30/09/2026
We figured the best way to find out was to ask the classics 😉
And they sure knew how to say it beautifully:
1. «Moya holubko» (my little dove) and «moya radist’» (my joy) — the words Ukraine’s most iconic poet, Taras Shevchenko, used for his beloved Kateryna. Behind the serious moustached face every Ukrainian knows from school was quite the romantic - sadly, life kept the two of them apart
2. Ivan Franko, one of Ukraine’s greatest writers and poets, had his own favourites: «dorohen’ka» (dear one) and «ziron’ko» (little star). He used them in letters to his wife Olha, whom he married for love - although their life together later became far from easy
3. «Kvitoch’ko» (little flower) and «Klyonya» were Lesya Ukrainka’s sweet names for her husband Klyment Kvitka. One of Ukraine’s most famous poets, Lesya found in Klyment a close companion and supporter. He was nine years younger, and the two shared a love of Ukrainian music and folklore
4. Ukrainian poet Volodymyr Sosiura went from cute «Murka» to dramatic «my blue-eyed happiness and sorrow» when writing about his wife Maria. He also called her «kokhana druzhyna» (beloved wife) and «muza» (muse). And the drama wasn’t only in the nicknames - their marriage was passionate, complicated and full of separations and reunions
5. And perhaps the cosiest one: «Vedmid’» (my bear) 🐻. Ukrainian writer Olha Kobylianska used it for fellow writer Osyp Makovey, whom she fell deeply in love with. She dreamed of a life together, but he didn’t return her feelings in quite the same way - so much of their love story remained in her letters
Now you know how to sweet-talk your Ukrainian beloved 😉
How do you call the ones you love?
Drop your nicknames in the comments, and see you at Tisto cafe - a Ukrainian café in Leamington Spa 💙
