Greetings
How to Say “hi” in Macedonian
What Does “Здраво” Mean?
The Macedonian expression for “hi” is Здраво (Latin: Zdravo). It belongs to the category of essential Macedonian greetings used in everyday conversation. Spoken by roughly 1.5 million people, mainly in North Macedonia, Macedonian is a South Slavic language with a 31-letter Cyrillic alphabet. Its spelling is completely phonetic: each letter always represents the same sound, so reading and pronunciation come quickly once you know the alphabet.
Grammar note: Здраво works as both "hi" and "hello". Among friends you will also hear Чао, which means both "hi" and "bye".
How to Pronounce Здраво
Здраво is pronounced “Zdravo” — 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.
Every letter has one fixed sound; the Macedonian alphabet chart with audio lets you hear each of them.
When to Use “Здраво”
Greetings are one of the first things to learn in any new language. In Macedonian culture, greetings are an important part of daily social interaction — locals appreciate when visitors make the effort to say hello in Macedonian. This phrase is commonly used across North Macedonia in both city and rural contexts.
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "hi" in Macedonian?
"hi" in Macedonian is Здраво. It is pronounced "Zdravo" — Macedonian is a phonetic language so every letter maps to a consistent sound.
How do you pronounce Здраво?
Здраво is pronounced "Zdravo". 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 "hi" formal or informal in Macedonian?
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
Related Macedonian Greetings Words
Practice “Здраво” with Interactive Exercises
OpaLingo's free interactive lessons include audio for every word, flashcards, and quizzes to help you remember essential Macedonian greetings used in everyday conversation for good. No account required — start learning immediately.