Eurovision 2023: Language lessons with Liverpool's Ukrainian community

“Thank you. It’s a very important word.”

Anna Ekvist is an engagement officer at Liverpool charity The Big Help Project, which has been offering support, guidance and friendship to the city’s Ukrainian community since their homeland was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

Some of the people who visit the weekly support group have been based in Merseyside since long before the war began, while others have arrived in the city to seek refuge as the conflict continues. All are welcome at the centre in Kensington - which helps people from all backgrounds - even if it’s just for a cup of coffee and a catch-up.

With Liverpool hosting this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the 2022 winners Ukraine, BBC Bitesize wanted to learn some Ukrainian phrases that conveyed hope and positivity during difficult times. They were provided by members of the community group, including Anna and Father Taras Khonych, a priest who is also the local branch chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.

Members of Liverpool’s Ukrainian community provided Bitesize with some more phrases of hope. Here is a selection.

Нашого цвіту - по всьому світу. (Nashoho tsvitu – po vsyomu svitu.) - “Ukrainian people can be found all over the world.”

Хай щастить! (Khay shchastytʹ!) - “Good luck!”

На все добре! (Na vse dobre!) - “All the best!”

Ви говорите українською? Так. (Vy hovoryte ukrayinsʹkoyu? Tak.) - “Do you speak Ukrainian? Yes.”

Будьмо! (Budʹmo!) - “Cheers!”

"It's one of the words we use every single day."

Anna, who was born in Kyiv, selected “Дякую” - which translates as, simply, “thank you”. She explained: “It’s one of the words we use now, every single day. Thank you for the country, for UK, to the city Liverpool, to great support, for feeling us welcomed, for friendship, for every day meeting us with a smile and supporting us in any kind of way. “

The support group has also become a safe space for Ukrainians based in Merseyside. Anna continued: “I don’t want to see people being upset. We all cry very often, we get emotional, but we support each other and it means so much.

“I can see the difference, other people can see the difference and it means a lot, this is one of the things that we want to achieve, that people are happy here, and this is our main goal, to make people happier.”

"Liverpool is a very welcoming city."

Anna’s colleague Fr Taras chose “Ласкаво просимо” which means “Welcome”.

“This phrase is important, especially for me,” he said, “because I was welcomed here in Liverpool. Liverpool is a very welcoming city, many Ukrainians are welcomed now to the UK and we hope that many guests will be welcomed to Liverpool during Eurovision.”

While events happening at home are always on the minds of Ukrainians living around the world, Fr Taras hopes this year’s Eurovision will be a moment of light for a dark point in history. “I think Eurovision is amazing expression of this solidarity… The UK steps in for Ukraine and from the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been shown this solidarity… other countries show this solidarity.”

Anna agreed: “We are very lucky to have this here in Liverpool. We cannot go to Ukraine, but a little part of Ukraine can come here, which is so great. It’s so nice to see that everyone supports us and supports Ukraine and our community. It’s so nice to see Ukrainian flags all around the city, it’s so nice that every single organisation, they are supporting us, they are helping us, they want to see us there, it’s unbelievable.”

Fr Taras also mentioned a Ukrainian proverb he believes is apt for the moment: a real friend can be recognised in time of difficulty. “Now is a very difficult time for Ukraine,” he said, “but at the same time we see, first of all, the determination of the Ukrainian people… but also the solidarity of the larger community, the international community.”

Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is live from Liverpool on BBC One on 9, 11 and 13 May.

This article was published in May 2023