Kyivan Ukrainian
The Kyiv-based standard of Ukrainian. The state language of Ukraine and the second-largest East Slavic language by speakers.
Polissian
Also known as: Northern Ukrainian, Polissky govir
The Northern Ukrainian dialect group of the Polissia region, straddling northern Ukraine and southern Belarus. Forms a transitional zone between Ukrainian and Belarusian.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Polissian?
Polissian is a dialect of Ukrainian.
Which region is Polissian associated with?
Polissian is part of the Europe region on DialectAtlas.
Is Polissian known by other names?
Yes — Polissian is also referred to as Northern Ukrainian, Polissky govir.
What are the other dialects of Ukrainian?
Ukrainian also includes Standard Ukrainian, Western Ukrainian, Bukovinian, Carpathian Rusyn, Sloboda Ukrainian, Surzhyk. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.
Other Ukrainian dialects
See on the atlas →Galician Ukrainian · Lviv Ukrainian
The Ukrainian of Galicia and the western regions around Lviv. Carries contact features from Polish and Slovak and was historically the prestige variety in Habsburg-era Galicia.
Bukovyna Ukrainian · Pokuttia–Bukovinian
The Southwestern Ukrainian variety of the Bukovyna region around Chernivtsi. Shaped by long contact with Romanian, German, and Polish under Habsburg rule.
Rusyn · Ruthenian · Lemko
The East Slavic varieties of the Carpathian highlands across Zakarpattia, eastern Slovakia, and southeastern Poland. Often classified as a separate language; historically grouped with Ukrainian.
Slobozhansky · Slobozhanshchyna Ukrainian
The Southeastern Ukrainian variety of the Sloboda region around Kharkiv and Sumy. Close to the standard, but with a distinctive lexicon shaped by long contact with Russian.
The Russian-Ukrainian mixed colloquial register, widely spoken across central and eastern Ukraine. Treated by linguists as a code-mixing continuum rather than a fixed dialect.