Grammar Basics
How to Say “next to” in Macedonian
What Does “покрај” Mean?
The Macedonian expression for “next to” is покрај (Latin: pokraj). It belongs to the category of core Macedonian grammar words and structures. 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: Spatial relation
How to Pronounce покрај
покрај is pronounced “pokraj” — 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.
When to Use “покрај”
This word is a foundational piece of Macedonian grammar. Understanding core grammar words is essential for building sentences and understanding how Macedonian communicates meaning. Unlike English, Macedonian marks definiteness through noun suffixes rather than separate articles.
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "next to" in Macedonian?
"next to" in Macedonian is покрај. It is pronounced "pokraj" — Macedonian is a phonetic language so every letter maps to a consistent sound.
How do you pronounce покрај?
покрај is pronounced "pokraj". 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 "next to" formal or informal in Macedonian?
This expression is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.
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Practice “покрај” with Interactive Exercises
OpaLingo's free interactive lessons include native Macedonian audio, flashcards, and quizzes to help you remember core Macedonian grammar words and structures for good. No account required — start learning immediately.