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The 200+ Most Common Bulgarian Words for Beginners

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Learning a new language is like building a new house—you need to have a solid foundation to build upon. 

If you’re new to the Bulgarian language, then you’re in the right place! 

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this comprehensive list of the most basic Bulgarian words for beginners. By learning these essential words along with their pronunciation, you’re giving yourself a proper base upon which you can start accumulating new language skills. 

Once you’re comfortable using most of these words, you can proceed further with your studies and start picking up even more advanced words. 

There are a few strategies that can help you memorize these words more easily:

  • Write these words on labels and place them on the corresponding items in your home. This way, you can see them each time you use the item. 
  • Make long lists that have the Bulgarian words on one side of the paper and their meaning on the other side, and try to memorize them several days in a row. After getting used to them, try to practice them at least once a week to save them in your long-term memory.
  • Use flashcards and think of a fun game to play with them; people memorize much easier while playing games.

Are you ready to start? Let’s look at the most common Bulgarian words for beginners!

Have You Just Started Learning Bulgarian? Then This Guide Is Just For You!
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Bulgarian Pronouns: Saying Me and You
  2. Let’s Count to 10 in Bulgarian
  3. The Most Common Noun Categories
  4. Bulgarian Verbs: Add More Activity to Your Knowledge
  5. Describe Emotions with Bulgarian Adjectives
  6. Bulgarian Conjunctions
  7. Other Must-know Bulgarian Words
  8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

1. Bulgarian Pronouns: Saying Me and You

The first set of words you should add to your Bulgarian vocabulary are the pronouns. These words will allow you to talk about yourself, refer to others, and have conversations about places or objects—even if you don’t know the exact word for what you’re talking about! 

There are four pronoun categories we’ll look at: 

  • Personal pronouns
  • Demonstrative pronouns
  • Interrogative pronouns
  • Question words

Personal Pronouns

There are nine personal pronouns in the Bulgarian language. In a sentence, a personal pronoun takes the place of a noun. Here’s an example: 

  • Мария обича да работи.
    Mariya obicha da raboti.
    Maria loves to work.
  • Тя обича да работи.
    Tya obicha da raboti.
    She loves to work.

PersonBulgarian pronounBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
1st person sg.азazI
2nd person sg.ти / Виеti / Vieyou (casual / formal)
3rd person sg.той / тя / тоtoy / tya / tohe / she / it
1st person pl.ниеniewe
2nd person pl.виеvieyou
3rd person pl.теtethey

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are helpful when you need to ask about a specific item that you don’t know the name of: 

  • Какво е това
    Kakvo e tova?
    What is this?

  • Това е кола.
    Tova e kola.
    This is a car.
  • Какво е онова
    Kakvo e onova?
    What is that?

  • Онова е стол.
    Onova e stol.
    That is a chair.

Car and chair could be replaced with any other noun. 

    → Why not try it yourself? Answer the questions above by replacing the objects with some of the nouns listed in the section of this article titled: The Most Common Noun Categories.

Now, here are the Bulgarian demonstrative pronouns:

NumberBulgarian pronounBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
Singularтози
тази
това
tozi
tazi
tova
this (masculine)
this (feminine)
this (neuter)
Singularонзи
онази
онова
onzi
onazi
onova
that (masculine)
that (feminine)
that (neuter)
Pluralтезиtezithese
Pluralонезиonezithose

* As you may have already noticed, only the singular demonstrative pronouns are classified by gender. In plural, they have only one form.

Knowing How to Say What Is This? in Bulgarian Could be Helpful!

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns make it easy for us to ask questions, so it’s useful to learn the most common ones early on. Please note that, unlike interrogative pronouns in English, those in Bulgarian are classified by gender and number. Let’s see some examples: 

#1 Who?

NumberBulgarian pronounBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
Singular


Plural
кой
коя
кое

кои
koy
koya
koe

koi
who (masculine)
who (feminine)
who (neuter)

who (plural)

In the following examples, the demonstrative pronouns we mentioned earlier are used along with the interrogative pronouns:

  • Кой е този човек?
    Koy e tozi chovek?
    Who is this person?
  • Кои са тези хора?
    Koi sa tezi hora?
    Who are these people?

* Note that the gender/number of the interrogative pronoun is determined by the noun it’s used with. Човек is masculine, so the masculine form of “who” is used: кой. In the second example, хора is plural so we use the plural form of “who,” which is кои. The same rule also applies to the following interrogative pronouns.

#2 What?

NumberBulgarian pronounBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
Singular


Plural
какъв
каква
какво

какви
kakav
kakva
kakvo

kakvi
what (masculine)
what (feminine)
what (neuter)

what (plural)

  • Каква е тази кола?
    Kakva e tazi kola?
    What is this car?
  • Какви са студентите?
    Kakvi sa studentite?
    What are the students like?

#3 Whose?

NumberBulgarian pronounBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
Singular


Plural
чий
чия
чие

чии
chiy
chiya
chie

chii
whose (masculine)
whose (feminine)
whose (neuter)

whose (plural)

  • Чия е тази книга?
    Chiya e tazi kniga?
    Whose book is this?
  • Чии са тези книги?
    Chii sa tezi knigi?
    Whose books are these?
Whose Books Are These?

Question Words

Unlike interrogative pronouns, Bulgarian question words have only one form; they do not change for gender or number. This means they’re easier to learn! 

Bulgarian question wordBulgarian pronunciationEnglish
как kakhow
къдеkadеwhere
когаkоgawhen
защоzashtowhy
колкоkolkohow many/much
накъдеnakadewhere to
откъдеotkadewhere from

  • Накъде отиваш?
    Nakade otivash?
    Where are you going (to)?
  • Откъде идваш?
    Otkade idvash?
    Where do you come from?

Can’t wait to start asking questions in Bulgarian? Then make sure to study our vocabulary list Top 25 Bulgarian Questions You Need to Know.

2. Let’s Count to 10 in Bulgarian

Numbers are another essential component of Bulgarian for beginners. We use numbers every single day, whether we’re jotting down a phone number or checking prices at the grocery store. To get a nice headstart, study the list below! 

NumberBulgarianPronunciationEnglish
0нулаnulazero
1едноednoone
2двеdvetwo
3триtrithree
4четириchetirifour
5петpetfive
6шестshestsix
7седемsedemseven
8осемosemeight
9деветdevetnine
10десетdesetten

Let’s practice them with a phone number:

+359 / 896 544-271

три пет девет / осем девет шест   пет четири четири  – две седем едно
tri pet devet / osem devet shest      pet chetiri chetiri – dve sedem edno

Learning Bulgarian Numbers Has Many Practical Applications.

3. The Most Common Noun Categories

Once you have the pronouns and numbers down, you should focus your efforts on picking up as many nouns as you can. Nouns are a crucial set of Bulgarian beginner words to learn, as they can be used alone to get an urgent point across or used with a verb to form a complete thought.

Below, we’ve grouped the most essential nouns into categories for your convenience.

Time

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1часchashour
2минутаminutaminute
3секундаsekundasecond
4денdenday
5седмицаsedmitsaweek
6месецmesetsmonth
7годинаgodinayear
8сутринsutrinmorning
9следобедsledobedafternoon
10вечерvecherevening
11понеделникponedelnikMonday
12вторникvtornikTuesday
13срядаsryadaWednesday
14четвъртъкchetvartakThursday
15петъкpetakFriday
16съботаsabotaSaturday
17неделяnedelyaSunday
18времеvremetime
19часовникchasovnikclock

People

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1професияprofesiyaprofession
2господин / г-нgospodin / g-nMr.
3госпожа / г-жаgospozha / g-zhaMrs.
4госпожица / г-цаgospozhitsaMiss 
5роднинаrodninarelative
6семействоsemeystvofamily
7приятелpriyatelfriend
8бащаbashtafather
9майкаmaykamother
10братbratbrother
11сестраsestrasister
12бабаbabagrandmother
13дядоdyadograndfather
14чичоchichouncle
15леляlelyaaunt
16братовчедbratovchedcousin (male)
17братовчедкаbratovchedkacousin (female)
18съпругsaprughusband
19съпругаsaprugawife

Family

Places Around Town

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1центърtsentarcity center
2кварталkvartalborough
3магазинmagazinshop
4училищеuchilishteschool
5болницаbolnitsahospital
6общинаobshtinamunicipality
7аптекаaptekapharmacy
8паркparkpark
9университетuniversitetuniversity
10библиотекаbibliotekalibrary
11църкваtsarkvachurch
12градgradcity
13столицаstolitsacapital
14държаваdarzhavacountry

School/Office Essentials

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1тетрадкаtetradkanotebook
2учебникuchebniktextbook
3химикалhimikalpen
4моливmolivpencil
5гумаgumaeraser
6линияliniyaruler
7папкаpapkafolder
8столstolchair
9бюроbyurodesk
10компютърkompyutarcomputer
11клавиатураklaviaturakeyboard
12мишкаmishkamouse
13екранekranscreen
14лаптопlaptoplaptop
15дъска daskaboard
16маркерmarkermarker
17пастелpastelcrayon
18рафтraftshelf

Body Parts

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1окоokoeye
2ухоuhoear
3устаustamouth
4главаglavahead
5косаkosahair
6зъбzabtooth
7ръкаrakahand
8пръстprastfinger / toe
9лакътlakatelbow
10рамоramoshoulder
11коремkoremabdomen
12кракkrakleg
13мускулmuskulmuscle
14нокътnokatnail
15носnosnose
16брадичкаbradichkachin
17гръбgrabback
18кръстkrastwaist
19бедроbedrothigh
20вратvratneck


Food

Food
No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1хранаhranafood
2хлябhlyabbread
3месоmesomeat
4яйцеyaytseegg
5сиренеsirenecheese
6кашкавалkashkavalyellow cheese
7млякоmlyakomilk
8плодplodfruit
9зеленчукzelenchukvegetable
10ябълкаyabalkaapple
11крушаkrushapear
12портокалportokalorange
13мандаринаmandarinatangerine
14диняdinyawatermelon
15пъпешpapeshmelon
16ягодаyagodastrawberry
17черешаchereshacherry
18малинаmalinaraspberry
19морковmorkovcarrot
20картофkartofpotato
21зелеzelecabbage
22тикваtikvapumpkin
23цвеклоtsveklobeets
24карфиолkarfiolcauliflower
25броколиbrokolibroccoli


4. Bulgarian Verbs: Add More Activity to Your Knowledge

Add More Activity to Your Knowledge

There are many different verbs that Bulgarian beginners will benefit from learning early on. We’ve created two lists: one for verbs you might use to describe your daily routine and another for miscellaneous verbs you’ll hear often.

Daily Routine Verbs

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1събуждам сеsabuzhdam sewake up
2ставамstavamget up
3мия сеmiya sewash up
4закусвамzakusvamhave breakfast
5обядвамobyadvamhave lunch
6вечерямvecheryamhave dinner
7работяrabotyawork
8учаuchastudy
9отивамotivamgo
10връщам сеvrashtam sereturn
11пазарувамpazaruvamshop
12купувамkupuvambuy
13обличамoblichamdress
14събличамsablichamundress
15обувамobuvamput on shoes
16събувамsabuvamtake off shoes
17мисляmislyathink
18мечтаяmechtayadream
19творяtvoryacreate
20готвяgotvyacook
21чистяchistyaclean
22прибирамpribiramclean up
23разхвърлямrazhvarlyamscatter
24слушамslushamlisten
25гледамgledamwatch

Other Common Verbs

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1четаchetaread
2пишаpishawrite
3вземамvzemampick up
4обичамobichamlove
5харесвамharesvamlike
6мразяmrazyahate
7давамdavamgive
8правяpravyado
9ходяhodyawalk
10разхождам сеrazhozhdam setake a walk
11карамkaramdrive
12пияpiyadrink
13ямyameat
14питамpitamask
15отговарямotgovaryamanswer
16усмихвам сеusmihvam sesmile
17търсяtarsyalook for
18намирамnamiramfind
19бягамbyagamrun
20разбирамrazbiramunderstand
21показвамpokazvamshow
22научавамnauchavamlearn
23говоряgovoryaspeak
24мълчаmalchakeep silent
25искамiskamwant


5. Describe Emotions with Bulgarian Adjectives

Learning the most popular Bulgarian adjectives will allow you to describe different people, things, feelings, and emotions more easily. We’ve divided them into four different groups.

Adjectives that describe people

All the adjectives in this section are presented in two forms; the first form is masculine and the second is feminine. For example:

  • красив мъж (krasiv mazh) handsome man
  • красива жена (krasiva zhena) – beautiful woman

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1красив / красиваkrasiv / krasivabeautiful 
2симпатичен / симпатичнаsimpatichen / simpatichna cute
3мил / милаmil / milakind
4добър / добраdobar / dobragood
5висок / високаvisok / visokatall
6нисък / нискаnisak / niskashort
7строен / стройнаstroen / stroinaslender
8дебел / дебелаdebel / debelafat
9слаб / слабаslab / slabaslim
10умен / умнаumen / umnaclever
11глупав / глупаваglupav / glupavastupid
12работлив / работливаrabotliv / rabotlivahardworking
13мързелив / мързеливаmarzeliv / marzeliva lazy

Adjectives that describe objects

All the adjectives in this section are presented in three forms: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Unlike in the English language, nouns in Bulgarian are assigned grammatical gender and the adjective used with that noun must agree with it in gender. For example:

  • голям стол (golyam stol) – big chair
  • голяма топка (golyama topka) – big ball
  • голямо легло (golyamo leglo) – big bed

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1голям / голяма / голямоgolyam / golyama / golyamobig
2малък / малка / малкоmalak / malka / malko small
3дълъг / дълга / дългоdalag / dalga / dalgolong
4къс / къса / късоkas / kasa / kasoshort
5пъстър / пъстра / пъстроpastar / pastra / pastro  colorful
6широк / широка / широкоshirok / shiroka / shirokowide
7стъклен / стъклена / стъкленоstaklen / staklena / staklenoglass / made of glass
8метален / метална / метално metalen / metalna / metalno metal / made of metal 
9чуплив / чуплива / чупливоchupliv / chupliva / chuplivofragile
10нов / нова / новоnov / nova / novonew
11стар / стара / староstar / stara / staroold

Adjectives that describe emotions

All the adjectives in this section are presented in two forms: masculine and feminine. It will be useful to know both forms as emotions are usually attributed to people. For example:

  • щастлив мъж (shtastliv mazh) – happy man
  • щастлива жена (shtastliva zhena) – happy woman

But you should still keep in mind that some person-related words are neuter gender. For example:

    момче (momche) – boy
    момиче (momiche) – girl

In the case of the first adjective in the table below, you could easily make the appropriate neuter form of the adjective by changing the ending “-a” from the feminine form to “-o.” For example:

  • щастливо момче (shtastlivo momche) – happy boy
  • щастливо момиче (shtastlivo momiche) – happy girl

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1щастлив / щастлива shtastliv / shtastlivаhappy 
2весел / веселаvesel / veselacheerful
3тъжен / тъжнаtazhen / tazhnasad
4замислен / замисленаzamislen / zamislena thoughtful
5угрижен / угриженаugrizhen / ugrizhena  worried
6самотен / самотнаsamoten / samotna lonely
7изненадан / изненаданаiznenadan / iznenadanasurprised
8усмихнат / усмихнатаusmihnat / usmihnata smiling

Adjectives that describe the weather

We present here only the form for neuter gender, because the word време (vreme), or “weather,” is a neuter noun in Bulgarian. For this reason, when describing the weather outside, we use only adjectives in neuter form. 

Examples:

  • слънчево време (slanchevo vreme) – sunny weather
  • Навън е слънчево. (Navan e slanchevo.) – It is sunny outside.

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1слънчевоslanchevosunny 
2дъждовноdazhdovnorainy
3облачноoblachnocloudy
4ветровитоvetrovitowindy
5хубавоhubavonice
6снежноsnezhnosnowy
7мрачноmrachnogloomy


It's Rainy.

6. Bulgarian Conjunctions

Conjunctions are short words that link together, oppose, or separate other words or phrases in the sentence. Here are some Bulgarian conjunctions that are useful to know:

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1иiand
2ноnobut
3аabut
4илиilior
5обачеobachehowever
6защотоzashtotobecause
7въпреки чеvapreki chealthough / even though
8тъй катоtay katoas

Here are a few samples of their usage:

  • Не исках да те обидя, а да ти покажа грешката.
    Ne iskah da te obidya, a da ti pokazha greshkata.
    I didn’t want to offend you, but I just wanted to show you the mistake.
  • Аз те обичам, въпреки че понякога не слушаш.
    Az te obicham, vapreki che ponyakoga ne slushash.
    I love you, even though sometimes you don’t listen to me.

If you’re looking for even more practical everyday Bulgarian words for absolute beginners, check out our list of 100 core Bulgarian words and get studying!

7. Other Must-know Bulgarian Words

To conclude, let’s look at a few helpful lists of Bulgarian beginner words related to the local culture!

Bulgarian National Holidays

Here are some of the most common Bulgarian holidays:

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1Нова годинаnova godinaNew Year’s Day
Celebrated on January 1
2Свети Валентинsveti valentinSt. Valentine’s Day
Celebrated on February 14
3Денят на Освобождението на Българияdenyat na osvobozhdenieto na balgariaThe Day of Liberation of Bulgaria
Celebrated on March 3
4Денят на женатаdenyat na zhenataWomen’s Day
Celebrated on March 8
5ВеликденvelikdenEaster
Celebrated on a different date each year
6Денят на трудаdenyat na trudaLabor Day
Celebrated on May 1
7Денят на българската писменостdenyat na balgarskata pismenostThe Day of Bulgarian Culture and Literacy
Celebrated on May 24
8Денят на народните будителиdenyat na narodnite buditeliThe Day of the People’s Awakeners
Celebrated on November 1
9Бъдни вечерbadni vecherChristmas Eve
Celebrated on December 24
10КоледаkoledaChristmas
Celebrated on December 25

    → In this lesson from BulgarianPod101, you’ll learn even more about Bulgarian national holidays.

Bulgarian National Holidays

Must-try Foods in Bulgaria

If you visit a Bulgarian restaurant, it’s definitely worth knowing the words listed below. These are the must-try dishes that you wouldn’t want to miss during your stay in Bulgaria!

No.Bulgarian PronunciationEnglish 
1баницаbanitsabanitsa pastry
2кисело млякоkiselo mlyakoBulgarian yogurt
3тараторtaratorcold yogurt soup
4шопска салатаshopska salatashopska salad
5луканкаlukankatype of dry sausage
6боб чорбаbob chorbabean soup
7погачаpogachaceremonial bread
8пълнени чушки с оризpalneni chushki s orizstuffed peppers with rice
9печено агнеpecheno agnegrilled whole lamb

Bulgarian Cold Yogurt Soup - Tarator

The Most Popular Bulgarian Cities

You may already have heard about the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, but what are the other major Bulgarian cities you might want to visit? Here’s a list of some popular cities in Bulgaria that are preferred tourist destinations.

No.Bulgarian Pronunciation
1СофияSofia
2ПловдивPlovdiv
3ВарнаVarna
4БургасBurgas
5Велико ТърновоVeliko Tarnovo
6ГабровоGabrovo
7СмолянSmolyan
8ТрявнаTryavna
9БанскоBansko
10СозополSozopol
11БалчикBalchik


8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

We believe that this guide to the most common Bulgarian words for beginners will help you build a solid foundation upon which to build your Bulgarian language skills. 

The goal of BulgarianPod101 is to help absolute beginners advance quickly. For this reason, we ensured that this article contained the most essential words in a variety of categories! Once you memorize these words, you should be able to understand native speakers in more beginner-level situations. 

If you create a free lifetime account with us, you’ll gain access to tons of practical lessons that take a fun approach to learning. We even have an entire series of Bulgarian lessons for beginners, which we highly recommend you check out first. 

If you would like to speed up your learning progress even further, you can turn to MyTeacher. This Premium PLUS service allows you to work with a native Bulgarian language expert. He or she will help you learn the basics of vocabulary, grammar, conversations, sentence structure, etc., so you can really start communicating in Bulgarian! 

We’d be happy to hear your feedback about this lesson. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Which of these words did you find most useful, and what are some words you’d still like to learn?

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