мо́лам
mólam
The English phrase "please" is expressed in Macedonian as мо́лам (mólam).
мо́лам is an interjection used to make a polite request. Additionally, it can be used as a polite response to "thank you" to mean "you're welcome," or as a way to say "pardon?" if you have not heard what someone said.
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word молам is a first-person singular present tense form of the verb моли, which literally translates to "I beg" or "I pray".
Which one should you use?
While молам can stand alone, те молам is the standard way to say "please" when you are speaking to a friend or someone you know well. For more formal situations, you can use Ве молам.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the pronoun ве (you, plural/polite) before the word in the phrase ве молам makes the request more formal or directs it at multiple people.
How do you pronounce it?
mólam
Did you know?
- In Macedonian, молам is used when handing something to another person, similar to how an English speaker says 'here you go'.
- The word молам is deeply connected to the Orthodox Christian tradition, as the root verb моли is the standard term used for praying to God.
- If you use те молам with a stranger in a shop, it might sound slightly too intimate or overly emotional, as if you are pleading for a favor rather than just being polite.
Examples in context
- Која единка на варијабилните е сигурна? Ве молам, користете ја единица 3.Which variant of the variables is certain? Please use unit 3.
- Мо́лам, кажете ми го бројот.Mólam, kazhete mi go brojot.Please, tell me the number.
- Мо́лам, отвори го прозорецот.Mólam, otvori go prozonecot.Please, open the window.
- Мо́лам, дај ми една чаша вода.Mólam, daj mi edna chasha voda.Please, give me a glass of water.
Example conversation
Marko asks Marija for a glass of water.
- Марко MarkoМарија, дај ми вода, мо́лам.Marija, daj mi voda, molam.Marija, give me some water, please.
- Марија MarijaСекако, еве ти.Sekako, eve ti.Of course, here you go.
- Марко MarkoФала многу.Fala mnogu.Thanks a lot.
- Марија MarijaНема проблем.Nema problem.No problem.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
