Ukrainian verbs of motion

Verbs of motion are quite tricky in Ukrainian. The best way to learn them is situationally through a lot of examples.

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One-directional Ukrainian verbs of motion Йти / Їхати

Multi-directional Ukrainian verbs of motion Ходити / Їздити

There are two groups of Ukrainian verbs of motion:

• Йти / їхати → one-directional (once, in one direction, “going now”)

• Ходити / їздити → multi-directional or habitual (back-and-forth, repeated, or in general)

1. Ходити (to go on foot, repeatedly / in general / back-and-forth)

Use ходити, when:

• The action is repeated, habitual:

  • Я ходжу до школи щодня. → I go to school every day.

• You mean movement in different directions:

  • Він цілий день ходив по кімнаті. → He was walking around the room.

• You describe an ability or general fact:

  • Вона вже вміє ходити. → She can already walk.

2. Їздити (to go by transport, repeatedly / in general / back-and-forth)

Use їздити, when:

• The action is repeated, habitual:

  • Ми часто їздимо до Києва. → We often go to Kyiv.

• Movement happens in different directions:

  • Весь день він їздив містом. → He was driving around the city all day.

• To express ability or general fact:

  • Я не вмію їздити на велосипеді. → I can’t ride a bike.

✅ Summary rule:

• йти / їхати – one time, now, in one direction.

• ходити / їздити – many times, back and forth, regularly, or in general.

3. ЙТИ/ПІТИ (on foot, one direction, now / once)

*Піти is Perfective aspect used for common past and future verb forms.

• Я йду до магазину. → I am going to the store.

• Куди ти йдеш? → Where are you going?

• Вона йшла до школи, коли почався дощ. → She was going to school when it started to rain.

• Ми завтра підемо до театру. → We will go to the theatre tomorrow.

• Я ніколи не піду з тобою туди! → I will never go there with you!

4. ЇХАТИ/ПОЇХАТИ (by transport, one direction, now / once)

*Поїхати is Perfective aspect used for common past and future verb forms.

• Я зараз їду в університет. → I am going to university (by bus/car/etc.).

• Ти куди їдеш? → Where are you going (by transport)?

• Вони їхали до Києва, коли подзвонив друг. → They were going to Kyiv when a friend called.

• Завтра ми поїдемо на море. → Tomorrow we will go to the sea.

• Я ніколи не поїду в Москву. → I will never go to Moscow.

⚖️ Difference in feeling:

• йти / їхати → one-time, “right now,” or one specific trip in one direction.

• ходити / їздити → many times, habitually, in general.