Learning Slavic Languages | Differences in Russian and Ukrainian

In this video we will talk about 12 Slavic Languages, and how to start to learn a Slavic language.

00:00 - are Slavic languages similar?
2:26 - differences in dialects, grammar and vocabulary
3:37 - in what countries do people speak Slavic languages
4:27 - comparing Russian and Ukrainian
5:32 - can Ukrainians understand Russian?
8:24 - can Russians understand Ukrainian?
11:13 - where to start with learning Slavic languages

/FAQ/

- What do I do?
My name is Elina, some friends call me Eli. I am from Russia, but always travel for studying or working abroad.

- What is my channel about?
Here I share my experiences of finding scholarships to study abroad for free, opportunities all over the world; I also talk about my home country Russia and compare cultural aspects of different countries.

More videos:

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[jimmycricket]

I hope your friendship will continue through these difficult times.

[andrejspi]

As a native speaker of both Russian and Polish language I can understand completely what was said in Ukrainian (although I don't know Ukrainian and never learned or conversed in it). The words that are "strange" or unfamiliar for a Russian speaker usually (in 90 % of cases) sound like their Polish counterparts. Ukrainian is a part of continuum of languages between east and west Slavic tongues. The same goes for the Belarussian tongue, no problem in understanding it.
Greeting from Lithuania

[jjs]

omg, Im Polish and I understand basically everything what was said in Ukrainian :)) cool

[ThePolishlucca]

This video made me realize how close Polish And Ukrainian languages are. Thank you Eli."do zobaczenia":)

[nieltams]

You two are cute, continue your friendship despite what is going on right now in your countries.

[rogereaston]

My wife (who is Polish) and myself (American) really enjoy your videos. This one was interesting to us both. My wife's first language is Polish, but she also speaks Russian. It seems Ukranian is also very similar to Polish. I enjoy exploring the differences in our cultures. I enjoyed the video where you talked about stereotypes between our countries. When you interview others, you seem to speak mostly with people close to your own age. Perhaps get a few more older folks to talk. I am 59 years old. Also, it would be very interesting to hear from the people who live outside your cities. Country or village people. I have lived most of my life in very small communities. Farming communities. I hope you can get this message with all that is going on now. Best of luck and take care.

[angelarch]

Interesting watching this video today-- such smiling faces between Russia and Ukraine. Wish it could get back to that.

[vanklompf]

I'm Polish and I had 4 years of Russina class in my primary school 30 y ago and I undertstood almost all you said both in Russian and Ukrainian. For me Ukrainian is somewhere between Polish and Russian and if I new Russian better I would survive with no problem in Kiev and In Moscow.

[marknovak]

Being from the state of Montana, USA I was very grateful for your Slavic language discussion. A very informative video in a short amount of time. Well done. Keep creating excellent work!

[aeganratheesh]

I'm learning Ukrainian and will start Russian once I'm close to B1/B2, I will also start Polish after 2 or 3 years

[MI_Prepper]

I was actually a Russian Linguist in the US Army, I graduated from the Basic Russian Language course from the Defense Language Institute, (military Language school in Monterrey, California), 30 years ago. It was an intensive 47 week course of seven hours a day of Language instruction, (I started in the German course first, but when Germany reunified, there was no more East Germany so they switched me to Russian. After the Army I got a Russisn Studies degree from a University. Russians are really great, kind, and FUN people.

[jerryfischer]

You 2 were great!! Really enjoyed this video. My grandmother and her family immigrated from Ukraine. She spoke German and Russian. I have a copy of my great grandfather signature from Ellis Island New York when they arrived. I could sit for hours and l8sten to her tell stories from her former country. So you folks talking and teaching and sharing language and friendship really warms my heart ❤️

[Veshgard]

For those who keep wondering if Yulia is safe: During the part where she speaks Ukrainian, she mentions that she has been living in Russia for the past 7 years (in other words, since 2014, because this video was released in 2021).

Gee, I wonder why a girl born in a Russian-speaking city left Ukraine in 2014... Those who know the recent history of the country, know the answer.

[ronmcfarlandUnika]

Great program Eli. I have a friend here in Tokyo from Sumy, Ukraine, and she introduced me to her friend from Omsk, Russia who is married to an American like me. It was interesting to learn they some Russians don't understand Ukrainian. Thank you for sharing that.

[chaos-kun]

Considering what's going on right now, this video has a new meaning. It's so beautiful and wholesome. It makes me want to cry. Why should these two girls be enemies? Why should this be happening? I can't quite express what I'm trying to say. I just know it feels so wrong that these two girls' countries should be at war. I pray that Juliya is okay, wherever she is. I pray that peace will come and that everyone can be like these friends.

[stradtman]

Так чарующе ! Thank you Eli. This one of my favorite YouTube videos.

[janetescalona]

My husband is Cuban and he says that you have to be careful in other Spanish speaking people because some words have a different connotation....meaning being something common in one culture and something naughty in another😂 Your feed is so informative I've been sharing your channel with my friends 💕❄️💕

[maybeantoniovivaldi]

I'm Croatian, and I learned Russian, between the two I can understand about 80% spoken Ukrainian and 95% written. The more you learn the more you'll understand.

[edabohner]

Two beautiful young souls. I hope peace will return and you will all recover.

[lenniebaby]

awesome video, made me realize how much of my childhood-learned Ukrainian I retained! I grew up in Eastern Ukraine and "absorbed it" like Yuliya through TV and school. Some of it actually stuck, because I could read the children's tale at the end with the right stress and pronunciation. Thanks for making content!