Ukrainian vs Russian Alphabet: Beginner-Friendly Differences

Many beginners ask how similar Ukrainian and Russian alphabets are. They share roots, but there are important differences.

Shared base, different details

Several letters look familiar across both systems.

Ukrainian includes letters such as Ґ, Є, І, and Ї.

Even where letters look similar, sound values can differ by language.

Treat Ukrainian as its own system from day one to avoid confusion.

Start practising: Start Learning

_Author note from Emma Clarke:_ Once I stopped comparing constantly and learned Ukrainian on its own terms, progress felt steadier.

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