The Apostrophe

Level 1Sounds Like apostraf

The apostrophe tells you to say the consonant and then a [j] sound: сям'я [сямйа] (family), п'еса [пйэса] (play). It does the job of the Russian ъ and the separating ь.

How It Works

Write an apostrophe before е, ё, ю, я (and sometimes і):

  • After a prefix that ends in a consonant: аб'ява (announcement), аб'ём (volume), ад'езд (departure), пад'ехаць (to drive up), з'есці (to eat up). Here і gets an apostrophe only when it is stressed.
  • Inside a word after б, в, м, п, ф, г, к, х, д, т or р: сям'я (family), вераб'і (sparrows), п'ю (I drink), бар'ер (barrier), надвор'е (weather), інтэрв'ю (interview).
  • After the first part двух-, трох-, чатырох- or шмат-: двух'ярусны (two-level).

No apostrophe is written:

  • after ў: салаўі (nightingales). See ў.
  • after л, с, ц, дз, н or з in borrowed words, which take a separating ь instead: мільён (million), медальён (medallion). See мяккі знак.

Russian speakers can match the patterns: семья → сям'я, пьеса → п'еса, объявление → аб'ява, съесть → з'есці. Printed texts usually use the curly apostrophe (’), while keyboards often type a straight one ('). Both do the same job.

Examples (6)

  1. У мяне вялікая сям'я.

    I have a big family.

    Word by Word: At me big family.

    After м, the apostrophe keeps the [j] of я: сям'я.

  2. Я п'ю каву без цукру.

    I drink coffee without sugar.

    Word by Word: I drink coffee without sugar.

    П'ю is said [пйу]. Russian writes пью.

  3. На дзвярах вісіць аб'ява.

    A notice is hanging on the door.

    Word by Word: On door hangs notice.

    After the prefix аб-, the apostrophe comes before я.

  4. Хто з'еў мой яблык?

    Who ate my apple?

    Word by Word: Who ate-up my apple?

    After the prefix з-, the apostrophe comes before е.

  5. На дрэве сядзяць вераб'і.

    Sparrows are sitting in the tree.

    Word by Word: On tree sit sparrows.

    After б inside the word, the apostrophe comes before і.

  6. Заўтра будзе добрае надвор'е.

    The weather will be nice tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow will-be good weather.

    After р, the apostrophe comes before е.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing a soft sign where Belarusian uses an apostrophe.

    У мяне вялікая сямья.
    У мяне вялікая сям'я.

    Russian writes ь here, but Belarusian writes an apostrophe after м.

  • Writing the Russian hard sign.

    На дзвярах вісіць абъява.
    На дзвярах вісіць аб'ява.

    Belarusian has no ъ. The apostrophe does its job.

  • Leaving out the apostrophe.

    Я пю ваду.
    Я п'ю ваду.

    Without the apostrophe, the [j] sound disappears. The word is said [пйу], so it needs the apostrophe.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The ApostropheLevel 1

Learn This First

The apostrophe is a spelling sign learned with the alphabet.