за + Noun

For and About

Level 2Sounds Like za + imenka

За has two everyday meanings: for (Ова е за тебе. This is for you.) and about (Зборуваме за филмот. We are talking about the film).

How It Works

For. За names the person or purpose something is meant for:

  • подарок за мајка ми a present for my mother
  • чаша за вино a wine glass (a glass for wine)
  • Благодарам за помошта. Thank you for the help.
  • Го купив за сто денари. I bought it for a hundred denars.

About. With verbs of talking, reading, asking and thinking, за gives the topic:

  • Зборуваме за филмот. We are talking about the film.
  • книга за Македонија a book about Macedonia
  • Што мислиш за тоа? What do you think about that? (see Saying What You Think)

No case endings. The noun after за keeps its dictionary form, as after every preposition (Nouns Without Case Endings).

Pronouns. Pronouns after за use the full object forms: Ова е за тебе. · Зборуваа за нас. The whole set is in Full Object Pronouns.

Other uses you will meet. За with a time expression can mean in (за три дена, in three days), covered in Ago and In. За да with a verb means in order to (Purpose With За Да).

Examples (6)

  1. Купив подарок за мајка ми.

    I bought a present for my mother.

    Word by Word: I-bought present for mother my.

  2. Ова кафе е за тебе.

    This coffee is for you.

    Word by Word: This coffee is for you.

  3. Благодарам за помошта.

    Thank you for the help.

    Word by Word: I-thank for help-the.

  4. Зборуваме за филмот.

    We are talking about the film.

    Word by Word: We-talk about film-the.

  5. Читам книга за историјата на Македонија.

    I am reading a book about the history of Macedonia.

    Word by Word: I-read book about history-the of Macedonia.

  6. Го купив за сто денари.

    I bought it for a hundred denars.

    Word by Word: It I-bought for hundred denars.

    За can also give the price you paid.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subject pronoun after за.

    Ова е за ти.
    Ова е за тебе.

    After a preposition a pronoun takes its full object form: за мене, за тебе, за него, за неа.

How It Connects

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

за + NounLevel 2For and About

Learn This First

За follows the first prepositions.

Words in This Pattern