уж

Supposedly with Уж

Level 4Sounds Like už

Уж беше болен, а отиде на кино. (He was supposedly ill, yet he went to the cinema.) Уж shows that you do not quite believe what was said.

How It Works

1. Doubt about someone else's claim. Уж goes before the part you doubt. It pairs naturally with the reported forms, which also show that you did not witness something: Казва, че уж бил много зает. (He says he is supposedly very busy.)

2. Expectation versus reality. Often a second clause with а or colloquial ама shows that the claim was not true:

  • Уж беше болен, а отиде на кино. (He was supposedly ill, yet he went to the cinema.)
  • Уж е ново, а вече не работи. (It is supposedly new, and it already doesn't work.)

3. Plans you doubt. With the future it means is supposed to, with some doubt: Уж ще дойде утре. (He is supposed to come tomorrow.) It does not express an obligation; for that use трябва да.

4. Pretending. With правя се, че (to pretend that) it stresses that the act is false: Прави се, че уж не ме вижда. (He pretends not to see me.)

5. Tone. Уж always adds a note of doubt, irony or disappointment, so it does not belong in neutral reporting. Compare май (apparently, a mild guess) and сякаш (as if, it seems).

Examples (6)

  1. Уж беше болен, а отиде на кино.

    He was supposedly ill, yet he went to the cinema.

  2. Уж ще дойде утре.

    He is supposed to come tomorrow.

    The speaker is not sure he will really come.

  3. Казва, че уж бил много зает.

    He says he is supposedly very busy.

    The reported form бил adds to the doubt.

  4. Уж е ново, а вече не работи.

    It is supposedly new, and it already doesn't work.

  5. Прави се, че уж не ме вижда.

    He pretends not to see me.

  6. Сега уж съм по-добре.

    I'm supposedly better now.

    Used about yourself, уж sounds cautious: you are not sure it will last.

Common Mistakes

  • Using уж for English "supposed to" in the sense of an obligation.

    Уж ще му се обадя днес.
    Трябва да му се обадя днес.

    The intended meaning is "I am supposed to call him today" as a duty. Уж would mean that the call is doubtful or only pretended. For obligation, use трябва да.

  • Using уж in neutral reporting when you do not doubt the information.

    Министърът уж обяви нови мерки.
    Министърът обяви нови мерки.

    The intended meaning is a neutral statement of fact. Уж would signal that the speaker doubts the minister or finds the measures a pretense.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ужLevel 4Supposedly with Уж

Learn This First

Уж follows reported forms.

Words in This Pattern

уж