An expert in languages has revealed the best way to pronounce 'Kyiv', the capital city of Ukraine.
Oleksandra Wallo, assistant professor of Slavic Languages & Literatures at University of Kansas, explains that the former name of the city – 'Kiev' – is now 'obsolete' and Ukrainians prefer the spelling and pronunciation of 'Kyiv'.
Since Putin sent his troops to war in Ukraine, the way in which the city is referred to has become more important to distinguish.
She explains: "So the proper pronunciation would be ‘kreeve’ and that's the Ukrainian pronunciation.
Advert
"It coincides with Ukrainian transliteration into English which would be ‘KYIV’ rather than the more common one but now obsolete ‘KIEV’.
"So to say ‘Kyiv’ you need to think of maybe the first syllable and the second syllable as slightly separate.
"The first syllable the ‘kree’ the vowel is very similar to the first vowel in the word living or livid it’s a ‘eh’ sound ‘kree’.
"And then the second syllable ‘YIV’, if you think of the English word ‘yeast’ or ‘yield’ that's as close of an approximation as you can get to say that.
Advert
"So now we put it together ‘KY IV’
"And it helps if you smile a little bit to say it.
"Especially on the first syllable ‘kree’ you've because you have to spread your lips a little bit to say it properly okay you've and the first syllable is stressed."
Four years ago, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the 'KyivNotKiev' campaign to spread the message of how Ukraine wants its capital to be known.
Advert
'Kyiv' was officially adopted by Ukraine in 1995, though many people across the globe still refer to the capital as 'Kiev'.
However, the reason the city should be referred to as 'Kyiv' is because it is derived from the Ukrainian language name.
'Kiev', on the other hand, comes from the Russian language.
Russia and Ukraine historian Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon has previously described the difference between the two terms as a 'touchy subject because Putin has used Russian speakers in Ukraine to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty'.
Advert
St. Julian-Varnon said: "Thus, pronunciation of the English transliteration is important because one is the Russian name for the city and the other is the Ukrainian name."
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/KU News Service/Alamy