Signification
A person who talks too much.
Contexte culturel
In Ukrainian villages, 'язик без кісток' was a serious social label. A woman labeled as such might find it hard to maintain social standing, as gossip was seen as a threat to the 'hromada' (community) peace. Classic writers like Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky used this trait to create comedic relief. Characters with 'boneless tongues' often drive the plot by revealing secrets at the worst possible time. Today, the phrase is used to describe 'trolls' or people who comment on everything online without expertise. It has shifted from purely oral speech to digital 'noise'. In the diaspora, the phrase is often preserved as a way to maintain traditional character descriptions, even when the speaker's English is dominant.
Use it for humor
This idiom is great for lighthearted complaining about a friend who won't stop talking about their new hobby.
Don't use it for 'witty'
If someone is smart and funny, use 'гострий на язик'. 'Язик без кісток' implies they are just making noise.
Signification
A person who talks too much.
Use it for humor
This idiom is great for lighthearted complaining about a friend who won't stop talking about their new hobby.
Don't use it for 'witty'
If someone is smart and funny, use 'гострий на язик'. 'Язик без кісток' implies they are just making noise.
Grammar Hack
Remember 'кісток' is the same ending as 'жінок' (women) or 'кішок' (cats) in Genitive plural.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word in the idiom.
Не вір йому, у нього язик без ______.
The correct form is 'кісток' (bones).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'Язик без кісток'?
Оберіть правильну ситуацію:
The idiom describes a chatterbox.
Match the Ukrainian phrase with its English equivalent.
З'єднайте пари:
These are common tongue-related idioms in Ukrainian.
Complete the dialogue.
— Чому ти не розповів Андрію про вечірку? — Бо у нього ...
You wouldn't tell him because he can't keep a secret.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesНе вір йому, у нього язик без ______.
The correct form is 'кісток' (bones).
Оберіть правильну ситуацію:
The idiom describes a chatterbox.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are common tongue-related idioms in Ukrainian.
— Чому ти не розповів Андрію про вечірку? — Бо у нього ...
You wouldn't tell him because he can't keep a secret.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be. It's usually a mild criticism or a joke, but if said seriously, it implies the person is a gossip and unreliable.
Yes, it's often used for children who ask 'why' a thousand times. It sounds cute in that context.
'Базіка' is a noun (a chatterbox). 'Язик без кісток' is an idiomatic description of that person.
No, avoid it in formal writing. Use 'багатослівність' (verbosity) instead.
Because bones provide structure and limits. A boneless tongue has no limits.
Not really. Even 'the gift of the gab' is better translated as 'вміння гарно говорити'.
No, it must be plural 'кісток'.
Not necessarily, but it implies they don't check if what they say is true before saying it.
You say: 'У нього язик без кісток'.
Yes, especially in folk and pop-rock songs that describe village life or relationships.
Expressions liées
Тримати язик за зубами
contrastTo keep one's tongue behind one's teeth.
Язиката Хвеся
specialized formA talkative Khvesya (folk character).
Гострий на язик
similarSharp-tongued.
Розв'язати язика
builds onTo loosen the tongue.
