абе / значи

Discourse Markers Абе and Значи

Level 5Sounds Like abe i znači

Абе starts a familiar remark (oh, hey, well): Абе, остави го. Значи means so: Значи утре в осем?

How It Works

1. Абе. Абе usually opens the sentence and is followed by a comma in writing. Its tone depends on the rest of the sentence:

  • brushing something aside: Абе, остави го. (Oh, just leave it.)
  • hesitating or partly disagreeing: Абе, не знам дали ще дойда. (Well, I don't know if I'll come.)
  • getting attention or showing surprise: Абе, какво става с теб? (Hey, what's going on with you?)

Абе belongs to relaxed speech between people who say ти to each other. Do not use it with someone you address as Вие, in a shop, at work with a manager or in writing. It is related to the even more familiar бе and ма.

2. Значи. Значи is the verb значи (it means) used as a discourse word. It does not change for person or tense in this use.

  • drawing a conclusion: Не си ял цял ден, значи си гладен. (You haven't eaten all day, so you must be hungry.)
  • checking an arrangement: Значи утре в осем? (So, tomorrow at eight?)
  • filling a pause while telling a story: Отидох, значи, в магазина ... (So I went to the shop ...)

The first two uses are fine in any conversation. The filler use is very casual, and overusing it sounds sloppy. In formal writing, a conclusion is introduced with следователно or затова instead.

3. The verb meaning stays. Значи can still be an ordinary verb: Какво значи тази дума? (What does this word mean?)

Examples (6)

  1. Абе, остави го.

    Oh, just leave it.

    Абе brushes the matter aside.

  2. Абе, не знам дали ще дойда.

    Well, I don't know if I'll come.

  3. Абе, какво става с теб?

    Hey, what's going on with you?

  4. Значи утре в осем?

    So, tomorrow at eight?

    Значи checks what was agreed.

  5. Не си ял цял ден, значи си гладен.

    You haven't eaten all day, so you must be hungry.

  6. Отидох, значи, в магазина и какво да видя!

    So I went to the shop, and guess what I saw!

    A casual storytelling filler.

Common Mistakes

  • Using абе with someone you address politely.

    Абе, господин директоре, кога е срещата?
    Извинете, господин директоре, кога е срещата?

    The speaker means to be polite, but абе is familiar and here it sounds rude. With someone you call Вие, open with извинете or simply ask the question.

  • Changing discourse значи to match the tense of a story.

    Отидох, значеше, в магазина и какво да видя!
    Отидох, значи, в магазина и какво да видя!

    As a discourse word, значи has only this one form, even in a story about the past. Значеше is the past of the verb and means it meant, which makes no sense here.

How It Connects

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абе / значиLevel 5Discourse Markers Абе and Значи

Learn This First

Абе and значи follow ами.

Words in This Pattern

абезначизначи