Ukrainian Teacher Proposes Native Alternatives for English Loanwords, Igniting Linguistic Debate

Dnipro, Ukraine – In an effort to promote the purity and richness of the Ukrainian language, Svitlana Chernyshova, a Ukrainian language teacher and methodologist, recently published a short educational video on TikTok. The video, which has garnered significant attention, introduces six commonly used English loanwords and their proposed Ukrainian equivalents, encouraging viewers to integrate these native terms into their daily vocabulary. Chernyshova, known for her engaging teaching style, begins the video by asking, "Do you want to know what 'krishmitka' is? Watch this video until the end!" She then proceeds to list the English terms and their Ukrainian counterparts: "Post" as "dopys," "feedback" as "vidhuk," "account" as "oblikovka," "challenge" as "vyklyk," "lifehack" as "znakhidka, lazivka, or khytryk," and "hashtag" as "krishmitka." The video has sparked a lively debate among viewers, reflecting varying perspectives on language evolution and preservation. One commenter expressed gratitude, stating, "Very timely. Foreign words have flooded the language. Thank you!" Another praised Chernyshova, remarking, "Our Ukrainian language teacher at school (22nd school Dnipro) was a wonderful woman, she taught us to speak Ukrainian, not translate. You remind me of her. Thank you." However, not all reactions were entirely positive regarding the proposed alternatives. Some found certain words, like "krishmitka" and "oblikovka," to be too unfamiliar or contrived. A user commented, "Krishmitka - that's too much, where did you get these words? Is this really Ukrainian?" Another added, "Oblikovka - well, that's something, challenges are generally nonsense as a phenomenon. But 'lifehack' - well, that word is the very essence of the phenomenon - it's a life hack, not a 'khytrivka'." Despite the mixed reactions, the video highlights an ongoing discussion within Ukrainian society about linguistic identity and the balance between embracing global terminology and preserving indigenous vocabulary. Chernyshova's initiative serves as a valuable contribution to this important cultural dialogue.

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Кришмітка – чи знаєте, який англіцизм можна замінити цим словом

В мовний обіг активно ввійшло чимало англіцизмів. Але до кожного з них є український відповідник.