Avoiding Russianisms. How to properly talk about nature in Ukrainian

In this article, we will consider some of them.

Waterfall — a very beautiful natural creation. And it is precisely this word that is used correctly in the Ukrainian language. Note that the word waterfall is a loanword from the Russian language and is considered erroneous in the context of the literary Ukrainian language.

Many are waiting for spring, because nature comes to life and they begin to appear flowers. Word flowers is a Russianism and is considered erroneous.

And in accordance with this, we also call many names of flowers scaled:

• the forest is not decorated lily of the valleya lily of the valley;

• both sides of the roads do not turn yellow dandelionsa dandelions;

• it is correct to say no marigoldsa velvets or marigold;

• and flower beds are not abundant pansy eyesa cuckoo shoes.

Don’t say you have a lot around the house bushesbecause this word is also a Russianism. Instead, they say in Ukrainian bush, bushes is a life form of perennial plants that have several woody skeletal axes. That is, if a tree has one woody trunk, then a bush has several and the bush is lower than the tree.

Another popular but incorrect word in this topic is — crucian carp. There is a good word in our language gooseberry to denote these plants and their fruits. In addition, it blooms in spring lilacand not lilac.

Also, people really dislike such representatives of living nature as insects. AND insects is Russianism. Here too:

• a butterfly, not a butterfly;
• an ant, not an ant;
• a bee, not a bee;
• a grasshopper, not a grasshopper;
• a cricket, not a cricket;