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used broadly to indicate action, typically involving movement, across a surface or across several things in a generally flat plane; across, on, along, down, up, all over, (all) around:
Тарака́нбе́галпостолу́. ― Tarakán bégal po stolú. ― The cockroach ran across the table.
Онплылпореке́. ― On plyl po reké. ― He swam down the river.
used with numbers when there is distribution among multiple objects or repetition across multiple instances in time (dative case is used with the numbers one, a thousand, a million, a billion, a trillion etc. and numbers ending in these words)
used with numbers when there is distribution among multiple objects or repetition across multiple instances in time (inanimateaccusative case is used with numbers other than one, a thousand, a million, a billion, a trillion etc. or numbers ending in these words)
Они́бы́лиразделены́нагру́ппыпотричелове́ка. ― Oní býli razdelený na grúppy po tri čelovéka. ― They were divided into groups of three people. (Note: not the animate трёх(trjox).)
Они́сходи́липонёмсума́. ― Oní sxodíli po njom s umá. ― They were going crazy for him.
Яскуча́юпотебе́. ― Ja skučáju po tebé. ― I miss you.
Usage notes
When used with numbers in the distributive meaning, the following should be noted:
The case of any associated noun follows the normal case rules for numbers. This means full agreement when dative is used (поодному́вопро́су(po odnomú voprósu)) and genitive singular or plural (depending on the last digit) when accusative is used (потривопро́са(po tri voprósa), посемьвопро́сов(po semʹ voprósov)).
With два(dva), три(tri) and сто(sto) (but not numbers ending in these numbers), the stress is optionally drawn onto по:
Ядалимпо́два / подва́рубля́. ― Ja dal im pó dva / po dvá rubljá. ― I gave them two roubles each.
йти вниз по ріці́ ― jty vnyz po ricí ― to follow the river downstream (literally, “to go down in the direction of the river”)
плисти́ по ві́трі/ві́тру ― plystý po vítri/vítru ― to sail in the direction of the wind
used to indicate a direct object upon which an action is performed.
Мене́ вда́рили по голові́. ― Mené vdáryly po holoví. ― I was hit on the head.
Він зи́ркає по на́товпі час від ча́су. ― Vin zýrkaje po nátovpi čas vid čásu. ― He looks at the crowd from time to time.
(colloquial)used to indicate someone or something that is being mourned over.
По ньо́му пла́кала вся Украї́на. ― Po nʹómu plákala vsja Ukrajína. ― All of Ukraine was mourning his death. (literally, “All of Ukraine was crying over him.”)
Пам'ята́й, си́нку: по те́мній но́чі завжди́ настає́ сві́тлий ра́нок. ― Pamʺjatáj, sýnku: po témnij nóči zavždý nastajé svítlyj ránok. ― Remember, son: after a dark night, a bright morning always comes.
(colloquial)used to indicate the disappearance, irreparable damage, or death of someone or something.
Ку́хлик ви́слизнув з мої́х рук і по ньо́му ста́ло! ― Kúxlyk výslyznuv z mojíx ruk i po nʹómu stálo! ― The mug slipped out of my hands and it broke! (literally, “The mug slipped out of my hands and the aftermath of it has become!”)
(colloquial)used to indicate a time-frame during which an action occurs.
по яскра́вому мі́сяці/мі́сяцю ― po jaskrávomu mísjaci/mísjacju ― when a bright moon (rises)
по ночах ― po nočax ― during the night (literally, “at nights”)
годи́на по годи́ні ― hodýna po hodýni ― hour after hour
пи́во по пи́ві ― pývo po pývi ― beer after beer
(dialectal)used with a temporal noun to indicate the age of something
Йому́ було́ по шо́стому ро́ці коли́ він пішо́в до шко́ли. ― Jomú buló po šóstomu róci kolý vin pišóv do škóly. ― He was six years old when he went to school. (literally, “He was at the sixth year when he went to school.”)
това́риш по шко́лі ― továryš po škóli ― school friend (literally, “friend through school”)
used to indicate the object with which an action is performed.
підня́тися по моту́зці ― pidnjátysja po motúzci ― to climb a rope (literally, “to climb via a rope”)
транслюва́ти по ра́діо ― transljuváty po rádio ― to broadcast on a radio
used to indicate a justification by which one arrives at a conclusion.
По її́ поведі́нці мо́жна було́ зрозумі́ти, що щось не так. ― Po jijí povedínci móžna buló zrozumíty, ščo ščosʹ ne tak. ― One could tell something is wrong by her behaviour.
Не суди́ кни́жку по обкла́динці. ― Ne sudý knýžku po obkládynci. ― Don't judge a book by its cover.
Лю́ди ви́мушені чека́ти по ти́жню/ти́жні, аби отри́мати ї́жу. ― Ljúdy výmušeni čekáty po týžnju/týžni, aby otrýmaty jížu. ― People are forced to wait for a week to get food.
used to indicate distance traveled in a certain period of time.
Мандрівники́ прохо́дять по п'ятна́дцать кіломе́трів на годину ― Mandrivnyký proxódjatʹ po pʺjatnádcatʹ kilométriv na hodynu ― Travelers travel fifteen kilometres each hour. (literally, “Travelers travel by fifteen kilometres each hour.”)
(colloquial)used to indicate the purpose of an action.
Івасько́ прийшо́в до ньо́го по ді́лу. ― Ivasʹkó pryjšóv do nʹóho po dílu. ― Ivan came to him to do business.
(colloquial)used to indicate the reason for an action.
Ми по ду́рості забу́ли ви́мкнути пра́ску вдо́ма. ― My po dúrosti zabúly výmknuty prásku vdóma. ― We have forgotten to turn off the iron at home due to our foolishness.
Я коха́тиму тебе́ по смерть! ― Ja koxátymu tebé po smertʹ! ― I will love you until death!
Міст буду́ється по сей день. ― Mist budújetʹsja po sej denʹ. ― The bridge is still being built to this day. (literally, “The bridge is being built until this day.”)
(with a personal pronoun)used to indicate an action done according to someone's wish or request.
Сашко́ ро́бить усе́ по його́. ― Saškó róbytʹ usé po johó. ― Sasha does everything as he pleases.
used to indicate quantity.
Не тре́ба мені́ повто́рювати по де́сять разі́в! ― Ne tréba mení povtórjuvaty po désjatʹ razív! ― You don't have to repeat it to me ten times!
Ко́жному дали́ по кількана́дцять гри́вень. ― Kóžnomu dalý po kilʹkanádcjatʹ hrývenʹ. ― Everyone was given umpteen hryvnias.
used to indicate the price of something.
З глу́зду з'ї́хали! Прода́ють я́йця по 80 гри́вень дю́жина! ― Z hlúzdu zʺjíxaly! Prodájutʹ jájcja po 80 hrývenʹ djúžyna! ― They've gone insane! They're selling eggs for 80 hryvnias a dozen!
Usage notes
По is not used with the dative case in standard, literary Ukrainian. However, under the influence of Russian, some speakers may use the dative instead of the locative case in both spoken and occasionally written language; this usage, however, is considered incorrect.