My native language is Ukrainian but I know Russian too even though I never intentionally try learning it, how is that?

[Anonymous]

I do know Russian and Ukrainian is very similar language but I know many Russians who don’t quite understand Ukrainian yet I’m the opposite how is that?

[ImalwaysrightOK]

Because Russia used to occupy Ukraine during the Soviet era, so everyone in the eastern block learned Russian alongside their native language. My dad from Slovakia knows some Russian too.

[Asker]

Nice 😊

[Anonymous]

It's the same in India and Pakistan.

Urdu and Hindi language have lot of similar words

[Asker]

Cool I never new that

[Opinion Owner]

Yep it's a fact 😉

[Agape93]

Exposure especially since the languages are similar

[Asker]

Right but Russians don’t understand ukranian

[Agape93]

That's because they don't usually try to. It's like german and swiss german. Very close languages but swiss Germans understand basic german just fine, but germans can't understand swiss german due to a lack of exposure and a desire to try and learn it.

[brandon1122]

That's cool

[Asker]

Thank u