kyiv

K5Y4I1V4
/ˈkiːɪv//kiːˈɪv//ˈkiːv//ˈkjɪv/

proper noun

The capital city of Ukraine and regional administrative centre of Kyiv Oblast.

Less commonScrabble 14

Meanings

kyiv1

noun
  1. alternativeAlternative form of Kiev (“chicken Kiev”).

Kyiv2

proper noun

alternative Kiev · alternative Kyïv · alternative Kyjiv · alternative Kyyiv · alternative Kiou · alternative Kiov · alternative Kiow · alternative Kiew · alternative Kiof · alternative Kioff · alternative Kief · alternative Kieff · alternative Kiovia · alternative Kiowia

  1. The capital city of Ukraine and regional administrative centre of Kyiv Oblast.

    Zarutska graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in art and restoration, her obituary says.

    2025 September 10, Holly Yan, Jeff Winter, “Suspect in Charlotte train stabbing that killed a Ukrainian refugee is charged with a federal crime. Here’s what we know”, in CNN, archived from the original on 01 Nov 2025
    1 more example

    The Ukrainian government says Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and other cities have suffered a barrage of drone attacks, and pleaded with Western countries to step up their assistance in the face of the new challenge.

    2022 October 17, Ivana Kottasová, “‘Kamikaze’ drones are the latest threat for Ukraine. Here’s what we know”, in CNN, archived from the original on 18 Jun 2024
    1. An oblast of Ukraine. Seat: Kyiv.
    2. historicalA former voivodeship of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, established in 1471, disestablished in 1793.
    3. historicalA former governorate of Tsardom of Russia, the Russian Empire, the Ukrainian People's Republic, Ukrainian State and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, established in December 18, 1708, disestablished in November 7, 1764, re-established in 1802, disestablished again in 1925.
    4. historicalA former uyezd in Kiev Governorate, Russian Empire.
  2. metonymicallyThe Ukrainian government.

    After Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces last week, Kyiv said it was applying to join NATO, and would not negotiate with Russia as long as Putin is president.

    2022 October 4, “Kremlin welcomes Elon Musk proposal for Ukraine settlement denounced by Kyiv”, in Kevin Liffey, editor, Reuters, archived from the original on 04 Oct 2022, Europe
    1 more example

    “Ukraine’s future is within the EU,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter after the decision, describing it as a “unique and historical moment” in Kyiv’s relations with the bloc.

    2022 June 23, Emily Rauhala, Karina Tsui, “E.U. has backed candidate status for Ukraine. Here’s what that means.”, in The Washington Post, archived from the original on 23 Jun 2022, Europe
  3. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of the Kyiv District, synonym of the Kyivskyi District: an urban raion of Donetsk, Donetsk Raion, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine; under Russian occupation.
  4. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of Kyiv Peninsula: a peninsula in Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Proto-Slavic*kyjь“stick, club, hammer”
  2. Old East SlavicКꙑевъ
  3. EnglishKyiv

Transliteration of Ukrainian Ки́їв (Kýjiv), from Old East Slavic Кꙑевъ (Kyjevŭ), traditionally said to derive from the name of city's legendary founder, Kyi. Other proposals derive it from Proto-Slavic *kyjь (“stick, club, hammer”) (compare to Ukrainian кий (kyj)). See also at the article about Old East Slavic Кꙑевъ (Kyjevŭ).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans Kijif, Kiëf
  • Kijifcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kiëfcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kijifprovince (oblast)
  • Kiëfprovince (oblast)
Ancient Greek Κιωουία
  • Κιωουία (Kiōouía)capital city of Ukraine
Arabic كِيِيف, كِيِيف
  • كِيِيف (kiyīf)capital city of Ukraine
  • كِيِيف (kiyef)capital city of Ukraine
Basque Kieveko oblasta, Kyiveko oblasta
  • Kieveko oblastaprovince (oblast)
  • Kyiveko oblastaprovince (oblast)
Bengali কিয়েভ
  • কিয়েভ (kiẏebh)capital city of Ukraine
Bulgarian Ки́ев
  • Ки́ев (Kíev)capital city of Ukraine
Catalan Kíiv, Kiev
  • Kíivcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Óblast de Kíivprovince (oblast)
  • Óblast de Kíevprovince (oblast)
  • Província de Kíivprovince (oblast)
  • Província de Kíevprovince (oblast)
Chinese Cantonese 基輔 /基辅
  • 基輔 /基辅 (gei¹ fu⁶)capital city of Ukraine
Chinese Mandarin 基輔 /基辅
  • 基輔 /基辅 (Jīfǔ)capital city of Ukraine
Czech Kyjev
  • Kyjevcapital city of Ukraine
Danish Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Dutch Kiëv, Kiev
  • Kiëvcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Esperanto Kijivo, Kievo
  • Kijivocapital city of Ukraine
  • Kievocapital city of Ukraine
  • Kijiva provincoprovince (oblast)
Estonian Kiiev
  • Kiievcapital city of Ukraine
Finnish Kiova
  • Kiovacapital city of Ukraine
French Kiev, Kyiv
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyivcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyïvcapital city of Ukraine
German Kiew, Kyjiw
  • Kiewcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyjiwcapital city of Ukraine
Greek Κίεβο
  • Κίεβο (Kíevo)capital city of Ukraine
Hawaiian Kiewa
  • Kiewacapital city of Ukraine
Hebrew קִיֶב, קייב
  • קִיֶבcapital city of Ukraine
  • קייב (kiyev)capital city of Ukraine
Hindi कीव
  • कीव (kīv)capital city of Ukraine
Hungarian Kijev, Kijiv
  • Kijevcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kijivcapital city of Ukraine
Icelandic Kænugarður, Kíev
  • Kænugarðurcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kíevcapital city of Ukraine
Indonesian Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Irish Cív
  • Cívcapital city of Ukraine
Italian Kiev, Kyiv
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyivcapital city of Ukraine
  • Chioviacapital city of Ukraine
Japanese キーウ, キエフ
  • キーウ (Kīu)capital city of Ukraine
  • キエフ (Kiefu)capital city of Ukraine
Korean 키이우, 키예프
  • 키이우 (Kiiu)capital city of Ukraine
  • 키예프 (Kiyepeu)capital city of Ukraine
  • 끼예브 (Kkiyebeu)capital city of Ukraine
Latin Kiovia, Chiovia
  • Kioviacapital city of Ukraine
  • Chioviacapital city of Ukraine
Latvian Kijeva
  • Kijevacapital city of Ukraine
Lithuanian Kijevas, Kyjivas
  • Kijevascapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyjivascapital city of Ukraine
Malay Kiev, Kyiv
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyivcapital city of Ukraine
Norwegian Bokmål Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Polish Kijów, obwód kijowski
  • Kijówcapital city of Ukraine
  • obwód kijowskiprovince (oblast)
Portuguese Kiev, Quieve
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Quievecapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyivcapital city of Ukraine
Romanian Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Russian Ки́ев, Кыйи́в
  • Ки́ев (Kíjev)capital city of Ukraine
  • Кыйи́в (Kyjív)capital city of Ukraine
  • Ки́евская о́бласть (Kíjevskaja óblastʹ)province (oblast)
  • Ки́евщина (Kíjevščina)province (oblast)
Slovak Kyjev
  • Kyjevcapital city of Ukraine
Spanish Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Swedish Kiev, Kiev oblast
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kiev oblastprovince (oblast)
  • Kievs länprovince (oblast)
Tagalog Kiev
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
Tamil கீவ்
  • கீவ் (kīv)capital city of Ukraine
Thai เคียฟ
  • เคียฟ (kíiaf)capital city of Ukraine
Turkish Kiev, Kıyiv
  • Kievcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kıyivcapital city of Ukraine
Ukrainian Ки́їв, Ки́ївська о́бласть
  • Ки́їв (Kýjiv)capital city of Ukraine
  • Ки́ївська о́бласть (Kýjivsʹka óblastʹ)province (oblast)
  • Ки́ївщина (Kýjivščyna)province (oblast)
Urdu کِیف
  • کِیف (kīf)capital city of Ukraine
Vietnamese Ki-ép, Cơ Phụ
  • Ki-épcapital city of Ukraine
  • Cơ Phụcapital city of Ukraine
Welsh Kyiv
  • Kyivcapital city of Ukraine
West-Frisian Kiëv, Kyjiv
  • Kiëvcapital city of Ukraine
  • Kyjivcapital city of Ukraine
Yiddish קיִעוו
  • קיִעוו (kiev)capital city of Ukraine

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with kyiv

All rhymes →

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

kyiv. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kyiv

MLA

“kyiv.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kyiv. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kyiv,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kyiv.

Source: kyiv on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.