Avoid "upcoming" and any mention of "well-being": the right way to wish someone a Happy New Year in Ukrainian.
On the eve of the New Year, everyone thinks about the best way to congratulate their loved ones and friends. Warm words often carry more significance than the gifts under the tree, as they leave an emotional mark. However, in these challenging times, it is essential that these words are expressed in proper Ukrainian, writes TSN.
New Year or new year: how to write it correctly
When referring to the festive night from December 31 to January 1, we write New Year with a capital letter.
If we are talking about the year as a calendar measure, both words should be written in lowercase — new year. For example: "I wish that the new year would be better than all the previous ones!".
"Наступаючий" or "прийдешній"?
The common greeting "Happy Upcoming New Year" is unfortunate for several reasons:
- In the Ukrainian language, there are no active present participles with the suffix -юч.
- The word наступаючий does not fit the meaning, as the New Year does not "approach".
- The Ukrainian word прийдешній is a good equivalent, meaning "the one that will come," and sounds natural.
Besides прийдешній, you can use the phrase "Happy New Year."
Emphasis in the greeting: with "новИм," not "нОвим" year
The correct stress in the word "новИм" is also significant.
Ukrainian words for holiday greetings
When talking about the New Year, choose the right words:
- Not празнік, but свято.
- Not подарки, but подарунки.
- Not йолка, but ялинка.
- Not слідуючий, but наступний.
- Not зимній, but зимовий.
Also, remember that you "підбиваєте" results, not "підводите", and you make wishes for the "наступний рік," not "слідуючий".
Forms of New Year greetings
Official greetings:
- Please accept our most sincere congratulations on the New Year!
- Dear colleagues, we sincerely congratulate you on the New Year!
Informal options:
- Sincerely congratulating you on the New Year!
- Happy holidays and a joyful New Year!
With addresses:
- Happy New Year, dear friends!
- Happy New Year, kind people!
New Year wishes
Always wish goodness, happiness, and well-being ("добробуту"), but avoid the word "благополуччя". It does not sound as natural in the Ukrainian language as "щастя" or "гармонія".
Let us remind you that the platform "Opendatabot" analyzed where in Ukraine this year they sell Christmas trees for the holidays at the highest prices. In total, in 2024, forestry enterprises grew more than a million New Year trees, over half of which are pines.