - special versions of words that make them sound smaller, cuter, and friendlier.

Whether you’re dating a Ukrainian, have Ukrainian family members, or just want to be sweeter to your friends, knowing these terms is essential.

Using these words shows closeness.

It breaks down barriers and makes the other person feel safe and loved. In Ukrainian culture, calling someone “Sonechko” (little sun) is much more natural than just saying their name all the time.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common romantic nicknames, cute animal names for kids, and how to turn any name into a sweet nickname.

Romantic terms for your partner

If you’re in a relationship with a Ukrainian, you definitely want to move past the formal stage.

In Ukrainian, adjectives change depending on gender. This means the word for “beloved” is different if you’re saying it to a man or a woman.

Here is a breakdown of the most romantic terms:

Here is how you might use these in a conversation. Imagine you’re greeting your partner after a long day of work.

Another very common phrase is Sertsenko (Серденько). It literally means “little heart”. It is gender-neutral, so you can say it to anyone you love.

Animal-based nicknames (They are very popular!)

It might sound funny to English speakers, but Ukrainians love comparing their partners and children to cute animals.

It is not an insult to call someone a fish or a bunny in Ukraine - it is actually the highest form of cuteness!

The most famous one is Zaychyk (Bunny). You’ll hear this everywhere in Ukraine, from couples on a date to grandmothers talking to their grandkids.

Here is an example of how you might ask for a favor using these cute names.

Terms of endearment for children

When speaking to children, Ukrainians turn the sweetness up to the maximum level.

While you can use all the animal names mentioned above for kids (especially Zaychyk), there are other specific nature-based words we use to show affection to little ones.

The absolute number one term is Sonechko.

Sonechko comes from the word Sontse (Sun). By adding the suffix -echko, we turn it into “Little Sun”. It implies that the child is the light of your life.

It is very common for a mother to wake her child up like this:

How to turn names into nicknames (Diminutives)

This is the secret sauce of the Ukrainian language.

If your friend is named Ivan, calling him “Ivan” can feel a little bit stiff or serious, like a teacher talking to a student.

To make it friendly, we add suffixes. This changes the name to mean “Little Ivan” or “Dear Ivan”.

Common Suffixes:

• -ka (Common for female names)
• -chko (Neutral/Male, very affectionate)
• -yk (Male)
• -usya (Very sweet, for family or close friends)

Examples of Name Changes:

How do I know which one to use?

It is usually best to listen to what other people call them first. But generally, the form ending in -ko (like Ivanko, Andriyko) is safe, friendly, and traditionally Ukrainian.

Also, don’t forget your family members!

• Mom: Mama → Matusya or Mamulya
• Dad: Tato → Tatul or Tatochko
• Grandma: Baba → Babusya

Using these variations shows that you understand the culture and that you care about the person.

Start using them today

You don’t need to be fluent in Ukrainian to use these words.

Start small. Next time you see your partner, try calling them Sonechko. If you have a Ukrainian friend named Andrii, try saying “Hi Andriyko” instead of just “Hi Andrii”.

They’ll notice the effort, and it will definitely make them smile.

Do you have a favorite Ukrainian nickname that you’ve heard? Share it with me!