Surzhyk is a form of speech that blends elements of Ukrainian and Russian (the original meaning of the word surzhyk refers to a mixture of different grains). It is based on the Ukrainian language and is spoken only in Ukraine. People who speak Surzhyk often substitute Russian words for certain Ukrainian ones. However, they frequently pronounce these Russified words according to Ukrainian phonetics. For example, instead of the Ukrainian word рожéвий (meaning "pink" in English), they use the Russian word рóзовий, but pronounce the unstressed о clearly—following Ukrainian pronunciation rules—whereas in Russian, it is pronounced differently. Surzhyk also blends elements of Ukrainian and Russian grammar.

Surzhyk cannot be considered a language because it lacks rules and a systematic structure. Different people who speak Surzhyk may use different Russian words and grammatical constructions in place of Ukrainian ones. This distinguishes Surzhyk from dialects, which are localized variants of a single language.

According to sociologists, up to 20% of Ukrainians speak Surzhyk, and its origins are tied to historical factors. During Ukraine’s time under the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union, the Russian language dominated cities, higher education, science, industry, the military, government institutions, and all levels of official documentation. The Russian and Soviet authorities did this intentionally. As a result, many people spoke Ukrainian only at home, and its use declined over time. Ukrainian largely remained the language of rural communities. Peasants, who worked hard in collective farms, wanted a better life for their children and were happy when they could leave the village (which was quite difficult). Once in cities — or for young men, in the Soviet army—they found themselves in environments where they were forced to speak Russian. Many rural people, hearing Russian around them, tried to use it to appear more educated, but often did so incorrectly. This led to the emergence and spread of Surzhyk — an unconscious mixing of the two languages.

Today, a reverse process is taking place in some parts of society: Russified Ukrainians are returning to the Ukrainian language, often using Surzhyk as a transitional stage. This has sparked debates in Ukrainian society about whether Surzhyk is truly a negative phenomenon. However, most people recognize that it distorts the language.