Which one should you use?
While molim can be used on its own in less formal contexts like ordering food, it is often expanded into specific forms depending on who you are addressing. For example, molim te is used for individuals you know well, whereas molim vas is used for strangers, elders or groups.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When making a request to a single person you know well, it is common to add the pronoun te (you) to the word, forming molim te. To be polite to a stranger, an elder or a group, you should use the form molim vas. Additionally, the phrase možeš li, molim te can be used to mean "can you, please".
When do people say it?
When you use molim to ask for something, the standard polite response when someone hands you an object or invites you to sit or enter is Izvolite (meaning "here you go" or "after you").
Did you know?
- The word molim is actually the first-person singular present tense of the verb 'moliti', which means 'to beg' or 'to pray'.
- If you answer the phone and hear someone you don't recognize, saying molim is a common way to ask 'who is this?' or 'what do you want?'
- If you do not hear what someone said, you can simply say Molim? with a rising intonation to mean 'Pardon?' or 'What was that?'
Examples in context
- Molim te, ne viči.Please don't shout.This sentence shows how to use molim in a request to stop an action.Tatoeba #4983323 by Lebad, translation #4940139 by AlanF_US
- Molim te, opusti se.Please relax.This sentence shows how to use molim in a request to relax.Tatoeba #5003551 by Lebad, translation #29664 by CK
- Pođite sa nama, molim.Come with us, please.This sentence shows how to use molim at the end of a request.Tatoeba #4449703 by Lebad, translation #2647208 by CK
- Molim vas, možete li mi reći put?Please, can you tell me the way?
- Budite ljubazni, mogu li dobiti malu pomoć?Please be kind, can I get some help?
- Molim te, možeš li mi pozajmiti olovku?Please, can you lend me a pen?
- Možeš li, molim te, kupiti mi nekoliko namirnica?Can you, please, buy me some groceries?
- 88 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marko is asking Jelena for a glass of water.
- MarkoJelena, možeš li mi dati vodu, molim?Jelena, can you give me the water, please?
- JelenaNaravno, evo tvoje vode.Of course, here is your water.
- MarkoHvala ti puno.Thank you very much.
- JelenaNema na čemu.You're welcome.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry molim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
