Most Used Legal Terms in the Macedonian Language

Basic Legal Terminology

Knowing basic legal terms is essential for anyone who needs to navigate the legal system, whether you’re a law student, a practicing lawyer, or simply someone who has to deal with legal matters. Here are some fundamental terms you should know:

Закон (Zakon) – This term means “law”. It refers to the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

Суд (Sud) – This translates to “court”. The court is a place where justice is administered, and legal disputes are heard and decided.

Судија (Sudija) – Meaning “judge”, this term refers to a public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.

Обвинител (Obvinitel) – This word means “prosecutor”. The prosecutor is a legal representative who brings charges against a person accused of breaking the law.

Адвокат (Advokat) – Translating to “lawyer” or “attorney”, an адвокат is a professional who is qualified to offer advice about the law or represent someone in legal matters.

Legal Processes and Procedures

Understanding the processes and procedures in the legal system is crucial for effective communication and practice. Below are some common terms related to legal procedures:

Тужба (Tuzhba) – This means “lawsuit”. It refers to a legal case brought to court by a plaintiff against a defendant.

Апелација (Apelacija) – This translates to “appeal”. An appeal is a process for requesting a formal change to an official decision.

Пресуда (Presuda) – Meaning “verdict” or “judgment”, this term refers to the final decision made by a judge or jury in a court case.

Докажување (Dokazhuvanje) – This word means “evidence”. Evidence includes anything that is used to determine or demonstrate the truth in a court of law.

Претрес (Pretres) – Translating to “hearing” or “trial”, a претрес is a formal examination of evidence by a judge, typically before a verdict is given.

Criminal Law Terms

Criminal law deals with behavior that is or can be construed as an offense against the public, society, or the state. Here are some key terms in this area:

Кривично дело (Krivichno delo) – This term means “criminal offense”. It refers to an act punishable by law, typically considered an offense against the state or public.

Осомничен (Osomnichen) – Meaning “suspect”, this term refers to a person thought to be guilty of a crime.

Притвор (Pritvor) – This translates to “detention” or “custody”. It refers to the act of holding someone in custody, usually by the police, while they are awaiting trial.

Казна (Kazna) – This word means “penalty” or “punishment”. It refers to the consequences imposed for committing a criminal offense.

Сведок (Svedok) – Translating to “witness”, a сведок is a person who gives testimony concerning something of which they have direct knowledge.

Civil Law Terms

Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organizations, typically over rights, obligations, or liabilities. Here are some important terms in civil law:

Договор (Dogovor) – This means “contract”. It is an agreement between two or more parties that is enforceable by law.

Обврска (Obvrska) – This term translates to “obligation”. It refers to a legal duty to do or not do something.

Штета (Shteta) – Meaning “damage” or “harm”, this term is used to refer to loss or injury suffered by a person.

Компензација (Kompenzacija) – This word means “compensation”. It refers to something, typically money, awarded to someone in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury.

Задолжителен (Zadolzhitelen) – Translating to “mandatory” or “obligatory”, this term describes something that is required by law or rule.

Family Law Terms

Family law covers legal issues related to family relationships, such as marriage, divorce, and child custody. Here are some common terms in this area:

Брак (Brak) – This term means “marriage”. It refers to the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship.

Развод (Razvod) – Meaning “divorce”, this term refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.

Старателство (Staratelstvo) – This translates to “custody”. It refers to the protective care or guardianship of someone, often a child.

Издршка (Izdrshka) – This word means “alimony” or “support”. It refers to financial support that one person is ordered to give to another after a separation or divorce.

Посвојување (Posvojuvanje) – Translating to “adoption”, this term refers to the legal process of taking another’s child and bringing it up as one’s own.

Property Law Terms

Property law governs the various forms of ownership and tenancy in real property and personal property. Here are some key terms:

Имот (Imot) – This term means “property”. It refers to something owned, whether it is land, buildings, or personal belongings.

Сопственост (Sopstvenost) – Meaning “ownership”, this term refers to the state or fact of owning something.

Наем (Naem) – This translates to “lease” or “rent”. It refers to a contract by which one party conveys land, property, services, etc., to another for a specified time, usually in return for periodic payment.

Хипотека (Hipoteka) – This word means “mortgage”. It refers to a legal agreement by which a bank or other creditor lends money at interest in exchange for taking the title of the debtor’s property.

Залог (Zalog) – Translating to “pledge” or “pawn”, this term refers to a thing given as security for the fulfillment of a contract or the repayment of a debt.

Commercial Law Terms

Commercial law, also known as business law, governs business and commercial transactions. Here are some essential terms:

Компанија (Kompanija) – This term means “company”. It refers to a commercial business.

Договор (Dogovor) – As mentioned earlier, this means “contract”. It is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties.

Фактура (Faktura) – Meaning “invoice”, this term refers to a list of goods sent or services provided, with a statement of the sum due for these.

Стечај (Stechaj) – This translates to “bankruptcy”. It refers to the state of being bankrupt, legally declared as unable to pay outstanding debts.

Осигурување (Osiguruvanje) – This word means “insurance”. It refers to a practice or arrangement by which a company provides a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for payment.

International Law Terms

International law governs the legal relations between or among states and nations. Here are some common terms in this area:

Договор (Dogovor) – As previously mentioned, this means “treaty” in the context of international agreements. It is a formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.

Конвенција (Konvencija) – This term means “convention”. It refers to an agreement between states covering particular matters, especially one less formal than a treaty.

Екстрадиција (Ekstradicija) – Meaning “extradition”, this term refers to the action of extraditing a person accused or convicted of a crime.

Суверенитет (Soverenitet) – This translates to “sovereignty”. It refers to the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Меѓународен (Megjunaroden) – This word means “international”. It refers to anything involving two or more countries.

Human Rights Terms

Human rights law focuses on the protection and promotion of the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Here are some key terms:

Човекови права (Chovekovi prava) – This term means “human rights”. It refers to the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world.

Дискриминација (Diskriminacija) – Meaning “discrimination”, this term refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

Азил (Azil) – This translates to “asylum”. It refers to the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee.

Тортура (Tortura) – This word means “torture”. It refers to the act of deliberately inflicting severe physical or psychological pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something.

Право на глас (Pravo na glas) – Translating to “right to vote”, this term refers to the entitlement of individuals to participate in the election of government officials.

Conclusion

Mastering legal terminology in the Macedonian language is a crucial step for anyone involved in the legal field or dealing with legal matters in Macedonia. This comprehensive guide has covered various areas of law, including basic legal terms, legal processes and procedures, criminal law, civil law, family law, property law, commercial law, international law, and human rights. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you will be better equipped to understand and navigate the legal system in Macedonia. Whether you are a student, a legal professional, or someone with an interest in law, this knowledge will serve as a valuable asset in your language learning journey.