Adjectives

In Ukrainian stress in adjectives is fairly straightforward as, once you know where the stress falls in the dictionary form, this does not shift when the adjective is declined. It’s therefore best to learn the stress at the same time as you learn the word and its meaning. For those interested in how the language works, some of the rules for placing stress on adjectives are listed here.

The most frequently used, and useful, adjectives have been grouped, below, into those with end stress (on the first syllable of the ending where this has two syllables) and those with stem stress. Stress in diminutive forms of adjectives is not addressed here. Frequently-used diminutives e.g. мале́нький are simply listed under the appropriate group. Also included here are comparatives, e.g. нові́ший, and pronouns with adjectival endings, e.g. яки́й.

Adjectives with stem stress

The majority of adjectives have stem stress, most frequently on the syllable before the ending.

An example of an adjective with stem stress: вели́кий - big, great.

Other adjectives like this

Adjectives with end stress

A smaller group of important adjectives have end stress (if the ending consists of two syllables, stress will fall on the penultimate syllable). In the comparative some adjectives shift their stress from the ending to the stem, e.g. молоди́й моло́дший. Where the comparative is formed with the suffix -іший, the stress falls on the «і». The superlative, with the addition of the prefix най-, has the same stress as the comparative.

An example of an adjective with end stress: дороги́й – dear, expensive.

Other adjectives like this

Exercise

• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Pronouns
• Numerals
• Invariable
• Names