Many listeners have asked Masha about her pronunciation of Kyiv (it sounds like Cave). She turned to linguist Yuri Shevchuk (Lecturer in Ukrainian, Columbia University) for a breakdown of the pronunciation and, in the process, ended up getting a lesson in politics and culture.

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Professor Shevchuk authored the Ukrainian – English Collocation Dictionary (Hippocrene Books, 2021) and Beginner’s Ukrainian, a popular language textbook.

This episode was written and produced by Masha Udensiva-Brenner and edited by Ann Cooper. Music by Ivan Nebesnyy. Art by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. Editorial help and production assistance from Jordan Waller. Thanks to Marko Andryczyk and Nathan Schiller for feedback on the episode.

About Voices of Ukraine

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, we’ve been hearing a lot of firsthand accounts of lives upended by the war. This podcast features the voices of Harriman community members who are in Ukraine or deeply connected to it. Listen to the trailer, edited by Daniel Alarcón.