Yes, no and the essentials in Macedonian
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Macedonian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Macedonian phrases in this lesson
- Даda
- Yes
- Неneh
- No
- ДоброDOB-ro
- Okay
- Не разбирамneh raz-BI-ram
- I don't understand
- Зборувате ли англиски?zbo-ROO-va-teh li ang-LIS-ki
- Do you speak English?
- Може ли да повторите?MO-zheh li da pov-TO-ri-teh
- Can you repeat that?
- Побавно, ве моламpo-BAV-no, veh MO-lam
- Slowly, please
- Што е ова?shto eh O-va
- What is this?
- Ми треба...mi TREH-ba
- I need...
- Може ли да ми помогнете?MO-zheh li da mi po-MOG-neh-teh
- Can you help me?
Short and clear. Note that in Bulgarian the head-shake conventions differ from Macedonian, but in Macedonia nodding means yes as in most of Europe, so no confusion there.
A firm, single syllable. Shaking the head reinforces it. Can be softened with a smile and "Не, благодарам" (No, thank you) to decline without offence.
"Добро" literally means "good" but functions exactly like "okay" in everyday speech. You will also hear the English loanword "окај" among younger Macedonians.
Say this clearly if someone speaks too fast. Locals are generally patient with visitors and many will switch to simpler Macedonian or try some English or German.
English is widely spoken among younger Macedonians, especially in Skopje. In rural areas and among older generations, German or Serbian may be more useful.
Literally "to me is needed".