slava Ukraini

/ˈslɑːvə(j)ʊkɹʌˈiːni(ː)/

phrase

A greeting and farewell indicating support for Ukraine, now in reference to the Russian invasion of 2022.

Meanings

phrase

alternative slava Ukrayini

  1. neologismA greeting and farewell indicating support for Ukraine, now in reference to the Russian invasion of 2022.

    Gleb is proud to be graduating from GISS. He thanks his mother, stepfather, stepbrother and his grandfather Vasya Kotov for all their help and support. SLAVA UKRAINI!

    2014 June 11, “Gulf Islands Secondary School Class of 2014”, in Gulf Islands Driftwood, 54th year, number 24, Ganges, B.C., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 9, column 4
    5 more examples

    “READY, AIM” … with the shout of “AIM!” Burlak suddenly pressed forward his body and with tremendous defiance shouted “SLAVA UKRAINI!” […] Passing several bunkers enroute to the west, Vasyl Motuk noted the “Death to Stalin!” “Slava Ukraini!” “We’ll Be Back!” and “You’ll Hear From Us Soon!” inscriptions crayoned upon the bunker walls.

    1997, Michael O. Logusz, Galicia Division: The Waffen-SS 14th Grenadier Division 1943-1945, Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Military History, →ISBN, pages 161 and 358

    And to our Ukrainian friends in this moment of agony, I say we are with you, and we are on your side. Your right to choose your own destiny is a right that the United Kingdom and our allies will always defend. And in that spirit I join you in saying slava Ukraini.

    2022 February 24, Boris Johnson, “PM statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine: 24 February 2022”, in gov.uk, archived from the original on 24 Feb 2022

    I am proud to be here with all of you in this beautiful church, to try to address to you and speak in solidarity of all the people of Maryland that we stand with the brave, proud people of Ukraine. This has united the people of Maryland, America, and the world. Slava Ukraini.

    2022 March 1, Larry Hogan, quotee, “Hogan attends prayer service for Ukraine, severs Maryland’s sister state status with Leningrad”, in The Star Democrat, Easton, Md., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 1

    Andrew dedicated his life to the Ukrainian community and a free and independent Ukraine. Slava Ukraini! In his teenage years Andrew was a champion long distance cyclist.

    2022 March 2, Turner & Porter Funeral Directors, “GREGOROVICH, Andrew”, in The Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton, Ont., →ISSN, →OCLC, “Obituaries” section, page G6, column 2

    Anyone who wants proof that this [sic] really me: democracy obsessive, please no more populists, science is real, wombats, ultralights, Royal Enfields, Cambodia, policy, plagues, puffins, possums, pangolins, planes and a llama. Slava Ukraini!

    2022 December 22, Matthew Daigle, quoting Dominic Cardy, “Where’s Cardy? MLA says Twitter account was hacked”, in Daily Gleaner, Fredericton, N.B., →ISSN, →OCLC, page A1, columns 3–4

Origin

Transliteration of Ukrainian сла́ва Украї́ні (sláva Ukrajíni, literally “glory to Ukraine”). A patriotic salute originating in the Ukrainian War of Independence at the end of World War I, together with its response interjection heroiam slava. The phrase is in the dative case, with Украї́ні (Ukrajíni) being the dative form of the noun Украї́на (Ukrajína). It indicates the recipient of the action or the indirect object.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

slava Ukraini. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slava%20Ukraini

MLA

“slava Ukraini.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slava%20Ukraini. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “slava Ukraini,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/slava%20Ukraini.

Source: slava Ukraini on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.