будь ласка / прошу

Polite Request Markers

Level 3Sounds Like budʹ laska / prošu u prohanní

Ukrainian uses будь ласка for everyday requests and as a response to 'thank you'. прОшу (1st syllable stress) is used for invitations or 'you're welcome', while прошУ (2nd syllable stress) is used with infinitives for formal requests. To be even more polite, use conditional questions like 'Чи не могли б ви...'.

How It Works

Making requests in Ukrainian involves choosing the right level of formality and using the correct punctuation.

1. Будь ласка (Please / You're welcome)
This is the most common way to say 'please.' It is a contraction of будьте ласкаві ('be so kind').

  • Punctuation: It is always separated by commas: Дайте, будь ласка, хліб.
  • Placement: Placing it at the start of a sentence makes the request more formal or insistent; placing it in the middle or at the end is more casual.
  • Response: It is also the standard way to say 'you're welcome' after someone says дякую.
  • Register: Neutral; used with both ти and ви.

2. Прошу (Please / You're welcome)
This is a versatile etiquette formula. Its meaning depends heavily on stress:

  • прОшу (First syllable stress): Used as a polite particle for invitations or as a response to 'thank you'. It is often followed by a polite imperative: Прошу, заходьте!
  • прошУ (Second syllable stress): This is the first-person singular verb meaning 'I ask'. It is used for formal requests and is typically followed by an infinitive: Прошу зачекати.

3. Softening with the Conditional
To become proficient in polite communication, use the conditional mood. Framing a request as a question (Чи не могли б ви...) makes it less direct and more respectful.

4. Aspect in Requests
When inviting someone to do something, native speakers prefer the imperfective aspect (Сідайте) over the perfective, as it sounds more welcoming and less like a command.

Examples (6)

  1. Передайте, будь ласка, сіль.

    Pass the salt, please.

    Word by Word: Pass, be kind, salt.

    A standard, neutral request using the imperative with 'будь ласка' isolated by commas. Placing it in the middle of the sentence sounds natural and casual.

  2. Прошу, сідайте.

    Please, sit down.

    Word by Word: Please, sit-down.

    Using 'прОшу' (stressed on the first syllable) as a polite particle with an imperative to invite someone to take a seat.

  3. Чи не могли б ви відчинити вікно?

    Could you (please) open the window?

    Word by Word: Whether not could [conditional] you to-open window?

    A highly polite request using the conditional mood to soften the tone.

  4. Будь ласка, допоможіть мені.

    Please, help me.

    Word by Word: Be kind, help me.

    Placing 'будь ласка' at the beginning of the sentence can make the request feel slightly more formal or insistent.

  5. Прошу заходити до кабінету.

    I ask you to enter the office.

    Word by Word: I-request to-enter to office.

    A formal request using 'прошУ' (stressed on the second syllable) followed by an infinitive.

  6. — Дякую за допомогу! — Будь ласка.

    — Thanks for the help! — You're welcome.

    Word by Word: — I-thank for help! — Be kind.

    Both 'будь ласка' and 'прошу' are standard, polite responses to дякую, meaning 'you are welcome'.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'будь ласка' with a hyphen or as one word.

    Дайте будь-ласка воду.
    Дайте, будь ласка, воду.

    In Ukrainian, 'будь ласка' is always two separate words and should be surrounded by commas.

  • Using a bare imperative with someone you should be polite to.

    Different MeaningДай мені ручку.
    Дай, будь ласка, мені ручку.

    'Дай мені ручку' is correct and fine among friends and family, but with a stranger or in a shop the bare imperative can sound blunt or rude.

How It Connects

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

будь ласка / прошуLevel 3Polite Request Markers

Learn This First

To learn polite requests, learners first need to know the basic 'please' marker (будь ласка), how to form polite imperatives for direct requests, and how to use infinitives with verbs of asking like 'прошу'.

Words in This Pattern

прошу