Transport
How to Say “car” in Macedonian
What Does “кола” Mean?
The Macedonian expression for “car” is кола (Latin: kola). It belongs to the category of Macedonian transportation vocabulary. Macedonian is a South Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet and spoken by about 1.5 million people, primarily in North Macedonia. It is fully phonetic — every letter makes a consistent sound — so once you learn the 31-letter alphabet you can read and pronounce any word.
Grammar note: Plural: коли. "Со кола" means "by car".
How to Pronounce кола
кола is pronounced “kola” — the transliteration maps each Cyrillic letter to a predictable Latin equivalent, with no silent letters or irregular spellings to watch out for. Stress in Macedonian generally falls on the third-to-last syllable in longer words, though for shorter words and phrases it often falls on the first syllable. Tap “Play Audio” above to listen to the pronunciation.
To read this without the Latin spelling, learn the Macedonian alphabet — it is only 31 letters.
When to Use “кола”
Transport vocabulary is essential for getting around North Macedonia. The country has a network of buses, taxis, and a limited rail system. In cities like Skopje, minibuses (комби) are a common way to travel.
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "car" in Macedonian?
"car" in Macedonian is кола. It is pronounced "kola" — Macedonian is a phonetic language so every letter maps to a consistent sound.
How do you pronounce кола?
кола is pronounced "kola". Macedonian uses the Cyrillic alphabet but is fully phonetic — once you know the letters, you can pronounce any word correctly. Tap the “Play Audio” button on this page to hear it pronounced.
Is "car" formal or informal in Macedonian?
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
Related Macedonian Transport Words
Practice “кола” with Interactive Exercises
OpaLingo's free interactive lessons include audio for every word, flashcards, and quizzes to help you remember Macedonian transportation vocabulary for good. No account required — start learning immediately.