здраво
zdravo[ˈzdravɔ]
Hello in Macedonian is здраво (zdravo).
здраво is a common way to say hello. It can be used both as a greeting when arriving and as a way to acknowledge someone's presence.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word здраво is literally derived from the adjective meaning 'healthy' or 'well'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
здраво is a common, informal way to say hello to friends, peers or people you know well. For a formal greeting used during the daytime, you should use Добар ден (Good day).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bitola dialect, locals use сабајле to mean 'Good morning'.
How do you pronounce it?
zdravo
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, you might hear greetings that blend Macedonian with Turkish loanwords, reflecting the historical Ottoman influence on the Balkans.
- In formal Macedonian settings, it is common to wait for the elder or the person of higher status to initiate the greeting before responding with здраво or Добар ден.
- The word здраво is shared with several other Slavic languages, such as Serbian and Croatian, where it also links a greeting to the concept of 'health'.
Examples in context
- Здраво! Дали ме слушаш?Hello! Can you hear me?This sentence shows how to use the form здраво in a question.Tatoeba #9068922 by Toli, translation #4644966 by ProfessorGiraffe
- Ме погледна и рече: „Здраво!“He looked at me and said: "Hello!"This sentence shows how to use the form здраво in a reported statement.Tatoeba #4126752 by Lepotdeterre, translation #3249216 by nava
- Здраво, сине. Се надевам дека оздравуваш.Hello, son. I trust you're healing well.This sentence shows the form здраво used in a greeting.Tatoeba #4298127 by Lepotdeterre, translation #2904254 by Ooneykcall
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Philip and Milana meet at a cafe.
- Филип FilipЗдраво, Милана!Zdravo, Milana!Hello, Milana!
- Милана MilanaЗдраво, Филип! Како си?Zdravo, Filip! Kako si?Hello, Philip! How are you?
- Филип FilipДобре сум, фала.Dobre sum, fala.I am good, thanks.
- Милана MilanaМило ми е што те гледам.Milo mi e shto te gledam.It is nice to see you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries здраво, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
