National Anthem Comparison
Belarus vs Ukraine
1
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
81
81 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Belarus and Ukraine, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Belarus's "We, the Belarusians" was written in 1944, while Ukraine's "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished" dates to 1863.
Both anthems share themes of freedom. Belarus additionally explores unity, peace, love of homeland and flag, while Ukraine also touches on battle / war, identity and ancestors / heritage.
The emotional tones differ: Belarus's anthem is proud, while Ukraine's is defiant.
Ukraine's anthem predates Belarus's by 81 years, having been written in 1863 compared to 1944.
Belarus changed its national anthem in 2002, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Belarus
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland 🕊 Freedom 🚩 Flag
Ukraine
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🏛 Identity 🏺 Ancestors / Heritage
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Belarus | Ukraine | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1944 | 1863 |
| Adopted | 2002 | 2003 |
| Lyricist | Mikhas Klimkovich / Uladzimir Karyzna | Pavlo Chubynsky |
| Composer | Niescier Sakalouski | Mykhailo Verbytsky |
| Language | be | uk |
| Region | Eastern Europe | Eastern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Belarus
Мы, беларусы
Original
Мы, беларусы – мірныя людзі,
Сэрцам адданыя роднай зямлі,
Шчыра сябруем, сілы гартуем
Мы ў працавітай, вольнай сям'і.
[Прыпеў]
Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя,
Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз!
Наша любімая маці-Радзіма,
Вечна жыві і квітней, Беларусь!
Разам з братамі мужна вякамі
Мы баранілі родны парог,
У бітвах за волю, бітвах за долю
Свой здабывалі сцяг перамог!
[Прыпеў]
Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя,
Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз!
Наша любімая маці-Радзіма,
Вечна жыві і квітней, Беларусь!
Дружба народаў – сіла народаў –
Наш запаветны, сонечны шлях.
Горда ж узвіся ў ясныя высі,
Сцяг пераможны – радасці сцяг!
[Прыпеў]
Слаўся, зямлі нашай светлае імя,
Слаўся, народаў братэрскі саюз!
Наша любімая маці-Радзіма,
Вечна жыві і квітней, Беларусь!
Translation
We, Belarusians, are peaceful people,
Wholeheartedly devoted to our native land,
In true friendship we temper our strength
In our hardworking, free family.
[Chorus]
Glory to the bright name of our land,
Glory to the brotherly union of peoples!
Our beloved Mother Homeland,
Live forever and flourish, Belarus!
Together with our brothers, bravely for centuries
We defended our native threshold,
In battles for freedom, battles for destiny
We won our banner of victory!
[Chorus]
Glory to the bright name of our land,
Glory to the brotherly union of peoples!
Our beloved Mother Homeland,
Live forever and flourish, Belarus!
Friendship of peoples is the strength of peoples,
Our sacred, sunlit path.
Proudly soar into the bright heights,
Victorious banner, banner of joy!
[Chorus]
Glory to the bright name of our land,
Glory to the brotherly union of peoples!
Our beloved Mother Homeland,
Live forever and flourish, Belarus!
Ukraine
Ще не вмерла України
Original
Ще не вмерла України і слава, і воля,
Ще нам, браття молодії, усміхнеться доля.
Згинуть наші воріженьки, як роса на сонці.
Запануєм і ми, браття, у своїй сторонці.
Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу,
І покажем, що ми, браття, козацького роду.
Translation
Ukraine's glory and freedom have not yet perished,
Fate shall smile on us, young brothers, once more.
Our enemies shall vanish, like dew in the morning sun,
And we too, brothers, shall rule in our own land.
We'll lay down our souls and bodies for our freedom,
And show that we, brothers, are of the Cossack nation.
Interesting facts
Belarus
- 1. The Belarusian opposition sings 'Mahutny Bozha' (Mighty God), a hymn with words by Natallia Arsiennieva and music by Mikola Ravienski, as an alternative anthem. A parliamentary committee recommended it as the national anthem in 1995, but no change was made.
- 2. Composer Niescier Sakalouski died in 1950, five years before the Belarusian SSR adopted his song as its anthem; lyricist Mikhas Klimkovich died in November 1955, six weeks after the adoption.
- 3. In the 2002 contest, five finalist versions, three of them new texts for Sakalouski's melody, were broadcast on radio and television and printed in the press for public comment before the president chose Sakalouski's melody with Karyzna's text.
Ukraine
- 1. Its 'not yet died' opening echoes the Polish anthem, 'Poland Is Not Yet Lost', which scholars believe influenced Chubynsky; the refrain of Israel's Hatikvah, 'Our hope is not yet lost', is often compared to both
- 2. Ukraine marks State Anthem Day on 10 March, the anniversary of an 1865 performance of the song in Przemyśl at a concert commemorating Taras Shevchenko
- 3. The 2003 law reworded the opening line: instead of 'Ukraine has not yet died' (Shche ne vmerla Ukraina), it now says that Ukraine's glory and freedom have not yet died (Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia)
Listen
Belarus
Ukraine
