New spelling changes the patronymic of Igor: now correctly Igorjowytsch.

According to ТСН: The new Ukrainian spelling can indeed be surprising, especially regarding the familiar use of the language. A topic that has sparked discussions was the writing of the patronymic from the name Igor, from which it is now recommended to refrain.

According to modern standards of the Ukrainian language, the correct form of the male patronymic is Igorjowytsch. It is believed that the variants Igorowitsch and Igorewytsch are incorrect.

Language experts explain this by the grammatical feature of the name. The name Igor belongs to the group of soft nouns. Although no soft letter is written in the nominative case, it appears in other cases: Igorja, Igorju. Therefore, a soft letter must be present in the patronymic — Igorjowytsch.

Examples of the analogy

Experts recommend remembering a simple analogy:

• Wassil — Wassilowitsch

• Igor — Igorjowytsch

For the female forms, there are no changes. The form Igorivna remains correct and normative.

Basic standards

Language experts remind of the fundamental rules:

• For male patronymics, the suffix -owitsch is used

• For females — -ivna or -ijivna

Exceptions to the rules

Some patronymics have historically developed and do not always conform to modern grammar:

• Grigori — Grigorowitsch, and not Grigoriowitsch

• Nikolai — Nikolajowitsch, despite the form of the name

These variants are part of the language and are considered normative.

Furthermore, the word “hoodie”, which is actively used in the Ukrainian language to denote a part of outerwear, has French roots. However, the Ukrainian language has its own native and euphonious equivalents like “Odlogа” and “Kaptur”, which are recorded in the dictionary of the Ukrainian language and are also used in classical literature.

Language experts also point out little-used dialectisms — “Zatula”, “Koba” and “Kobka”, which can serve as alternatives to foreign words and enrich the vocabulary of the Ukrainian language.

The new spelling rules thus not only improve language traditions but also help preserve the richness of the Ukrainian language through the use of national terms and dialects. Thus, the updates in spelling open up opportunities for a deeper awareness of language norms and cultural heritage.