Bedeutung
To talk too much or gossip.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Ukrainian villages, gossip was a primary form of social control. Having a 'long tongue' was a serious social stigma that could affect a family's standing. Poland shares the 'długi język' idiom. It reflects a shared Slavic value on discretion and the danger of words. In the age of screenshots and viral leaks, 'мати довгий язик' has found a new life describing people who can't help but share private DMs. The idea of the tongue being a dangerous organ dates back to Aesop's fables, where the tongue is described as both the best and worst part of a person.
Context is King
Use this phrase only with people you trust, as calling someone 'long-tongued' is a direct criticism of their character.
Don't use 'Мова'
Never say 'довга мова'. It makes no sense in Ukrainian and will confuse native speakers.
Bedeutung
To talk too much or gossip.
Context is King
Use this phrase only with people you trust, as calling someone 'long-tongued' is a direct criticism of their character.
Don't use 'Мова'
Never say 'довга мова'. It makes no sense in Ukrainian and will confuse native speakers.
Softening the blow
To make it sound less harsh, you can add 'трохи' (a bit): 'У неї трохи довгий язик'.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Не розповідай їй свій секрет, бо вона має довгий ______.
The idiom is 'мати довгий язик'. 'Ніс' (nose) is used in other idioms like 'пхати ніс' (to poke one's nose).
Which sentence correctly uses the idiom to describe a gossip?
Оберіть правильне речення:
The idiom refers to revealing secrets, not singing, running, or eating.
Match the Ukrainian idiom with its English equivalent.
З'єднайте пари:
These are all common 'tongue' related idioms in Ukrainian.
In which situation would you say 'У нього довгий язик'?
Ситуація: Ваш колега розповів усім, яку зарплату ви отримуєте.
Revealing someone's private salary information is a classic example of having a 'long tongue'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Tongue vs. Language
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenНе розповідай їй свій секрет, бо вона має довгий ______.
The idiom is 'мати довгий язик'. 'Ніс' (nose) is used in other idioms like 'пхати ніс' (to poke one's nose).
Оберіть правильне речення:
The idiom refers to revealing secrets, not singing, running, or eating.
Ordne jedem Element links seinen Partner rechts zu:
These are all common 'tongue' related idioms in Ukrainian.
Ситуація: Ваш колега розповів усім, яку зарплату ви отримуєте.
Revealing someone's private salary information is a classic example of having a 'long tongue'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it always implies that the person talks too much or reveals things they shouldn't. There is no positive way to use this idiom.
Absolutely. Despite some old stereotypes, the phrase is gender-neutral and applies to anyone.
The opposite is 'тримати язик за зубами' (to keep one's tongue behind one's teeth) or being 'стриманий' (restrained).
No! It is very informal and critical. It would be considered rude and unprofessional.
Він мав, вона мала, воно мало, вони мали.
If you are talking about multiple people, you say 'Вони мають довгі язики'.
Yes, 'ляпати язиком' is a more casual and slightly more aggressive version.
No, 'великий рот' (big mouth) is an English-ism. In Ukrainian, we stick to the 'long tongue'.
Yes, it appears in many folk and pop songs about unfaithful friends or gossipy neighbors.
It's introduced at A1/A2 because the words are basic, but mastering the context is a B1 skill.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Язик без кісток
similarTo talk a lot without thinking.
Тримати язик за зубами
contrastTo keep a secret.
Розпускати язика
builds onTo start gossiping.
Прикусити язика
similarTo suddenly stop talking.
Гостра на язик
similarWitty or sarcastic.
