Ukrainian names — pronunciation, meaning, origin

Kateryna — Pronunciation, Meaning & Origin

Female Ukrainian name (Катерина)

Pronunciation

Pronunciation card for Kateryna
/kɑ.tɛˈrɪ.nɑ/ · ka-te-RY-na
Listen on YouTube →

Meaning

Kateryna (Ukrainian: Катерина) is a female name of Greek origin meaning «pure», «immaculate», «unshakeable». One of the most venerated female names of the Christian tradition.

Origin & History

The name derives from Ancient Greek Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē); the most common etymology connects it with the adjective καθαρός (katharós, «pure») — an interpretation that became established in the Middle Ages. Another version traces the name to the goddess Hecate. It entered the Christian tradition through the Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria (3rd–4th century) — an educated virgin of royal birth who converted fifty pagan philosophers to Christianity and met a martyr's death on the wheel. She is especially venerated in both Eastern and Western Christianity. In Ukrainian culture the name Kateryna also has a deep national meaning thanks to Taras Shevchenko's eponymous poem «Kateryna» (1838) — one of the most moving works of Ukrainian literature about the fate of a fallen woman.

Etymology & Roots

From Ancient Greek Aikaterínē; the popular etymology — from katharós («pure») — gives «pure, immaculate».

International equivalents

Equivalents in other languages: Catherine (French, English), Katherine / Kathryn / Katie (English), Caterina (Italian), Catalina (Spanish), Catarina (Portuguese), Katarzyna (Polish), Kateřina (Czech), Katarína (Slovak), Katharina (German), Katja / Karin (Swedish, German), Екатерина (Russian), Aikaterini (Greek), Caitlín (Irish).

Diminutives and short forms

Катеринонька, Катруся, Катеринка, Катруня.

Declension (Ukrainian)

NominativeКатерина
GenitiveКатерини
DativeКатерині
AccusativeКатерину
InstrumentalКатериною
LocativeКатерині
VocativeКатерино

Українська версія сторінки →