Ways to say it
| Macedonian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| збогум | zbogum | [ˈzbɔɡum] (narrow) | |
| со здравје | so zdravje | [sɔ ˈzdravjɛ] (word by word, narrow) | |
| на добар час | na dobar čas | [na ˈdɔbar t͡ʃas] (word by word, narrow) | |
| ча́о | čáo | informal | |
| пријатно довидување | prijatno | formal |
Macedonian offers several ways to express farewell depending on the social context. While збогум is a standard way to say goodbye, you might also use со здравје or на добар час.
What does it mean word for word?
The word збогум is a compound of the prefix з (with/by) and бог (God), literally meaning 'with God'. The phrase со здравје literally means 'with health'.
Which one should you use?
The choice of phrase depends heavily on the situation. ча́о is a casual way to say 'bye' or 'see you', whereas пријатно довидување is a more polite and formal farewell. Additionally, the word Довидување itself is a formal way to say goodbye.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal settings, such as professional environments or when leaving a shop, use пријатно довидување. For informal situations, you can use ча́о, which is a borrowed expression similar to the Italian 'ciao'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Skopje region, the informal expression Ајде is sometimes used as a casual way to say goodbye, meaning 'let's go'.
How do you pronounce it?
zbogum
Did you know?
- While збогум is very traditional, using it today can sound unexpectedly dramatic or even final, like a permanent parting in a movie.
- The common phrase на добар час is used when someone is leaving to go perform a specific task or journey. It essentially wishes the person 'a good hour' or a successful outcome for their errand.
- Using пријатно alone as a goodbye is common in shops and cafes. It means 'pleasantly' and is used as a shorthand way to wish the other person a pleasant remaining day.
Examples in context
- Збогум!Goodbye!This example shows how to use the form збогум to say goodbye.Tatoeba #4312182 by Lepotdeterre, translation #516745 by minshirui
- Благодарам за се. Морам да одам сега.Thank you for everything. I have to go now.
- Чао, мора да се видиме следниот пат!Bye, we should meet again next time!
- Ајде, се гледаме!Let's go, see you!
- Збогум, драга пријателко.Zbogum, draga prijatelko.Goodbye, dear friend.
Example conversation
Milana and Marko are leaving a cafe.
- Милана MilanaБеше убаво да те видам, Марко.Beshe ubavo da te vidam, Marko.It was nice to see you, Marko.
- Марко MarkoИ мене исто така, Милана.I mene isto taka, Milana.Me too, Milana.
- Милана MilanaЗбогум, се тежам за патувањето!Zbogum, se tezam za patuvjaneto!Goodbye, I'm thinking about the trip!
- Марко MarkoПази се и пријатно!Pazi se i prijatno!Take care and have a nice day!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “goodbye” translations and entries збогум, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (со, здравје, на, добар, час) and can differ in connected speech.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
