многу / малку

A Lot and a Little

Level 1Sounds Like mnogu; malku

Многу means very or a lot: многу добро, многу работам. Малку means a little: малку вода.

How It Works

Многу

  • very, before an adjective or adverb: многу добро, многу убаво, Многу е студено.
  • a lot of / many, before a noun: многу луѓе, многу работа, многу вода
  • a lot, with a verb: Многу работам. or Работам многу.

Малку

  • a little, before a noun: малку вода, малку шеќер
  • a little, with a verb: Зборувам малку македонски.
  • with a countable noun it means few: малку луѓе (few people)

Both words stay the same with every gender and number: многу книги, многу вино, малку луѓе.

Very is not too. Премногу means too much, more than you want: Премногу работиш. (You work too much.) See Too Much and Enough.

For more and most, see Comparing Amounts. A useful phrase to learn whole: Многу благодарам! (Thank you very much!)

Examples (6)

  1. Многу добро!

    Very good!

    Word by Word: Very good!

  2. Многу работам.

    I work a lot.

    Word by Word: A-lot work-I.

  3. Сакам малку вода.

    I'd like a little water.

    Word by Word: Want-I a-little water.

  4. Зборувам малку македонски.

    I speak a little Macedonian.

    Word by Word: Speak-I a-little Macedonian.

  5. Тука има многу луѓе.

    There are a lot of people here.

    Word by Word: Here has many people.

  6. Многу благодарам!

    Thank you very much!

    Word by Word: Very thank-I!

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Bulgarian or Serbian form.

    много добро
    многу добро

    Много is Bulgarian and Serbian. The Macedonian word ends in -у: многу.

  • Using премногу to mean very.

    Кафето е премногу добро.
    Кафето е многу добро.

    The intended meaning is simply very good. Премногу means too or too much, so use многу for very.

How It Connects

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

многу / малкуLevel 1A Lot and a Little

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Quantity words build on има for existence.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

малкумалку