Surzhyk

Surzhyk is a special way of speaking that mixes Ukrainian and Russian together. People use it in parts of Ukraine and also in nearby areas of Russia and Moldova. It happens when someone speaks Ukrainian but adds many words and sounds from Russian, making it a bit like a Russian version of Ukrainian.

The mix of words and sounds can change a lot depending on where you are or who you talk to. It depends on things like where people live, how much school they have, and their background. In the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, especially near big cities where many people speak Russian, Surzhyk has more Russian words. In western Ukraine, the language has fewer Russian words because Russian wasn’t as commonly spoken there in the past.

Etymology and terminology

The word surzhyk comes from old Slavic roots meaning "with" and "together." Originally, it described a mix of grains like wheat and rye. Over time, the word began to describe a mix of languages—specifically Ukrainian and Russian.

People may use the word surzhyk to talk about mixing languages in different ways. Some might use it when two languages are blended together in a person's speech, or when words from both languages are used together often. Because of this, the idea of what surzhyk means can change depending on who you ask.

In parts of Ukraine, many people grow up speaking this mix of Ukrainian and Russian naturally. It is like a middle point between the two languages, with many different ways it can show up depending on where you live.

Prevalence

In 2003, a study showed that between 11% and 18% of people in Ukraine used a special way of speaking called Surzhyk. This way of speaking mixes Ukrainian and Russian words. In western Ukraine, only about 2.5% of people used Surzhyk, while in the south, over 12.4% used it. In the east, around 9.6% of people spoke Surzhyk.

One challenge in understanding languages in Ukraine is that many people switch between Ukrainian and Russian without realizing it. Even those who think they speak only one language often blend the two without noticing.

History

There is no clear agreement on when Surzhyk first appeared. Some believe it might date back to the 17th century, while others think it began during the industrialization and urbanization of Ukraine in the 19th century. Another view suggests it started at the end of the 18th century when Ukrainian peasants began interacting more with the Russian language.

In 1721, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great stopped the publishing of books in Ukraine, except for Russian religious works, and ordered Ukrainian books to be burned. Later rules in 1863, 1876, and 1881 banned Ukrainian books and limited the use of the Ukrainian language in public. The Russian government saw using Ukrainian as a sign of opposition and worked hard to stop it.

Industrialization caused workers from Central Russia to move to Ukrainian cities, and the growth of cities changed how people lived. Russian became seen as more modern and important, but because many Ukrainians didn’t learn it well, they mixed it with their own Ukrainian words. This mixing is how Surzhyk began.

During the Soviet era, there were times when the Ukrainian language was supported, but later policies pushed Russian as the main language. This led to more Russian words being used in Ukrainian speech. After Ukraine became independent, the Ukrainian language became very important, but many people still mixed Russian words into their Ukrainian, creating a new kind of Surzhyk.

Some people argue about what the “correct” way to speak Ukrainian should be, since Soviet policies changed the language a lot. Studies show that because Ukrainian wasn’t used much in media, many people know Russian words better than Ukrainian ones, which is why Surzhyk is still used today.

Examples

Grammar

Sometimes, words in Russian and Ukrainian can cause mix-ups because they have different genders. For example, the Russian word for "language" is masculine, but the Ukrainian word is feminine. This can lead to people using the wrong endings on adjectives and verbs when speaking. However, speakers often notice these mistakes when they happen.

See also: Locative case § Ukrainian

False friends

There are many words in Russian and Ukrainian that look similar but mean different things. These are called interpreter's false friends.

Ethnopolitical issues

During Soviet times, speaking Ukrainian became less common, especially when rules pushed people to use Russian more. Because of this, many ethnic Ukrainians grew up knowing Russian better than Ukrainian. Since 1991, Ukrainian has been the main official language of Ukraine. However, many people still struggle to speak Ukrainian well, including some leaders.

Surzhyk is most common in rural areas, while city folks usually speak more standard Ukrainian or Russian. Visitors often find it hard to talk with locals because guidebooks usually only teach pure Ukrainian or Russian, not the mixed Surzhyk way of speaking.

Since events like the Revolution of Dignity and the ongoing conflict with Russia, many people who grew up speaking Russian are now trying to learn Ukrainian. They sometimes mix both languages while learning, which some call "Neo-Surzhyk." This mixing is now seen by many as a positive step toward speaking proper Ukrainian, especially in places like Odesa. People there are taking Ukrainian classes and using more Ukrainian words in everyday talks, even if they still use Russian sometimes.

Literature

Nikolai Gogol often used this mixed language in his short story collection Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka. Surzhyk has been used for funny effects in Ukrainian books since Ukrainian books began. For example, in the 1798 poem Eneyida, written by Ivan Kotlyarevsky and based on the Latin poem Aeneid, the character "Filozop" speaks Surzhyk for humor while standing near the dead Pallas.

In popular culture

Surzhyk is sometimes used to make people laugh in art and entertainment. Famous examples include short plays by Les Poderviansky and songs by the pop star Verka Serdyuchka. The punk-rock group Braty Hadyukiny (meaning "viper's brothers") often sings in Surzhyk to show the simple lives of the people in their songs.