впрочем / инаку / за жал

Discourse Markers in Writing

Level 6Sounds Like vpročem; inaku; za žal

За жал, не можам да дојдам. (Unfortunately, I can't come.) Побрзај, инаку ќе задоцниш. (Hurry up, otherwise you'll be late.) Впрочем, и јас задоцнив. (After all, I was late too.)

How It Works

За жал: unfortunately. It works in any style, from a text message to an official letter, and it can stand at the start or in the middle: За жал, не можам да дојдам. Состанокот, за жал, беше откажан. Do not confuse it with ми е жал (I am sorry), which names the person who feels sorry: see feelings with a to-me pronoun.

Инаку: otherwise, in other respects.

  • What happens if not: Побрзај, инаку ќе задоцниш.
  • Apart from that: Филмот беше долг, но инаку не беше лош. (The film was long, but otherwise it wasn't bad.)
  • Adding a side fact about someone: Мојот сосед, инаку пензиониран лекар, секое утро трча во паркот.

In conversation, инаку at the start of a sentence can also move to a new topic, much like "anyway" or "by the way".

Впрочем: after all, in fact. It is common in writing and in careful speech. It adds a thought that explains, supports or softens what was just said: Не се секирај за испитот. Впрочем, секогаш можеш да го полагаш повторно. Unlike инаку, it never means "if not".

Commas. When these words comment on the whole sentence, set them off with commas. Compare the linking words in contrast connectors, conclusions and explanations.

Examples (6)

  1. За жал, не можам да дојдам.

    Unfortunately, I can't come.

    Word by Word: For sorrow, not I-can to I-come.

  2. Побрзај, инаку ќе задоцниш.

    Hurry up, otherwise you'll be late.

    Word by Word: Hurry, otherwise will you-be-late.

    Инаку says what happens if you do not hurry.

  3. Филмот беше долг, но инаку не беше лош.

    The film was long, but otherwise it wasn't bad.

    Word by Word: Film-the was long, but otherwise not was bad.

  4. Мојот сосед, инаку пензиониран лекар, секое утро трча во паркот.

    My neighbour, a retired doctor, runs in the park every morning.

    Word by Word: My-the neighbour, otherwise retired doctor, every morning runs in park-the.

    Инаку adds a side fact about the neighbour.

  5. Не мора да се извинуваш. Впрочем, и јас задоцнив.

    You don't have to apologize. After all, I was late too.

    Word by Word: Not must to yourself you-apologize. After-all, also I was-late.

  6. Не се секирај за испитот. Впрочем, секогаш можеш да го полагаш повторно.

    Don't worry about the exam. After all, you can always take it again.

    Word by Word: Not yourself worry about exam-the. After-all, always you-can to it you-take again.

Common Mistakes

  • Using впрочем to mean "otherwise".

    Побрзај, впрочем ќе задоцниш.
    Побрзај, инаку ќе задоцниш.

    Впрочем adds a comment such as after all. To say what happens if something is not done, use инаку.

How It Connects

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

впрочем / инаку / за жалLevel 6Discourse Markers in Writing

Learn This First

Discourse markers in writing build on connectors.

Words in This Pattern

впрочеминакуза жал