You can get by in Skopje with English, especially with younger people and in the centre. But a handful of Macedonian phrases for tourists will genuinely change how your trip feels – a “благодарам” to a waiter or a “здраво” to a shopkeeper tends to be met with a warm smile and better service. Macedonian is a South Slavic language written in Cyrillic, and you don’t need to read the alphabet to use these; just follow the simple pronunciations below.
Greetings and the essentials
Start here. These are the words you’ll use dozens of times a day.
- Здраво – Zdravo – Hello / Hi (all-purpose)
- Добро утро – Dobro utro – Good morning
- Добар ден – Dobar den – Good day
- Добра вечер – Dobra vecher – Good evening
- Пријатно – Prijatno – Goodbye (friendly, everyday)
- Да / Не – Da / Ne– Yes / No
- Ве молам – Ve molam – Please (also “you’re welcome”)
- Благодарам – Blagodaram – Thank you
- Извинете – Izvinete – Excuse me / Sorry
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When you don’t understand
Handy when the conversation moves faster than your phrasebook.
- Дали зборувате англиски? – Dali zboruvate angliski? – Do you speak English?
- Не разбирам – Ne razbiram – I don’t understand
- Не зборувам македонски – Ne zboruvam makedonski – I don’t speak Macedonian
- Полека, ве молам – Poleka, ve molam – Slowly, please
Eating, drinking and paying
Café culture runs deep here, so these earn their keep. For where to use them, see our guides to the best restaurants in Skopje and traditional Macedonian dishes.
- Едно кафе, ве молам – Edno kafe, ve molam – One coffee, please
- Вода / пиво / вино – Voda / pivo / vino – Water / beer / wine
- Сметката, ве молам – Smetkata, ve molam – The bill, please
- Колку чини? – Kolku chini? – How much is it?
- Вкусно! – Vkusno! – Delicious!
- На здравје! – Na zdravje! – Cheers! (also “bless you”)
Getting around
Useful on the street and when using local transport – pair them with our Skopje public transport guide.
- Каде е…? – Kade e…? – Where is…?
- Лево / десно / право – Levo / desno / pravo – Left / right / straight ahead
- Плоштад – Ploshtad – Main square (Macedonia Square)
- Стара чаршија – Stara charshija – Old Bazaar
- Такси – Taksi – Taxi
Numbers one to ten
Enough to handle prices, tickets and ordering.
- 1 – еден (eden) 2 – два (dva) 3 – три (tri)
- 4 – четири (chetiri) 5 – пет (pet) 6 – шест (shest)
- 7 – седум (sedum) 8 – осум (osum) 9 – девет (devet) 10 – десет (deset)
A few tips for using them
Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation – the effort itself is what people appreciate. The stress in Macedonian usually falls on the third-from-last syllable, but you’ll be understood without getting that exactly right. Cash is still handy for small cafés and the bazaar, and knowing your numbers helps at the market. Most of all, lead with zdravo and blagodaram; those two alone will carry you a long way.
Ready to put them to use? A free walking tour is a great first outing, and our top things to do in Skopje will fill the rest of your trip.
Where to Stay in Skopje
For a first visit, the best base is the city centre around Macedonia Square: you can walk to the Old Bazaar, the Stone Bridge and most restaurants, and practise those Macedonian phrases on the way.
- Skopje Marriott Hotel – right on Macedonia Square, the most central upscale choice.
- Hotel Senigallia – rooms on a rebuilt sailing ship moored on the Vardar, in the middle of the city.
- Solun Hotel & Spa – a central hotel with a spa, a short walk from the main square.
Browse all hotels in Skopje city centre, compare neighbourhoods in our Where to Stay in Skopje guide, or see our pick of the best hotels in Skopje.
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Planning the details? See our guide to the best time to visit Skopje and pick a day trip – Tetovo, Stobi & Tikveš or Kokino.
Our private tour
Private Matka Canyon Tour from Skopje
Hotel pickup anywhere in Skopje, a private air-conditioned car and a friendly English-speaking local driver. Boat ride to Vrelo Cave, hiking or a lakeside coffee – at your own pace. From €60 per car (1–4 guests).
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