Nature has a profound influence on human emotions and creativity, and the Ukrainian language paints this vibrant picture with its rich vocabulary. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or an avid nature lover, understanding these descriptive words can enhance your appreciation of the natural world and help you to communicate more vividly in Ukrainian.

Ліс (lis) – Forest
Describes a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.
Ми йдемо на прогулянку до лісу.
(We are going for a walk to the forest.)

Річка (richka) – River
A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river.
Річка в цьому місці дуже спокійна.
(The river is very calm in this place.)

Гори (hory) – Mountains
Large landforms that rise prominently above their surroundings, typically having steep slopes, a summit, and considerable height.
Гори вкриті снігом навіть влітку.
(The mountains are covered with snow even in summer.)

Озеро (ozero) – Lake
A large body of water surrounded by land and not connected to the sea except by rivers or streams.
Ми човном пливемо по тихому озеру.
(We are boating on the calm lake.)

Море (more) – Sea
The expanse of saltwater that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its landmasses.
Сонце заходить над морем.
(The sun sets over the sea.)

Квіти (kvity) – Flowers
The colorful and fragrant parts of a plant that are often used for decorative purposes.
Поля навколо села вкриті дикими квітами.
(The fields around the village are covered with wildflowers.)

Дерево (derevo) – Tree
A perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves.
На тому дереві росте багато яблук.
(That tree has many apples growing on it.)

Рослини (roslyny) – Plants
Organisms that typically produce their own food via photosynthesis and have multiple cells.
У цьому лісі зростає багато рідкісних рослин.
(Many rare plants grow in this forest.)

Пагорби (pahorby) – Hills
Naturally raised areas of land, not as high or craggy as mountains.
Пагорби вздовж річки утворюють красивий ландшафт.
(The hills along the river create a beautiful landscape.)

Захід сонця (zakhid sontsya) – Sunset
The time in the evening when the sun disappears below the horizon, often associated with vibrant colors.
Захід сонця на березі був неймовірно красивим.
(The sunset on the shore was incredibly beautiful.)

Світанок (svitanok) – Dawn
The first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise, marking the beginning of the day.
Ми встали дуже рано, щоб побачити світанок.
(We woke up very early to see the dawn.)

Зорі (zory) – Stars
The multitude of small, twinkling bodies in the night sky that create a celestial spectacle.
Небо вночі було вкрите яскравими зорями.
(The sky at night was covered with bright stars.)

Expanding your Ukrainian vocabulary with these words and using them in context can profoundly connect you to the natural world described in Ukrainian literature and conversation. Nature, with its universal beauty and mystery, provides an endless source of inspiration, and now, you’re equipped with the language to describe it.