Politeness and Proper Ukrainian: How to Correctly Say Sorry
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, many Ukrainians have consciously switched to their native language to promote its revival and strengthen national identity.
However, during conversations, mistakes can occur, especially involving the use of slang or incorrect politeness forms.
One common error is the phrase «я вибачаюся» (I am apologizing), which is often used incorrectly.
Ukrainian linguist Maria Slovolyub explained in the program «24 канал» the correct ways to express apologies and polite words in Ukrainian.
She emphasized that the Ukrainian language has established correct forms for greetings, farewells, and expressions of politeness, which must be used appropriately.
It is particularly important to avoid the incorrect form «вибачаюся», as it contradicts the linguistic logic of Ukrainian.
Instead, one should use phrases like «перепрошую» (I apologize), «вибачте» (sorry), «пробачте» (forgive me), or «даруйте» (pardon).
Data shows that many Ukrainians, after the start of military actions, consciously switched to speaking Ukrainian, recognizing the importance of preserving their cultural and linguistic identity.
For more insights into the language transition process in Ukrainian society, read the article «Перехідний вік мови» by journalist from Kherson, Volodymyr Shishkov, on ZN.UA.