Personal pronouns (особо́ві займе́нники) are words used to represent people or things. Ukrainian has two singular “you”. We'll start by learning the most basic forms, the ones used when the pronoun is the subject (the one doing the action).

Singular	Plural
я – I	ми – we
ти – you (informal), ви – you (formal)	ви – you
він – he, вона́ – she, воно́ – it	вони́ – they

Later, you'll discover that these pronouns change their form when they are the object of a sentence (e.g., when they receive the action). For instance, when you want to say "He sees me," the word for me isn't "я". Don't worry about those changes yet, you'll learn them naturally as you encounter common phrases!

“Ти” vs “Ви”

You already met the pronouns "ти" and "ви" in the previous lesson on introducing yourself. “Ви” is a plural form of “ти”, but it can be used as a polite form for addressing a single person. “Ти” is used with someone you know well enough, a friend, a colleague, a close family member, a child, and sometimes with someone who is much younger than you. Use “ви” when addressing someone with whom you have a more respectful relationship like an elder, a boss or a stranger. 

A lot of people use “ви” when speaking to parents, this depends on how they were taught in their family. If you aren’t sure which one to use, always use “ви”.

The person of a higher position or who is older than you can ask you to use “ти”. When one person offers to use “ти” it’s impolite to refuse. If the other person is not older than you and has the same position you can ask him / her the following questions:

Мо́жна на “ти”? – May we switch to “ти”?
Ви не про́ти, якщо́ ми пере́йдемо́ на “ти”? – Would you mind if we switch to “ти”?
Пропону́ю перейти́ на “ти”. – I suggest switching to “ти”.
Дава́йте на “ти”. – Let’s switch to “ти”.

If they refuse, it might mean that it’s to early or they just want to keep the distance.

Declensions of personal pronouns

	I	we	you (sing.)	you (pl.)	he, it	she	they
Nom.	я	ми	ти	ви	він / воно́	вона́	вони́
Gen.	мене́, (prep.) + ме́не*	нас	тебе́, (prep.) + те́бе*	вас	його́, (prep.) + ньо́го*	її́, (prep.) + не́ї*	їх, (prep.) + них*
Dat.	мені́	нам	тобі́	вам	йому́	їй	їм
Acc.	мене́	нас	тебе́	вас	його́, (prep.) + ньо́го*	її́, (prep.) + не́ї*	їх, (prep.) + них*
Instr.	мно́ю	на́ми	тобо́ю	ва́ми	ним*	не́ю*	ни́ми*
Loc.	(prep.) + мені́	(prep.) + нас	(prep.) + тобі́	(prep.) + вас	(prep.) + ньо́му, нім*	(prep.) + ній*	(prep.) + них*

Using Personal Pronouns in Sentences:

Він студе́нт. – He is a student.
Вона́ студе́нтка. – She is a student.
Ми студе́нти. – We are a student.
Він вчи́тель. – He is a teacher.
Вона́ вчи́телька. – She is a teacher.
Вони́ вчителі́. – They are teachers.
Він лі́кар. – He is a doctor.
Вони́ лікарі́. – They are doctors.
Він співа́к. – He is a singer.
Вона́ співа́чка. – She is a singer.
Ми дру́зі. – We are friends.
Ми тут. – We are here.
Вони́ там. - They are there.
Вона́ вдо́ма. – She is at home.
Я щасли́вий. – I am happy. (male)
Я щасли́ва. – I am happy. (female)
Вона́ сумна́. – She is sad.
Я голо́дний. – I am hungry.