господин / госпоѓа / госпоѓица
Titles and Formal Address
Put the title before the surname: господин Петровски, госпоѓа Петровска. When you speak to the person directly, use the calling form: Добар ден, господине Петровски!
How It Works
The three titles:
- господин — Mr: господин Петровски
- госпоѓа — Mrs or Ms, for an adult woman: госпоѓа Петровска
- госпоѓица — Miss, for a girl or a young unmarried woman: госпоѓица Николовска
Many surnames have a feminine form in -а: Петровски → Петровска, Николовски → Николовска. The surname after госпоѓа or госпоѓица uses that feminine form.
Talking about someone: use the plain form: Госпоѓа Петровска е нашата професорка. (Mrs Petrovska is our teacher.) In writing, the titles are shortened to г., г-ѓа and г-ца.
Talking to someone: the titles have calling forms (see вокатив: Петре; мајко; господине):
- господин → господине: Добар ден, господине Петровски!
- госпоѓа → госпоѓо: Почитувана госпоѓо, (Dear Madam, at the start of a letter)
- госпоѓица → госпоѓице: Госпоѓице, дали е слободно ова место? (Miss, is this seat free?)
In quick everyday speech you will also hear the plain form before a surname: Добар ден, господин Петровски.
Before a job title: in very formal speech the title is followed by a job or rank, and both take the calling form: Господине претседателе (Mr President), Госпоѓо министерке (Madam Minister).
Groups: the plural of господин is господа, and a speech often opens with Дами и господа! (Ladies and gentlemen!).
Whenever you use a title, speak to that person with the polite Вие, not ти (see ти и Вие). For letters, see почитуван; со почит.
Examples (6)
- Добар ден, господине Петровски!
Good afternoon, Mr Petrovski!
Word by Word: Good day, sir Petrovski!
- Госпоѓа Петровска е нашата професорка.
Mrs Petrovska is our teacher.
Word by Word: Mrs Petrovska is our-the teacher.
- Почитувана госпоѓо, Ви пишувам во врска со Вашата понуда.
Dear Madam, I am writing to you about your offer.
Word by Word: Respected madam, to-you I-write in connection with your offer.
- Госпоѓице, дали е слободно ова место?
Miss, is this seat free?
Word by Word: Miss, whether is free this seat?
- Дами и господа, добредојдовте!
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!
Word by Word: Ladies and gentlemen, you-welcome-came!
- Господинот од соба пет Ве бара.
The gentleman from room five is asking for you.
Word by Word: Gentleman-the from room five you seeks.
Used on its own with the article, господинот means "the gentleman".
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine surname after госпоѓа.
Госпоѓа Петровски е нашата професорка.Госпоѓа Петровска е нашата професорка.Surnames in -ски have a feminine form in -ска, and a woman's title takes that form.
Making the calling form with the wrong ending.
Госпоѓе, дали е слободно ова место?Госпоѓо, дали е слободно ова место?The calling forms are господине, госпоѓо and госпоѓице. The calling form of госпоѓа ends in -о, and the calling form of госпоѓица ends in -е.
Using ти with someone you call by a title.
Господине Петровски, дали сакаш кафе?Господине Петровски, дали сакате кафе?A title shows respect, so the verb should use the polite Вие form: сакате, not сакаш.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Titles and formal address follow the vocative.
Related Patterns
- ти / ВиеInformal and Polite You
Someone you address with a title is spoken to with the polite Вие.
Level 1 - почитуван / со почитFormal Letter Phrases
Formal letters open with Почитуван господине or Почитувана госпоѓо.
Level 4 - Feminine Forms in -ка / -ицаFeminine Job Titles
Госпоѓица and feminine job titles like министерка use the same feminine endings.
Level 3 - здраво / добар ден / довидувањеGreetings and Goodbyes
Formal greetings such as Добар ден usually come with a title.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
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