A Guide to Ukrainian Digital Orthography: How to Write Internet Terms Correctly
The 2019 update to the Ukrainian Spelling Code finally brought clarity to digital terminology. Since the previous edition dated back to the early 90s — before the internet was a household staple — linguists have now standardized how we write and decline modern tech terms.
1. The "Web-" Prefix (Writing it as one word)
In Ukrainian, the prefix-like component веб- (web) is now written solidly (as one word, no hyphen). This aligns it with other international prefixes like auto- or audio-.
- вебсайт (website)
- вебсторінка (webpage)
- веббраузер (web browser)
Pro Tip: While you can use the transliterated бравзер (browser), the Ukrainian term вебпереглядач is also widely encouraged.
2. The "Internet-" Prefix (The Hyphen Rule)
Unlike "web," the word інтернет acts as a compound component that requires a hyphen. Note that in these compounds, only the second word declines (changes its ending).
- інтернет-видання (online publication)
- інтернет-магазин (online store)
- інтернет-послуга (internet service)
3. Capitalization and Quotes: Three Key Rules
Ukrainian rules for site names depend on the specific context of the sentence:
- Lowercase and no quotes: Used when the name is treated as a common noun in casual conversation.
- Example: ґуґл, твітер, ютуб. (e.g., "I found it on google.")
- Uppercase with quotes: Used when the name is preceded by a generic category word like "social network," "encyclopedia," or "search engine."
- Example: мережа «Фейсбук» (the Facebook network), енциклопедія «Вікіпедія» (the Wikipedia encyclopedia).
- Uppercase without quotes: Used strictly when referring to the platform as a legal entity or a corporate brand.
4. Grammar: The Genitive Case and Stress
For those learning Ukrainian, the Genitive case (answering "of what?") is crucial. The new rules specify:
- Endings: Use the -а ending for websites and emails in the genitive case.
- Correct forms: ютуба, імейла, фейсбука.
- Word Stress: For фейсбук, the official stress is on the last syllable: фейсбу́к (pronounced face-BOO-k).
5. The "Online" Ambiguity
The official Spelling Code does not explicitly mention the word онлайн (online). However, linguists recommend following the "internet" rule, using a hyphen when it is part of a compound:
- онлайн-видання (online edition)
- онлайн-технології (online technologies)
Regarding the word itself, while some still debate between он-лайн and онлайн, the solid онлайн is becoming the standard.