The Tetovo dialect (Macedonian: Тетовски дијалект, Tetovski dijalekt) or Lower Polog dialect (Macedonian: Долнополошки дијалект, Dolnopološki dijalekt) is a member of the western subgroup of the northern group of dialects of Macedonian. It is considered part of the transitional Torlakian dialects. It is spoken by the population in the north-western part of North Macedonia. This dialect is spoken in the city of Tetovo, Brvenica and Jegunovce Municipality (without the villages Vratnica, Belovište, Staro Selo and Rogačevo who speak the Vratnica dialect). One of the main characteristics of this dialect is the use of the words таќе (taḱe) – "on that way" and ваќе (vaḱe) – "on this way". The Tetovo dialect can be found in several books, two of which were written by Kiril Peychinovich, namely Ogledalo and Uteshenia greshnim.[1]
There are many characteristics that are connected with this dialect but the most significant are:
Below is written a popular folk song from Tetovo region. The song is in Tetovo dialect.
Ogreala mesečina, lele,
Ogreala mesečina,
Od Soluna do Tetovo.
Ne mi bilo mesečina, lele,
Ne mi bilo mesečina,
Tuk’ mi bile tri neveste,
Tri neveste Tetovčanke.
Pravo odat za Tetovo, lele,
Pravo odat za Tetovo,
Kaj bakalot, čičko Jakim.
Dobro utro čičko Jakim, lele,
Dobro utro čičko Jakim.
Dal bog dobro tri neveste,
Tri neveste Tetovčanke.
Da ni dadeš dram belilo, lele,
Da ni dadeš dram belilo,
Dram belilo, dram crvilo.
Naši maži gurbetčii, lele,
Naši maži gurbetčii,
Ko’ḱe dojdat ḱeti platat.