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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?

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian

Bulgarian Filler Words: Start Speaking Like a Native

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Fillers are those unnecessary words that people sometimes use without even realizing it. They’re usually associated with slang or lack of education. These parasitic words or expressions interrupt speech and sometimes make it more difficult to understand. The English language is full of filler words, but what about Bulgarian?

There are many Bulgarian filler words, too! BulgarianPod101 has prepared this extensive overview to get you acquainted with them, as you’ll encounter them often in your daily conversations with Bulgarians. It’s interesting to note that fillers in the Bulgarian language are influenced by modern language tendencies and change over time. For the purpose of this article, we’ll be covering some of the most common Bulgarian filler words used today.

Conversation Filler Words
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. What are filler words and why do we use them?
  2. The 10 Most Common Bulgarian Filler Words
  3. Filler Words in Business Jargon
  4. Cons of Filler Words
  5. How to Get Rid of Filler Words in Your Speech
  6. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

1. What are filler words and why do we use them?

If you’ve ever spoken with a Bulgarian, you’ve probably heard some words said so quickly that you didn’t understand their meaning. These filler words bear different meanings, and our goal is to help you better recognize and understand them so that you’ll be more prepared for real-life conversations.

It might sound strange, but filler words are multifunctional. People use them in different situations and for various purposes. Here are some of their most common functions and properties:

    ➢ These are parasite words that have no specific meaning. If you remove them from a sentence, it will become more clear and understandable.
    ➢ They do not change the meaning of the sentence.
    ➢ They help people express their emotions more succinctly.
    ➢ Filler words are sometimes used to give the speaker time to think about what to say next.
    ➢ They reveal a kind of linguistic weakness, and are usually used by people who would like to say much more than they actually can.
    ➢ They help the speaker gently approach delicate topics and predispose the listener to them.
    ➢ They are also used to emphasize important points and ideas.
    ➢ Filler words may be used to repeat the same idea again in different words.

Taking into account the various uses of filler words, it’s easier to understand why we’ve dedicated an entire article to them. Let’s now look at some specific filler words in Bulgarian and their English meanings.

2. The 10 Most Common Bulgarian Filler Words

#1

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Ами… (Ami…)“Well…”

You’ll hear this filler word quite often during conversations with Bulgarians. It’s usually placed at the beginning of the sentence, especially if the speaker is about to give a negative response and isn’t sure what to say next. It can be used before phrases like “I don’t know,” “I can’t,” “alright then,” etc.

A:
Здравей, свободен ли си днес следобед? 
Zdravey, svoboden li si dnes sledobed?
“Hi, are you free this afternoon?”

B:
Ами, не знам още. Трябва да си проверя графика. 
Ami, ne znam oshte. Tryabva da si proverya grafika.
“Well, I don’t know yet. I need to check my schedule.”

A:
Ами, добре тогава. Ще ти се обадя по-късно. 
Ami, dobre togava. Shte ti se obadya po-kasno.
“Well, alright then. I’ll call you later.”

#2

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Абе… (Abe…)“Well…”

Another frequently used filler in Bulgarian, абе (abe) is quite similar to the previous word we looked at and is placed at the beginning of a sentence or expression. While the previous one could go unnoticed, this filler is quite annoying and typically used in “low culture” speech. 

Абе, ти сега не ми ги разправяй на мен тези неща! 
Abe, ti sega ne mi gi razpravyay na men tezi neshta!
Well, don’t tell these things to me!” / “I know better!”

Абе, аз зная по-добре какво да правя. 
Abe, az znaya po-dobre kakvo da pravya.
“Well, I know better what to do.”

Абе, ти няма ли най-после да проумееш това! 
Abe, ti nyama li nay-posle da proumeesh tova!
“Well, won’t you finally understand this!”

Won't You Finally Understand This!

#3

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Значи… (Znachi…)“So…” / “Then…”

This Bulgarian filler is used unintentionally by a speaker who is trying to explain something or describe a situation. It can be inserted at any point in a sentence. 

Note: The filler word значи should not be confused with the verb значи, which is translated in English as “means” for the third person singular. Be aware that this word, therefore, can be used either as a filler or as a word with actual meaning. 

Отивам значи вчера на магазина и купувам значи две бири. 
Otivam znachi vchera na magazina i kupuvam znachi dve biri.
“So, I went to the store yesterday and so I bought two beers.”

Значи днес не можеш да излезеш с мен на разходка? Добре, значи, ще отида сам. 
Znachi dnes ne mozhesh da izlezesh s men na razhodka? Dobre, znachi, shte otida sam.
“So you can’t go out for a walk with me today? Okay, then I’ll go alone.”

#4

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Нали… / Нали разбираш… (Nali… / Nali razbirash…)“You understand…”“You know…” / “You see…”

These Bulgarian filler words are quite common and are normally used when the speaker is searching for affirmation or confirmation from the listener. Note that the filler нали can be replaced by the previous filler значи, as they have nearly the same meaning.

Нали разбираш, не ми беше много лесно. Nali razbirash, ne mi beshe mnogo lesno.“You see, it wasn’t very easy for me.”
Разхождам се нали в парка и изведнъж нали пред мен застава Силвестър Сталоун. Razhozhdam se nali v parka i izvednazh nali pred men zastava Silvestar Staloun.“You know, I’m walking in the park, and suddenly, you know, Sylvester Stallone is standing in front of me.”
I'm Walking in the Park...

#5

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Виж… / Виж сега… (Vizh… / Vizh sega…)“Look…” / “Look now…”“Look…” / “Here’s the thing…”

Both of these Bulgarian fillers are used to attract the attention of the listener. They’re usually placed at the beginning of the sentence in order to emphasize the importance of what’s about to be said.

Виж, не искам да те обидя. Vizh, ne iskam da te obidya.“Look, I don’t want to offend you.”
Виж сега, минаваш по този път, завиваш наляво и си на точното място. Vizh sega, minavash po tozi pat, zavivash nalyavo i si na tochnoto myasto.“Here’s the thing, you should go this way, then turn left and you’ll be in the right place.”

#6

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Всъщност… / Фактически… (Vsashtnost… / Fakticheski…)“In fact…”“Actually…”

While these Bulgarian fillers are perfectly fine to use in speech, they can become irritating to the listener if used too much. These fillers cannot be used at the end of a sentence; the speaker adds them when he would like more time to form his thoughts.

Аз всъщност исках да кажа друго. Az vsashtnost iskah da kazha drugo.“I actually wanted to say something else.”
Фактически до сега нищо не съм постигнал. Fakticheski do sega nishto ne sam postignal.“In fact, I have not achieved anything so far.”

#7

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Сещаш се… (Seshtash se…)“You guess…”“You know…”

This filler aims to keep the other party interested during a conversation. It’s very close to нали / нали разбираш above. By using it, the speaker wants to make the other party empathetic to what they’re saying and to provoke more interest in it. Using this filler too often is indicative of a low culture of speaking.

Here’s how this word might be used in a phone conversation: 
Вчера бях, сещаш се, в ресторанта и там дойде управителят и сещаш се какво ми казаче съм уволнен. Vchera byah, seshtash se, v restoranta i tam doyde upravitelyat i seshtash se kakvo mi kazache sam uvolnen.“Yesterday I was, you know, in the restaurant and the manager came there and, you know, what he told me—that I am fired.”

You might be interested in studying more about how to make a phone call in Bulgarian.

You Are Fired!

#8

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Викам… (Vikam…)“I shout…”“I intend to…” / “I tell…”

This Bulgarian filler is typically used to replace the verbs смятам (smyatam) – “I intend” and казвам (kazvam) – “I tell.”

Викам да направя една баница. Vikam da napravya edna banitsa.“I plan to make banitsa.”
Обаждам се аз по телефона на мой приятел и му викам да излезем заедно, а той ми вика, че не може. Obazhdam se az po telefona na moy priyatel i mu vikam da izlezem zaedno, a toy mi vika, che ne mozhe.“I called my friend and told him to go out together, and he told me that he can’t.”

#9

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Човек… / мен… (Chovek… / Man…)“Human” / “Man”“Man…”

These two filler words are equivalent in meaning and are comparatively new, used mainly by young adults and teenagers in Bulgaria. It’s obvious that the filler word мен is the transliteration of the English filler “man,” which probably entered the Bulgarian vernacular via American movies. Both fillers are used to address the interlocutor.
* Note that the filler word мен should not be confused with the personal pronoun мен.* Note also that there are regional variations with the same semantic meaning. For example, people in Sofia could use the filler word брат (“bro” / “brother”), while people in Plovdiv prefer the expression майна (“dude”).

Човек, да знаеш какво ми се случи вчера! Chovek, da znaesh kakvo mi se sluchi vchera!“Man, you know what happened to me yesterday!”
Вървя си по пътя, мен, и изведнъж чувам познат глас зад мен. Varvya si po patya, men, i izvednazh chuvam poznat glas zad men.“I’m walking down the road, man, and suddenly I hear a familiar voice behind me.”

#10

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
В смисъл / тоест… (V smisal / toest…)“I mean…” / “In other words…”

These Bulgarian filler words are similar to всъщност and фактически. They’re used to make something more clear, but when they’re used too often, it can become irritating for the listener.

A:Трябва да започнете да учите повече! Tryabva da zapochnete da uchite poveche!“You have to study more!”
B:В смисъл? V smisal?“What do you mean?”
A:В смисъл, че ви предстоят изпити. V smisal, che vi predstoyat izpiti.“I mean that you will have to take exams soon.”

Вчера излизам от вкъщи, тоест не на разходка, а до магазина и разбирам, че парите не са в мен. Vchera izlizam ot vkashti, toest ne na razhodka, a do magazina i razbiram, che parite ne sa v men.“Yesterday I left my house, i.e. not for a walk, but to go to the store, and I found out that the money is not with me.”
You Have to Study More!
  • BulgarianPod101 can help you prepare for your approaching Bulgarian proficiency exam with thousands of useful lessons.

Bonus Filler Word

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
такова… (takova…)“this” / “that”

We present here the most universal Bulgarian filler word you’ll hear in your conversations with Bulgarians. Locals can use this filler in place of any word they’re struggling to remember.

In place of a noun
Трябва ми такова… сол. Tryabva mi takova… sol.“I need that… salt.”
In place of a verb
Излизам да таковам… да играя. Izlizam da takovam… da igraya.“I go out to do this… to play.”
* Note that when it replaces a verb, this filler word follows the rules of verb conjugation.
In place of an adjective
Тя е толкова такава… хитра. Tya e tolkova takava… hitra.“She is so this… cunning.”
* Note that when it replaces an adjective, this filler word declines differently depending on the gender of the noun.

3. Filler Words in Business Jargon

It’s interesting to note that some of the filler words in spoken Bulgarian have been influenced by the business jargon. We’ve already described two of them: всъщност and фактически, which are equivalent in meaning.

Bulgarian business jargon contains business or technical terms as well as foreign words. Some more examples of Bulgarian filler words taken from business jargon include:

#1

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Буквално… (Bukvalno…)“Literally…”“Literally…”

Това буквално означава да се преместиш в друга държава. Tova bukvalno oznachava da se premestish v druga darzhava.“This literally means moving to another country.”

#2

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Така да се каже… (Taka da se kazhe…)“So to speak…”“So to speak…”

Налага се, така да се каже, да направим голяма промяна. Nalaga se, taka da se kazhe, da napravim golyama promyana.“We have to make a big change, so to speak.”

#3

BulgarianLiterallyEnglish Equivalent
Практически… (Prakticheski…)“Practically…”“Practically…”

Той е практически навсякъде. Toy e prakticheski navsyakade.“He is practically everywhere.”
He Is Practically Everywhere.

BulgarianPod101 will help you sound like a native Bulgarian speaker with the following list of essential idioms.

4. Cons of Filler Words

While using the occasional filler in Bulgarian can help you buy time to organize your thoughts, they can easily become a bad habit. Filler words add no value to a sentence, and they also make speech or writing more difficult to understand by interrupting its flow.

If you find yourself using fillers unintentionally, it’s a good idea to learn how to limit their use in your everyday life. Which brings us to our next section…

Filler Words Irritate Listeners

5. How to Get Rid of Filler Words in Your Speech

When using filler words becomes a habit, it’s difficult (but not impossible) to stop. Just don’t give up! There are some techniques that can help:

  • Record yourself speaking: Listen to your speech to find out how many filler words you use and try to make another recording without them. This practical exercise has to be repeated often to remove the bad habit, especially if you’re planning to speak with a really important person.
  • Don’t speak too much: Try to form your thoughts with fewer words than usual. It’s more important to speak clearly and get to the point.
  • Keep silent for a few seconds: It’s better to make a pause in speech while thinking than to fill the time with unnecessary expressions.

Make a jar or bottle for fines: Put a coin inside every time you catch yourself using a filler word. This will motivate you to use them less often.

Jar for Fines

Feeling ambitious now? BulgarianPod101 encourages you to try out the following list of language learning goals for the month.

6. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

We hope that this Bulgarian conversation filler words overview will help you recognize and understand fillers in your conversations with Bulgarians. 

It’s a good idea to get familiar with this Bulgarian filler words list so that you can sound more like a native speaker and better understand conversations. If you would like to advance your Bulgarian language knowledge and practice with a private Bulgarian teacher, you can take advantage of BulgarianPod101’s  MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members. 

We’ll be glad to hear your feedback about this article. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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Bulgarian Love Phrases: Say “I Love You,” in Bulgarian

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Maybe you remember that old Beatles song All You Need is Love.

It seems to be true, because every single person—from little babies to old men or women—needs to love and be loved by someone. But while giving and receiving love is important, so is knowing how to express that love. Doing this properly can work miracles in your life. 

Does your potential love interest or spouse happen to be a native Bulgarian speaker? Then you’re in the right place! 

In this detailed overview of how to say “I love you,” in Bulgarian, we’ll help you express your true feelings in your partner’s mother tongue. Whether your goal is to make an attractive Bulgarian fall in love with you or to strengthen the bond you have with your partner, these Bulgarian phrases about love will help you navigate through each phase of your relationship. 

The best part? Learning love phrases in Bulgarian is just the beginning. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend who speaks the language might inspire you to continue your studies! And having a romantic partner to practice with can make the experience that much more exciting and fulfilling. 

What are you waiting for? It’s time to sweep your partner off their feet! 

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines and More
  2. Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More
  3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More
  4. Endearment Terms
  5. Must-know Love Quotes
  6. Building a Love Dialogue
  7. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

1. Confess Your Affection: Pick-up Lines and More

The first thing you need to know is how to confess your affection. In this chapter, we’ll give you tips and phrases to help you…

  • …introduce yourself in Bulgarian.
  • …invite your love interest on a first date.
  • …make a good impression on your date.
  • …give a compliment to show them you really care.

Invite Him/Her on a First Date

Let’s start with the basics: 

  • Здравей, как се казваш?
    Zdravey, kak se kazvash?
    Hello, what’s your name?
  • Казвам се Джон и съм от Англия.
    Kazvam se John i sam ot Angliya.
    My name is John and I’m from England.

In the phrase above, you can replace John and England with your own name and home country. Need some help? You can probably find the Bulgarian name of your country in our World Countries vocabulary list.

Next, ask him or her what they do for a living.

  • Какво работиш?
    Kakvo rabotish?
    What’s your job?

Now, you can tell him/her about your occupation. Here’s an example:

  • Аз съм учител/ка по английски.
    Az sam uchitel/ka po angliyski.
    I am an English teacher.

Simply replace English teacher with your own profession. You can find a list of 20 Common Bulgarian Words for Occupations on BulgarianPod101.com. 

Another good question to ask is:

  • Какво обичаш да правиш в свободното си време?
    Kakvo obichash da pravish v svobodnoto si vreme?
    What do you like to do in your free time?

To answer this question yourself, you can say: Обичам да + your hobby. For example:

  • Обичам да се разхождам в парка.
    Obicham da se razhozhdam v parka.
    I like walking in the park.

In this case, you might find our list of Bulgarian Vocabulary for Hobbies very helpful! 

I Like Walking in the Park.

It’s time to become more direct. Let’s try this:

  • Мога ли да те поканя на среща?
    Moga li da te pokanya na sreshta?
    Can I invite you on a date?

We believe that the answer you’ll get will be:

  • Разбира се, с удоволствие!
    Razbira se, s udovolstvie!
    Of course, with pleasure!

Now, don’t forget to give some Bulgarian compliments to show you’re really interested in this relationship. 

  • Изглеждаш прекрасно!
    Izglezhdash prekrasno!
    You look great!
  • Толкова си красива! (for a woman)
    Tolkova si krasiva!
    You are so beautiful!

You can choose from this list of the Top 15 Bulgarian Compliments You Always Want to Hear to surprise your new Bulgarian friend.

Sending a reminder about the date via text or email

To make sure that the person you’ve invited didn’t forget about the date, you can send them a short reminder in a text or email. Here’s a sample reminder you could use:

  • Здравей, как си? Днес ще те чакам в 18 ч.
    Zdravey, kak si? Dnes shte te chakam v 18 chasa.
    Hello, how are you? Today, I will be waiting for you at 6 p.m.

If you would like to be more romantic, you could send the following:

  • Здравей, не спирам да мисля за нашата среща. Нямам търпение да се срещнем! До 18 ч.
    Zdravey, ne spiram da mislya za nashata sreshta. Nyamam tarpenie da se sreshtnem! Do 18 chasa.
    Hi, I keep thinking about our meeting. I can’t wait to meet you! Until 6 p.m.

2. Fall in Deeper: “I Love You,” and More

Falling in Love!

Learning how to say “I love you,” in the Bulgarian language will be a huge step forward in your relationship. As you fall more deeply in love with someone, you begin to experience an array of emotions. While it would be impossible to include phrases for every feeling you might have, we’ve listed several romantic phrases in Bulgarian that you can use to express your love and continued interest. 

  • Много ми харесваш!
    Mnogo mi haresvash!
    I like you very much!
  • Какви прекрасни очи имаш!
    Kakvi prekrasni ochi imash!
    What beautiful eyes you have!
  • Обичам те!
    Obicham te!
    I love you!
  • Мога ли да те целуна?
    Moga li da te tseluna?
    Can I kiss you?
  • Липсваше ми!
    Lipsvashe mi!
    I missed you!
  • Не мога без теб!
    Ne moga bez teb!
    I cannot live without you!

3. Take it One Step Further: “Will You Marry Me?” and More

A romantic relationship may become so strong that both parties desire to get married. This is an important step in life that one should consider before leaping ahead…but if you believe that you’re on the right track and that this is the person you’d like to bind your destiny to, here are the phrases you need to learn:

  • Искам децата ми да приличат на теб!
    Iskam detsata mi da prilichat na teb!
    I want my children to look like you!
  • Искам да остареем заедно!
    Iskam da ostareem zaedno!
    I want us to grow old together!

This is when a man might make his marriage proposal:

  • Ще се омъжиш ли за мен?
    Shte se omazhish li za men?
    Will you marry me?

Or, if the woman proposes to the man: 

  • Ще се ожениш ли за мен?
    Shte se ozhenish li za men?
    Will you marry me?
  • Нека създадем нашето общо бъдеще!
    Neka sazdadem nasheto obshto badeshte!
    Let’s create our common future!

Will You Marry Me?

4. Endearment Terms

All around the world, couples tend to address each other with cute pet names or terms of endearment. There are several common endearment terms in Bulgarian, some quite romantic and others more lighthearted. See our lists below to learn the pronunciation of “my love” in Bulgarian and many other Bulgarian terms of endearment. 

Classic endearment terms

  • Скъпи (Skapi) – Honey [for a man]
  • Скъпа (Skapa) – Honey [for a woman]
  • Любими (Lyubimi) – Darling [for a man]
  • Любима (Lyubima) – Darling [for a woman]
  • Мили (Mili) – Dear
  • Мила (Mila) – Dear
  • Любов моя (Lyubov moya) – My love
  • Обич моя (Obich moya) – My love
  • Щастие мое (Shtastie moe) – My happiness
  • Съкровище (Sakrovishte) – Treasure
  • Принцесо (Printseso) – Princess [for a woman]
  • Бебче (Bebche) – Baby

Animal-based endearment terms

  • Зайче (Zayche) – Bunny
  • Слонче (Slonche) – Diminutive for “elephant”
  • Коте (Kote) – Kitten
  • Писе (Pise) – Kitty
  • Жабчо (Zhabcho) – Diminutive for “frog”

How Are You Today, My Little Frog?

Bird-based endearment terms

  • Славейче (Slaveyche) – Diminutive for “nightingale”
  • Пиленце (Pilentse) – Chick
  • Пате (Pate) – Duckling
  • Гълъбче (Galabche) – Diminutive for “dove”

Nature-based endearment terms

  • Слънчице (Slanchitse) – Little sun
  • Звездичке (Zvezdichke) – Little star
  • Ягодке (Yagodke) – Little strawberry

Sweets-based endearment terms

  • Захарче (Zaharche) – Sugar
  • Бонбонче (Bonbonche) – Sweetie
  • Шоколадче (Shokoladche) – Chocolate
  • Сладкишче (Sladkishche) – Cake
  • Бухтичке (Buhtichke) – Cruller

While we’re still on the topic of sweets, you might be interested in checking out the following list of Bulgarian vocabulary for meals.

I Love You, My Sweetie!

5. Must-know Love Quotes

Much has been said about love and romance over the centuries. What better way to spice up your relationship than by reciting some popular love quotes in Bulgarian to your partner?

If you’ve chosen to call your favorite person Шоколадче (Shokoladche), or “Chocolate,” then you might be interested in the following love quote from Charles Schultz:

  • Всичко, от което се нуждаем, е любов. Но малко шоколад не е излишен.
    Vsichko, ot koeto se nuzhdaem, e lyubov. No malko shokolad ne e izlishen.
    All we need is love. But a little chocolate is not superfluous.

And here’s a must-know love quote by the famous Mahatma Gandhi:

  • Там, където има любов, има живот.
    Tam, kadeto ima lyubov, ima zhivot.
    Where there is love, there is life.

Another love quote is from Martin Luther King, Jr.:

  • Реших, че ще избера любовта. Омразата е твърде тежък товар, за да го нося.
    Reshih, che shte izbera lyubovta. Omrazata e tvarde tezhak tovar, za da go nosya.
    I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Love Quotes

6. Building a Love Dialogue

Now, let’s build a sample dialogue using some of the Bulgarian love expressions we described above.

    Здравей, любов моя! Как си? Липсвашe ми!
       Zdravey, lyubov moya! Kak si? Lipsvashe mi!
       Hello, my love! How are you? I missed you!
    И ти ми липсваше! Постоянно мисля за теб!
       I ti mi lipsvashe! Postoyanno mislya za teb!
       I missed you, too! I think about you all the time!
    Мога ли да те целуна?
       Moga li da te tseluna?
       Can I kiss you?
    Разбира се!
       Razbira se!
       Of course!
    Какви прекрасни очи имаш!
       Kakvi prekrasni ochi imash!
       What beautiful eyes you have!
    Благодаря ти! Обичам те!
       Blagodarya ti! Obicham te!
       Thank you! I love you!
    Ще се омъжиш ли за мен? Нека създадем нашето общо бъдеще!
       Shte se omazhish li za men? Neka sazdadem nasheto obshto badeshte!
       Will you marry me? Let’s create our common future!
    Да! Не мога без теб!
       Da, ne moga bez teb!
       Yes! I cannot live without you!

Hе мога без теб is also the name of a popular Bulgarian love song you might want to listen to.

Love Dialogue

7. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

We hope that we made your day brighter with this overview of Bulgarian love phrases. Now, you can say “I love you,” in Bulgarian and build a deeper love dialogue with your Bulgarian partner. And trust us: He or she will definitely appreciate your efforts! 

BulgarianPod101 aims to help you overcome any language barrier, even in your love life!

We provide tons of practical lessons on the Bulgarian language and culture, as well as specially tailored learning pathways to help you reach your specific goals faster. If you need a more personal approach and extra guidance, you can upgrade to a Premium PLUS subscription to take advantage of our MyTeacher service. Your own personal teacher will help you learn the right vocabulary for any situation—even for asking that lucky man or woman out on a date. 😉 

With our lessons and guidance, you’ll gain the confidence you need to win the heart of your beloved. 

We would love to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments, and let us know which romantic phrases in Bulgarian you found most helpful.

Until next time, happy learning. We’re wishing you success in your love life!

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Learn About Negation in Bulgarian

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Negation is a linguistic tool we use every day. From refusing proposals to answering questions in the negative, there are so many ways we use the word “no” in our daily conversations and social engagements. After all, we can’t possibly agree on everything all the time! 

Learning about negation in Bulgarian grammar is a key element in mastering the language, and we recommend that you study this early on. 

Here are some reasons why it’s good to learn how to say no in Bulgarian:

  • You’ll be able to express an opposite opinion.
  • You can react negatively when someone speaks untruthfully.
  • You can disagree with any offensive declaration. 
  • You can express to others your inability to do something.
  • You can state that something never happened.

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this Bulgarian negation overview to guide you through this complex topic. You’ll learn how to form negative sentences in Bulgarian, how to say no, how to answer questions in the negative, and more.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Negate a Statement
  2. Making Negative Sentences with the Verb “To Bе”
  3. Giving a Negative Response to a Question
  4. Other Negating Words and Phrases
  5. Double Negatives
  6. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian
  7. Answers to the Practical Exercises

1. Negate a Statement

Let’s start by learning how to negate a positive statement in Bulgarian. For your convenience, we’ve also included some practical exercises to help you get the hang of it! 

Here are the positive statements:

  • Аз съм американец. / Ние сме американци.
    (Az sam amerikanets. / Nie sme amerikantsi.)
    I am an American. / We are Americans.
  • Аз уча български, защото смятам да пътувам за България.
    (Az ucha balgarski, zashtoto smyatam da patuvam za Balgariya.)
    I study Bulgarian because I plan to travel to Bulgaria.
I Study Bulgarian because I Plan to Travel to Bulgaria.

To make these positive statements negative in the simple present tense, we have to add the negative particleне” in front of the verb. The negative versions of these sentences look like this:

  • Аз не съм американец. / Ние не сме американци.
    (Az sam amerikanets. / Nie sme amerikantsi.)
    I am not an American. / We are not Americans.
  • Аз не уча български, защото не смятам да пътувам за България.
    (Az ne ucha balgarski, zashtoto ne smyatam da patuvam za Balgariya.)
    I don’t study Bulgarian because I do not plan to travel to Bulgaria.

Learning Bulgarian vocabulary for nationalities is not an easy thing. To help you out, here’s a list of 35 nationalities and how they’re pronounced in Bulgarian.

Practical exercise: Making affirmative statements negative in the simple present tense

It seems simple, right? Just figure out where the verb is located and put the negative particle before it. Now, practice negation in Bulgarian yourself with the following sentences: 

  • Аз обичам да ходя на ресторант.
    (Az obicham da hodya na restorant.)
    I like going to restaurants.
  • Тя живее в къща.
    (Tya zhivee v kashta.)
    She lives in a house.
  • Те работят в тази фирма.
    (Te rabotyat v tazi firma.)
    They work for this company.

You can check your answers at the end of this article.

Negate a statement in the future tense

When the statement you would like to negate is in the future tense, a different negative particle is used instead of “не.” In this case, the negative particle “няма да” (nyama da), meaning “won’t,” should replace the Bulgarian future tense particle “ще” (shte), meaning “will.” 

Let’s make it more clear by providing an example. Locate the particle “ще” first.

  • Когато науча български, ще се върна в Америка.
    (Kogato naucha balgarski, shte se varna v Amerika.)
    When I learn Bulgarian, I will return to America.

Now let’s replace the particle “ще” with the negative particle “няма да.”

  • Когато науча български, няма да се върна в Америка.
    (Kogato naucha balgarski, nyama da se varna v Amerika.)
    When I learn Bulgarian, I will not return to America.

By the way, BulgarianPod101 can help you start using the future tense to make plans and appointments in this lesson.

Practical exercise: Negate a statement in the future tense

Now, it’s your turn to make a negative statement in the future tense. Try the following sentences:

  • Утре ще ходя на ресторант.
    (Utre shte hodya na restorant.)
    I’m going to a restaurant tomorrow.
  • Тя ще живее в тази къща.
    (Tya shte zhivee v tazi kashta.)
    She will live in this house.
  • Те ще работят в тази фирма.
    (Te shte rabotyat v tazi firma.)
    They will work for this company.

You can check your answers at the end of this article.

I'm Going to a Restaurant Tomorrow.

2. Making Negative Sentences with the Verb “To Bе”

When building Bulgarian negation sentences with the verb съм (sam), you need to follow the same principle as with the other verbs: The negative particle “не” should be placed in front of the verb съм

Let’s start with affirmative examples. We’ll provide two versions of each sentence (for masculine and feminine gender, respectively) in the first person singular:

masculinefeminine 
Аз съм българин. 
(Az sam balgarin.)
I am Bulgarian.
Аз съм българка. 
(Az sam balgarка.)
I am Bulgarian.
Аз съм тъжен.
(Az sam tazhen.)
I am sad.
Аз съм тъжна. 
(Az sam tazhnа.)
I am sad.
Ние сме млади.
(Nie sme mladi.)
We are young.

Now, let’s make these sentences negative. Note that, in contrast to the English language where the negative particle not is placed after the verb “to be,” the particle не comes before the verb “to be” in Bulgarian. 

masculinefeminine 
Аз не съм българин.
(Az ne sam balgarin.)
I am not Bulgarian.
Аз не съм българка.
(Az ne sam balgarка.)
I am not Bulgarian.
Аз не съм тъжен.
(Az ne sam tazhen.)
I am not sad.
Аз не съм тъжна.
(Az ne sam tazhnа.)
I am not sad.
Ние не сме млади.
(Nie ne sme mladi.)
We are not young.

We Are Not Young, but We Are Young at Heart.

Practical exercise: Making negative sentences with the verb “to bе”

Ready to practice this essential skill? Each of these sentences contains a conjugated form of the verb “to be.” Try to make them negative! 

  • Колата е бърза.
    (Kolata e barza.)
    The car is fast.
  • Времето е хубаво.
    (Vremeto e hubavo.)
    The weather is nice.
  • Хората са добри.
    (Horata sa dobri.)
    People are good.
  • Те са мълчаливи днес.
    (Te sa malchalivi dnes.)
    They are silent today.

You can check your answers at the end of this article.

3. Giving a Negative Response to a Question

It’s time to learn how to give negative answers to questions that others ask you. Here are three examples, each one for a different scenario: 

With a possessive pronoun

    – Този телефон твой ли е?
       (Tozi telefon tvoy li e?)
       Is this phone yours?
    – Не, не е мой.
       (Ne, ne e moy.)
       No, it’s not mine.

With the verb to be

    – Ти от Бразилия ли си?
       (Ti ot Braziliya li si?)
       Are you from Brazil?
    – Не, не съм от Бразилия.
       (Ne, ne sam ot Braziliya.)
       No, I’m not from Brazil.

With a common verb 

    – Ти обичаш ли ме?
       (Ti obichash li me?)
       Do you love me?
    – Не, не те обичам.
       (Ne, ne te obicham.)
       No, I don’t love you.
Do You Love Me?

Practical exercise: Giving a negative response to a question

Your next task is to answer the following questions negatively. 

  • Ти помагаш ли му?
    (Ti pomagash li mu?)
    Are you helping him?
  • Ти учиш ли?
    (Ti uchish li?)
    Do you study?
  • Ти знаеш ли това?
    (Ti znaesh li tova?)
    Do you know that?
  • Ти млад ли си?
    (Ti mlad li si?)
    Are you young?

A hint: Follow the last example (With a common verb) from above to answer the first three questions and the second example (With the verb to be) for the last one. You can check whether your answers are correct at the end of this article.

    One more task:

Alter the following question for the feminine gender and answer it negatively, too:

  • Ти млад ли си?
    (Ti mlad li si?)
    Are you young?

4. Other Negating Words and Phrases

In addition to Bulgarian negative particles, there are some other negating words that make sentences negative. It’s interesting to note that these words have to be used in combination with the negative particle “не” in order to build a grammatically correct negative sentence.

BulgarianEnglish
нищо (nishto) – should be used with “неnothing
никой (nikoy) – should be used with “неnobody 
никога (nikoga) – should be used with “неnever
не мога (ne mogaI cannot
не трябва (ne tryabva)should not / must not

Examples:

  • Нищо не ми трябва.
    (Nishto ne mi tryabva.)
    I don’t need anything.
  • Никой не идва.
    (Nikoy ne idva.)
    Nobody is coming.
  • Никога не закъснявам.
    (Nikoga ne zakasnyavam.)
    I’m never late.
  • Аз не мога да дойда на работа днес.
    (Az ne moga da doyda na rabota dnes.)
    I can’t come to work today.
  • Не трябва да работя много.
    (Ne tryabva da rabotya mnogo.)
    I don’t have to work hard.

Practical exercise: Negating words and phrases

Make the following sentences negative in Bulgarian by adding the negative words in parentheses to them. Hint: Don’t forget to add the negative particle не.

  • Разбирам. (add нищо)
    (Razbiram.)
    I understand.
  • Говоря с непознати. (add никога)
    (Govorya s nepoznati.)
    I’m talking to strangers.
  • Чува какво говоря. (add никой)
    (Chuva kakvo govorya.)
    He hears what I’m saying.

5. Double Negatives

Double Negatives

Double negatives are typical in the Bulgarian language. As we saw in the previous section, the negative pronouns (like никой) can only be used with the negative form of the verb.

  • Никой престъпник не остава ненаказан.
    (Nikoy prestapnik ne ostava nenakazan.)
    No criminal goes unpunished.

In the sentence above, the Bulgarian negative pronoun (никой) is equivalent to the English word “no.”

  • Нищо не виждам в тъмното.
    (Nishto ne vizhdam v tamnoto.)
    I don’t see anything in the dark.
  • Не приемам никакви предложения.
    (Ne priemam nikakvi predlozheniya.)
    I do not accept any suggestions.

6. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this overview of Bulgarian negation to help you better understand how it works so you can start using it in your daily conversations with Bulgarians. We believe that this explanation and the exercises we provided can help you quickly overcome the language barrier and start speaking freely.

If you feel like you need some additional help for that, you can check out our MyTeacher service, which allows you to study and practice with your own personal Bulgarian tutor. He or she can help give you the confidence you need to start speaking Bulgarian on your own. 

Before you go: Did you find these practical exercises challenging? What exactly did you find most challenging about them? We would love to hear from you, so please share your thoughts in the comments below. 

And now, it’s time to check your answers!

7. Answers to the Practical Exercises


Answers to practical exercise: Making affirmative statements negative

  • Аз не обичам да ходя на ресторант.
    (Az ne obicham da hodya na restorant.)
    I don’t like going to restaurants.
  • Тя не живее в къща.
    (Tya ne zhivee v kashta.)
    She doesn’t live in a house.
  • Те не работят в тази фирма.
    (Te ne rabotyat v tazi firma.)
    They don’t work for this company.

Answers to practical exercise: Negate a statement in the future tense

  • Утре няма да ходя на ресторант.
    (Utre nyama da hodya na restorant.)
    I’m not going to a restaurant tomorrow.
  • Тя няма да живее в тази къща.
    (Tya nyama da zhivee v tazi kashta.)
    She will not live in this house.
  • Те няма да работят в тази фирма.
    (Te nyama da rabotyat v tazi firma.)
    They will not work for this company.

Answers to practical exercise: Making negative sentences with the verb “to bе”

  • Колата не е бърза.
    (Kolata ne e barza.)
    The car is not fast.
  • Времето не е хубаво.
    (Vremeto ne e hubavo.)
    The weather is not nice.
  • Хората не са добри.
    (Horata ne sa dobri.)
    People are not good.
  • Те не са мълчаливи днес.
    (Te ne sa malchalivi dnes.)
    They are not silent today.

Answers to practical exercise: Giving a negative response to a question

  • Ти помагаш ли му?
    (Ti pomagash li mu?)
    Are you helping him?
    – Не, не му помагам.
       (Ne, ne mu pomagam.)
       No, I’m not helping him.
  • Ти учиш ли?
    (Ti uchish li?)
    Do you study?
    – Не, не уча.
       (Ne, ne ucha.)
       No, I’m not studying.
  • Ти знаеш ли това?
    (Ti znaesh li tova?)
    Do you know that?
    – Не, не зная това.
       (Ne, ne znaya tova.)
       No, I don’t know that.
  • Ти млад ли си?
    (Ti mlad li si?)
    Are you young?
    – Не, не съм млад.
       (Ne, ne sam mlad.)
       No, I’m not young.

    One more task:

masculinefeminine 
Ти млад ли си?
(Ti mlad li si?)
Are you young?
Ти млада ли си?
(Ti mladа li si?)
Are you young?
Не, не съм млад.
(Ne, ne sam mlad.)
No, I’m not young.
Не, не съм млада.
(Ne, ne sam mlada.)
No, I’m not young.

Answers to practical exercise: Negating words and phrases

  • Нищо не разбирам.
    (Nishto ne razbiram.)
    I do not understand anything.
  • Никога не говоря с непознати.
    (Nikoga ne govorya s nepoznati.)
    I never talk to strangers.
  • Никой не чува какво говоря.
    (Nikoy ne chuva kakvo govorya.)
    Nobody hears what I’m saying.
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Bulgarian Tenses Overview: Make the Hardest Part Easier

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Even if you have a solid vocabulary base, your communication is going to be quite limited unless you know how to use tenses. While they may seem intimidating, studying the Bulgarian tenses will open up a whole new world to you and fill your life with so many different possibilities. 

Just imagine: Being able to talk about the present, past, and future will allow you to tell your Bulgarian friend what you’re up to at the moment, what happened yesterday, or what your plans are for the future. 

In this detailed guide, BulgarianPod101 will cover all nine verb tenses in Bulgarian grammar and provide you with examples of how to use them. We know that tenses are probably the hardest part of learning a foreign language, so we’ve tried to make our guide as simple and useful as possible. 

Let’s get started.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Bulgarian Language Specifics
  2. Present Tense
  3. Past Tenses
  4. Future Tenses
  5. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian Tenses

1. Bulgarian Language Specifics

Before we delve into verb tenses in the Bulgarian language, let’s take a look at three of the essential specifics that distinguish Bulgarian from most other languages.

No infinitive form

Instead of infinitive verb forms like those found in English, Russian, and many other languages, the Bulgarian language has a basic verb form that is first person singular, present tense. This means that when you look for specific verbs in the dictionary, you’ll find their forms for first person:

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Bulgarian verb conjugations

There are three verb conjugations in Bulgarian, categorized based on the stem form in third person singular, present tense. 

ConjugationStem vowelStem form (3rd pers., sing., present tense)Base form (1st pers., sing., present tense)
1st четечета
2ndговори, мислиговоря, мисля
3rd-а, -япита, отговаряпитам, отговарям

He Reads an Interesting Book

Examples:

1st Conjugation

  • Той чете интересна книга, а аз чета вестник.
    Toy chete interesna kniga, a az cheta vestnik.
    He reads an interesting book and I read a newspaper.

3rd Conjugation

  • Аз питам, а той отговаря.
    As pitam, a toy otgovarya.
    I ask, and he answers.

    Practical Exercise No. 1 – Conjugations

Determine the conjugation of the following words, placed in third person singular, present tense:

разбира (razbira), understands – Conjugation No. ____
знае (znae), knows – Conjugation No. ____
учи (uchi), studies – Conjugation No. ____
играе (razbira), plays – Conjugation No. ____
вярва (vyarva), believes – Conjugation No. ____
работи (raboti), works – Conjugation No. ____
мечтае (mechtae), dreams – Conjugation No. ____


    Practical Exercise No. 2 – Conjugations

Using the table from Bulgarian Verb Conjugations, try to translate the following sentence into Bulgarian:

                   She doesn’t speak, because she thinks a lot.

Bulgarian:

Bulgarian auxiliary verbs

The Bulgarian language features two auxiliary verbs: съм (sam) and ща (shta). Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

  • съм (sam) – to be

    This verb is widely used in constructing complex verb forms. съм and its derivatives (for the past and future tenses) play an important role in forming different tenses.

  • ща (shta) – to want

    This verb is used only for future tense forms. To form verbs in the future tense and the future perfect tense, its derivative ще (shtе), or “will,” should be used. Over time, this word has lost its meaning of “want to” and is now considered to be a particle meaning “will.”

    To form the other future tenses (Future in the Past & Future Perfect in the Past), which will be discussed below in detail, we need to use the aorist form of ща, which is щял (shtyal), meaning “would.”

Examples: 

    ➢ Аз съм учител.
        Az sam uchitel.
        I am a teacher. – Present Tense

    ➢ Като порасна, ще съм смел като татко.
        Kato porasna, shte sam smel kato tatko.
        When I grow up, I will be as brave as my daddy. – Future Tense

    ➢ Вчера бях у дома.
        Vchera byah u doma.
        Yesterday, I was at home. – Past Tense

I Am a Teacher.
    → BulgarianPod101 covers more important points related to Bulgarian grammar on our website!

2. Present Tense

It’s important to note that there is only one present tense in Bulgarian, which makes things easier. However, don’t forget that there are three conjugations in the Bulgarian language, so you’ll have to learn them in order to use the correct forms in the present tense. 

Here’s a comparison table with endings for all three Bulgarian present tense conjugations.

Personal pronouns1st Conjugation (the verb read)2nd Conjugation(the verb speak)3rd Conjugation(the verb ask)
азчета
(cheta)
говоря
(govorya)
питам
(pitam)
тичетеш
(chetesh)
говориш
(govorish)
питаш
(pitash)
той/тя/точете
(chete)
говори
(govori)
пита
(pita)
ние четем
(chetem)
говорим
(govorim)
питаме
(pitame)
виечетете
(chetete)
говорите
(govorite)
питате
(pitate)
течетат
(chetat)
говорят
(govoryat)
питат
(pitat)

    Practical Exercise No. 3 – Present Tense

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the present tense, based on their conjugation:

Personal pronounsразбирамзнаяучамечтаявярвамиграя
аз
ти
той/тя/то
ние 
вие
те

Helpful Tip: Refer to Practical Exercise No. 1 for the correct conjugations. Then, use the endings of the correct conjugation to make the missing forms. You can find the correct answers at the end of this guide.  

Uses of the Bulgarian Present Tense

Here are a few things to keep in mind when studying the Bulgarian present tense and its uses.

1. The present tense in Bulgarian is equivalent to the English present simple tense

Examples:

    ➢ Аз говоря български език.
        Az govorya balgarski ezik.
        I speak the Bulgarian language.

    ➢ Обичам да чета книги.
        Obicham da cheta knigi.
        I love reading books.

    ➢ Често си мисля за теб!
        Chesto si mislya za teb!
        I often think about you!

2. The Bulgarian present tense, just like the English present simple tense, can be used to express habitual activities.

Examples:

    ➢ Всеки ден уча български език.
        Vseki den ucha balgarski ezik.
        I study Bulgarian every day.

    Чета по една българска книга всяка седмица.
        Cheta po edna balgarska kniga vsyaka sedmitsa.
        I read one Bulgarian book every week.

3. The Bulgarian present tense can also express the English present continuous tense.

Examples:

    ➢ Не ме безпокой, защото в момента чета интересна книга.
        Ne me bezpokoy, zashtoto v momenta cheta interesna kniga.
        Don’t bother me, because I’m reading an interesting book right now.

    ➢ Не ме прекъсвай, докато говоря с други хора.
        Ne me prekasvay, dokato govorya s drugi hora.
        Don’t interrupt me while I’m talking to other people.

4. Just like the English present continuous tense, the Bulgarian present tense can also be used to tell others about future activities we have planned.

Examples:

    ➢ Вечерта пътувам за София.
        Vecherta patuvam za Sofiya.
        I am traveling to Sofia tonight.

    ➢ Утре пристигам в Бургас.
        Utre pristigam v Burgas.
        I am arriving in Burgas tomorrow.

5. The Bulgarian present tense can act as an equivalent to the English present perfect continuous tense to express habitual activities, when the specific activities began in the past and continue to the present moment.

Examples:

    ➢ От три години уча този език.
        Ot tri godini ucha tozi ezik.
        I have been studying this language for three years.

    ➢ От месец чета тази книга, но още не съм я завършил.
        Ot mesets cheta tazi kniga, no oshte ne sam ya zavarshil.
        I have been reading this book for a month, but I have not finished it yet.

6. The Bulgarian present tense can be used to express historical events. In this case, it is equivalent to the past simple tense in English.

    ➢ Кирил и Методий създават славянската азбука през IX век.
        Kiril i Metodiy sazdavat slavyanskata azbuka prez IX vek.
        In the IX century, Cyril and Methodius created the Slavic alphabet.

    ➢ След смъртта на цар Симеон Велики, на престола се качва синът му Петър.
        Sled smartta na tsar Simeon Veliki, na prestola se kachva sinat mu Petar.
        After the death of King Simeon the Great, his son Peter ascended the throne.

Learn Bulgarian Tenses to Sit on the Throne of Knowledge!

3. Past Tenses

There are four Bulgarian past tenses: 

1. the past simple tense (also called aorist)
2. the past continuous tense
3. минало неопределено време (minalo neopredeleno vreme), equivalent to the present perfect tense
4. минало предварително време (minalo predvaritelno vreme), equivalent to the past perfect tense

Past Simple Tense (Aorist)

Aorist describes actions that happened at a definite moment in the past, and it corresponds to the English past simple tense. It’s formed with the stem vowel , , , or (if it follows the consonant ж, ч, or ш). The specific verb endings for this tense are given in the table below:

Personal pronounsEndings for past simple tense
аз– х
ти
той/тя/то
ние -хме
вие-хте
те-ха

There’s no ending in the second or third person singular, which means that these forms will end in the stem vowel. 

Let’s make the past form of the verbs we already studied above:

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronounsVerb with stem vowel * Verb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel
азговорихчетохпитах
тиговоричетепита
той/тя/тоговоричетепита
ние говорихмечетохмепитахме
виеговорихтечетохтепитахте
теговорихачетохапитаха

* Note that the word чета (четох) belongs to a special class of 23 verbs. Their stems end in д, т, з, с, or к and their stem vowel could be or -e in the second and third persons singular. 

Examples:

    ➢ Вчера цял ден четох интересна книга.
        Vchera tsyal den chetoh interesna kniga.
        Yesterday, I read an interesting book all day.

    ➢ Те ни питаха какво да ни купят за подарък.
        Te ni pitaha kakvo da ni kupyat za podarak.
        They asked us what to buy us as a gift.

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 4 – Past Simple Tense

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the past simple tense, based on their stem vowel:

Personal pronounsVerb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel
азмислихучихмечтахиграх
ти
той/тя/то
ние 
вие
те

Bonus exercise:

Try to form the past simple tense of the following verb, knowing that its stem vowel is :

  •  успях (uspyah) – I succeeded
Personal pronounsVerb with stem vowel
азуспях
ти
той/тя/то
ние 
вие
те
    ➢ Here’s an intriguing lesson from BulgarianPod101 about the past simple tense—check it out if you’d like to further explore this topic!

Past Imperfect Tense

The past imperfect tense describes a specific action, which was either in progress or incomplete at a definite moment in the past. It can be recognized when the following time phrases are used in the sentence:

  • тогава (togava) – then
  • по това време (po tova vreme) – at that time
  • в този момент (v tozi moment) – in this moment

    По това време учениците седяха на масата и учеха.
        Po tova vreme uchenitsite sedyaha na masata i ucheha.
        At that time, the students were sitting at the table and studying.

Another usage of this tense is to express that the action is repeated in the past.

    ➢ Всеки вторник ходех в библиотеката и четях.
        Vseki vtornik hodeh v bibliotekata i chetyah.
        Every Tuesday, I was going to the library and reading.

Here are the endings for the past continuous tense:

Personal pronounsEndings for past continuous tense
аз
ти-ше
той/тя/то-ше
ние -хме
вие-хте
те-ха

If you recall the endings for the past simple tense, you’ll notice that the only change comes in the second and third persons singular, where the ending -ше is added after the stem vowel

There are three stem vowels (, , ) that can be used to form the past continuous tense. Let’s see how they’re formed using the verbs we saw above.

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronounsVerb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel
азпитахчетяхмислeх
типиташечетешемислеше
той/тя/топиташечетешемислеше
ние питахмечетяхмемислeхме
виепитахтечетяхтемислeхте
тепитахачетяхамислeха

Examples:

    ➢ Дълго време четях тази голяма книга.
        Dalgo vreme chetyah tazi golyama kniga.
        I was reading this big book for a long time.

    ➢ За какво си мислеше, когато ти се обадих? 
        Za kakvo si misleshe, kogato ti se obadih?
        What were you thinking about when I called you?
What Were You Thinking about When I Called You?

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 5 – Past Continuous Tense

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the past continuous tense, based on their stem vowel:

Personal pronounsVerb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel Verb with stem vowel
азотговаряхучехлежах
ти*
той/тя/то*
ние 
вие
те

We added one new verb: 

  • лежах (lezhah) – I was lying

* Note: The stem vowel for this verb is changed to -e in the second and third persons singular.

Минало неопределено време (minalo neopredeleno vreme) – Present Perfect Tense

This tense is used to describe an action that has taken place in the past, but its result continues in the present. Just like the English present perfect tense, the Bulgarian минало неопределено време tense uses a compound form of the verb съм (to be) in the present tense and the past active participle of the completed form. 

Examples:

    ➢ Гостите са дошли у нас.
        Gostite sa doshli u nas.
        The guests have come to us.

        [meaning that they are still in our house]

    ➢ Някой е взел учебника ми.
        Nyakoy e vzel uchebnika mi.
        Somebody has taken my textbook.

        [meaning that the textbook is still missing]

Let’s see in the table how it’s formed:

Personal pronounsEndings for present perfect tense (Минало неопределено време)
азсъм   -л (-а, -о)*
тиси    -л (-а, -о)*
той
тя
то
е      -л
е      -ла
е      -ло
ние сме   -ли 
виесте   -ли 
теса    -ли 

* For the first and second persons, the ending will depend on the gender:

  •  Without vowel – for masculine gender
  • – for feminine gender 
  • – for neuter gender

Let’s see how to form a few of our verbs into минало неопределено време. You can try the rest of them yourself in the Practical Exercise below.

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronounsчетаговоря
азсъм чел/а/осъм говорил/а/о
тиси чел/а/оси говорил/а/о
той
тя
то
е     чел 
е     
чела 
е     
чело
е     говорил 
е     
говорила 
е     
говорило
ние сме челисме говорили
виесте челисте говорили
теса челиса говорили

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 6 – Present Perfect Tense (минало неопределено време)

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the present perfect tense (минало неопределено време), based on their stem vowel:

Personal pronounsпитамотговаряммисля
азсъм питал/а/осъм отговорил/а/осъм мислил/а/о
ти
тойтято
ние 
вие
те

Минало предварително време (minalo predvaritelno vreme) – Past Perfect Tense

This tense is formed using the forms of the past continuous tense of the verb съм (to be) and the past active participle of the completed form. So the verb forms remain the same as those described above for the Bulgarian минало неопределено време. The only change is in the verb съм, which is used in its past continuous tense: бях (byah).

It’s used to show that an action was completed before another action or moment in the past, which is mentioned or implied. The result of the action affects that past moment.

Examples:

    ➢ Когато влязох, тя вече беше чела писмото.
        Kogato vlyazoh, tya veche beshe chela pismoto.
        When I entered, she had already read the letter.

    ➢ Преди да дойда, той вече беше купил билети за киното.
        Predi da doyda, toy veche beshe kupil bileti za kinoto.
        Before I came, he had already bought tickets for the movie.

When I Entered, She Had Already Read the Letter.

Let’s see how it’s formed:

Personal pronounsEndings for past perfect tense (Минало предварително време)
азбях  -л (-а, -о)*
тибеше   -л (-а, -о)*
той
тя
то
беше      -л   
беше      -ла   
беше      -ло
ние бяхме  -ли 
виебяхте  -ли 
тебяха   -ли 

* For the first and second persons, the ending will depend on the gender:

  •  Without vowel – for masculine gender
  • – for feminine gender 
  • for neuter gender

Let’s see how to form a few of our verbs into минало предварително време. You can try the rest of them yourself in the Practical Exercise below.

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronounsчетаговоря
азбях чел/а/обях говорил/а/о
тибеше чел/а/обеше говорил/а/о
той
тя
то
беше     чел 
беше     
чела 
беше     чело
беше     говорил 
беше     
говорила 
беше     
говорило
ние бяхме челибяхме говорили
виебяхте челибяхте говорили
тебяха челибяха говорили

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 7 – Past Perfect Tense (минало предварително време)

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the past perfect tense (минало предварително време), based on their stem vowel:

Personal pronounsпитамотговаряммисля
азбях питал/а/обях отговорил/а/обях мислил/а/о
ти
той
тя
то
ние 
вие
те

4. Future Tenses

There are four Bulgarian future tenses: 

  • Future Tense
  • Future Perfect Tense
  • Future in the Past Tense
  • бъдеще предварително време в миналото (badeshte predvaritelno vreme v minaloto) – Future Preliminary Tense in the Past

That last one can be described as past future perfect or future perfect in the past.

Future Tense

The Bulgarian future tense is very easy to form. Just take the present simple tense of the verb and place the particle ще (shte), meaning “will,” before the verb form.

Examples:

    ➢ Утре ще отида на кино.
        Utre shte otida na kino.
        Tomorrow, I will go to the cinema.

    ➢ Вечерта ще уча български език.
        Vecherta shte ucha balgarski ezik.
        In the evening, I will study the Bulgarian language.

When negating a verb in the future tense, the impersonal verb няма and the particle да are placed before the present tense verb.

Examples:

    ➢ Аз няма да дойда.
        Az nyama da doyda.
        I will not come.

    ➢ Те няма да четат от книгата днес.
        Te nyama da chetat ot knigata dnes.
        They will not read from the book today.

The Bulgarian future tense corresponds to both the future and future progressive tenses in English.

Let’s see how to form a few of our verbs in the future tense. You can try the rest of them for yourself in the Practical Exercise below.

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronouns1st  Conjugation2nd Conjugation3rd Conjugation
азще четаще говоряще питам
тище четешще говоришще питаш
той/тя/тоще четеще говорище пита
ние ще четемще говоримще питаме
виеще чететеще говоритеще питате
теще четатще говорятще питат

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 8 – Future Tense

If you’ve already filled this table for the present tense exercise, it will be very easy for you to form the future tense:

Personal pronounsразбирамзнаяучамечтаявярвамиграя
аз
ти
той/тя/то
ние 
вие
те

Future Perfect Tense

In Bulgarian, the future perfect tense is called бъдеще предварително време (badeshte predvaritelno vreme). It’s formed using the particle for future tense (ще), the verb съм (to be), and the past active completed participle of the main verb. 

It expresses a future action, which will have been completed by a given future moment. The result of the action affects that future moment. This tense corresponds to the English future perfect tense. 

Examples:

    ➢ До утре вечер ще съм прочел цялата книга.
        Do utre vecher shte sam prochel tsyalata kniga.
        I will have read the whole book by tomorrow night.

    ➢ До тогава хората ще са променили природата.
        Do togava horata shte sa promenili prirodata.
        Until then, people will have changed nature.

Until Then, People Will Have Changed Nature.

It’s easy to form this tense, assuming you’ve already learned how to form минало предварително време. The only difference is that we add the particle ще to the forms.

Personal pronounsчетаговоря
азще съм чел/а/още съм говорил/а/о
тище си чел/а/още си говорил/а/о
той
тя
то
ще е     чел
ще е     чела
ще е     чело
ще е     говорил 
ще е     говорила 
ще е     говорило
ние ще сме челище сме говорили
виеще сте челище сте говорили
теще са челище са говорили

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 9 – Future Perfect Tense (бъдеще предварително време)

Fill in all the forms of the following verbs in the future perfect tense (бъдеще предварително време), based on their stem vowel:

Personal pronounsпитамотговаряммисля
азще съм питал/а/още съм отговорил/а/още съм мислил/а/о
ти
тойтято
ние 
вие
те

Future in the Past Tense

Бъдеще време в миналото (Badeshte vreme v minaloto) is expressed using compound forms. It’s formed using the auxiliary verb ща in the past continuous tense (щях), the particle да, and the main verb in the present simple tense. 

Examples:

    Щях да чета.
        Shtyah da cheta.
        I would (was going to) read.

    Щях да пея.
        Shtyah da peya.
        I would (was going to) sing.

The negative form is expressed using нямаше (nyamashe), which is not conjugated for the person or number, plus the particle да and the main verb in the present simple tense. 

Examples:

    Нямаше да чета.
        Niamashe da cheta.
        I would not (was not going to) read.

    Нямаше да пея.
        Niamashe da peya.
        I would not (was not going to) sing.

This tense expresses an action in the past, which has taken place after another moment in the past. It corresponds to the English future in the past tense. 

Examples:

    ➢ Те щяха да прекарат лятото на това място.
        Te shtyaha da prekarat lyatoto na tova myastо.
        They were going to spend the summer in this place.

    ➢ Влакът щеше да тръгне след 5 минути.
        Vlakat shteshe da tragne sled 5 minuti.
        The train was going to leave in 5 minutes.

Let’s see how to form a few of our verbs in the future in the past tense. You can try the rest of them for yourself in the Practical Exercise below.

  • говоря (govorya) – to talk / I talk
  • чета (cheta) – to read / I read
  • питам (pitam) – to ask / I ask
  • отговарям (otgovariam) – to answer / I answer
  • мисля (mislya) – to think / I think

Personal pronouns1st  Conjugation2nd Conjugation3rd Conjugation
азщях да четащях да говорящях да питам
тищеше да четешщеше да говоришщеше да питаш
той/тя/тощеше да четещеше да говорищеше да пита
ние щяхме да четемщяхме да говоримщяхме да питаме
виещяхте да чететещяхте да говоритещяхте да питате
тещяха да четатщяха да говорятщяха да питат
    ★ Practical Exercise No. 10 – Future in the Past Tense

If you’ve already filled in this table for the present tense, use the table above to form the future in the past tense:

Personal pronounsразбирамзнаявярвамиграя
аз
ти
той/тя/то
ние 
вие
те

Past Future Perfect

Бъдеще предварително време в миналото (badeshte predvaritelno vreme v minaloto), or future preliminary tense in the past, can be described as “past future perfect” or “future perfect in the past.” This is the most complex compound tense.

It represents an action in its relation to a past moment the same way that the simple future tense presents it in relation to the moment of speaking. In other words, these forms mean that the action has passed in relation to a certain past moment, which in turn is forthcoming (future) for the past moment in question.

Let’s give an example:

    ➢ Ако не беше закъснял толкова, досега щяхме да сме излезли.
        Ako ne beshe zakasnyal tolkova, dosega shtyahme da sme izlezli.
        If he hadn’t been so late, we would have been out by now.

It’s formed using the auxiliary verb ща in the past continuous tense (щях), the particle да, the verb съм in the present tense, and the main verb in the present simple tense. This tense is rarely used because of its complex compound form, but to make this guide complete, we’ll show you how to form it just in case:

Personal pronounsчетаговоря
азщях да съм чел/а/ощях да съм говорил/а/о
тищеше да си чел/а/ощеше да си говорил/а/о
той
тя
то
щеше да е     чел
щеше да е     чела
щеше да е     чело
щеше да е     говорил 
щеше да е     говорила 
щеше да е     говорило
ние щяхме да сме челищяхме да сме говорили
виещяхте да сте челищяхте да сте говорили
тещяха да са челищяха да са говорили

    ★ Practical Exercise No. 11 – Past Future Perfect Tense

Try to create the forms of the following verbs in the past future perfect tense:

Personal pronounsпитамотговаряммисля
азщях да съм питал/а/ощях да съм отговорил/а/ощях да съм мислил/а/о
ти
тойтято
ние 
вие
те

5. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian Tenses

We hope you found our overview of Bulgarian verb tenses useful and practical for your study needs. At BulgarianPod101, we always strive to help our students learn Bulgarian in the fastest, easiest, and most effective way possible. 

We provide our students with plenty of lessons in both audio and video formats, in addition to our themed vocabulary lists, Bulgarian-English dictionary, and other free resources. But if you feel like you need a personal coach who can explain the Bulgarian tenses to you in greater detail and practice them with you, consider creating a Premium PLUS account to utilize our MyTeacher service. This service gives you your own personal tutor, who can help you learn and practice at your own pace! 

Before you go: Did you find the practical exercises throughout this article easy, or were they a bit difficult? Remember that you can find the answers for each exercise below. 

Happy learning!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian

How Long Does it Take to Learn Bulgarian?

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The Bulgarian language is not an easy one for English speakers to learn. Being part of the Slavic language family, it differs quite a bit from the Germanic and Romance languages. Not only do learners have to get used to the Cyrillic alphabet, but they must also learn all the noun and adjective endings for different genders, the verb conjugations for different tenses, and so on. 

Feeling intimidated already? 

Don’t worry! BulgarianPod101 is here to encourage you. 

Although it might take some time, learning Bulgarian is possible. In this article, we’ll teach you how to learn Bulgarian faster and more effectively for the best results. 

There are three things you’ll need if you want to master the language: 

  • Motivation. In order to succeed, you need to maintain a high level of motivation during the entire learning process. One way you can do this is to stick to a schedule. Of course, in order to make a good plan, you’ll need to know how long it would take to learn Bulgarian to reach a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level. Don’t worry: Our guide will give you practical information regarding what kind of time commitment you’re looking at.
  • Persistence. You’ll come across some difficult topics and subjects throughout the course of your studies, but it’s important to continue your learning in order to advance. Each challenge you overcome will make you a more successful language learner.
  • Achievement. When you see your first marks of progress, you’ll be motivated to continue your studies. The more achievements you see, the more motivated you’ll be to learn the Bulgarian language in full.
Your Progress Depends on Your Motivation, Persistence, and Achievements!
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. 3 Factors That Play a Huge Role in Bulgarian Language Learning
  2. Comparison Between Bulgarian and Other Languages
  3. How Long Does it Take to Achieve aBeginner Level?
  4. How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Intermediate Level?
  5. How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Advanced Level?
  6. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

3 Factors That Play a Huge Role in Bulgarian Language Learning

There are three main factors that determine how long it takes to learn Bulgarian:

  • Attitude. Having a positive attitude toward learning will make the process much easier and more enjoyable for you. Try to be as dedicated as possible, and view this as an opportunity to broaden your horizons. 
  • Time. The more time you study and practice the language, the less time it will take to get used to it.
  • Attentiveness. Some people have a talent for learning foreign languages quickly. If you’re among them, consider yourself lucky! The learning process will require less effort from you compared to other learners. But regardless of your natural inclinations toward language learning, you should always strive to be attentive in your studies!
Attitude, Time, Attentiveness

Comparison Between Bulgarian and Other Languages

The time it will take you to learn Bulgarian depends, to some extent, on your first language. If you’re a native English speaker, then you might find the Bulgarian language more difficult to learn than other languages (like French, Spanish, or Italian). 

One of the reasons for this is the existence of a third gender (neuter) in Bulgarian, compared to the two genders (masculine and feminine) used in the Romance languages mentioned above. This means that Bulgarian learners have to learn more noun and adjective forms, as well as how to identify the three different genders. 

In addition, Bulgarian belongs to the group of Slavic languages, which are more challenging to learn compared to the other European languages. There are many irregular forms of verbs, noun cases, exceptions to the rules, etc. that make studying more difficult.

However, learning the Bulgarian language is not Mission Impossible as long as you dedicate your time and efforts to achieving this goal. Below, we’ll discuss how long it takes to master each of the Bulgarian language levels based on research by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).

How the Foreign Service Institute Ranks Bulgarian

The FSI has divided foreign languages into four categories. Category I languages are the most similar to English (and thus easier to learn), while Category IV languages are the least similar (and most difficult to learn). 

Category I languages include Spanish, French, and Italian, for instance. These take an English speaker roughly 24 weeks (600 hours) of intensive study to reach speaking and reading proficiency. 

On the other end of the scale are Category IV languages, which include Arabic, Korean, and Japanese, for example. These languages take about 88 weeks (2200 hours) to fully master. 

So where exactly does Bulgarian fall? 

Category 1 Languages

The FSI classifies Bulgarian as a Category III language. Other languages in this category include Czech, Polish, Turkish, and Greek. These languages take about 44 weeks (1100 hours) of study to master. 

So if you would like to learn Bulgarian, you may need almost a full year of studying to gain fluency in speaking, reading, and writing, and to communicate freely with Bulgarians. Although this might seem like a long time, you can succeed if you’re persistent in your efforts and accumulate knowledge slowly but surely. 

That said, you can start speaking Bulgarian way sooner! If you follow the lessons prepared by BulgarianPod101, you’ll be able to start communicating with native speakers within a few weeks. Don’t you think it’ll be worth the effort? 

Additional Note: Keep in mind that Bulgarian learners who already know Russian or another Slavic language will have a much easier time picking up the language. This is because Bulgarian and other Slavic languages have many things in common.

How Long Does it Take to Achieve a Beginner Level?

Start to Communicate at the Beginner Level

What language skills are developed at the beginner level?

The beginner level encompasses levels A1 and A2

It involves comprehension of everyday expressions and simple conversations. For example, you’ll be able to greet someone, introduce yourself, and ask questions to maintain a conversation at a simple level, if your interlocutor speaks slowly enough. You’ll also be able to express your needs to others. 

How do you know whether you’re at the A1 or A2 level? If any of these things apply to you, you’re probably still at the A1 level: 

  • The Bulgarian language is completely new to you
  • You may have lived for a short time in Bulgaria, but you know only a few words and phrases
  • You may have started to study this language on your own, but without sufficient practice

How long does it take to become a beginner-level Bulgarian speaker?

It usually takes 2 months (50 hours) to master these basic Bulgarian language skills.

How can you reach this level faster?

If you would like to accelerate your progress, you can watch YouTube channels that teach the Bulgarian language to beginners. A good place to start is Learn Bulgarian with BulgarianPod101.com, where you can find hundreds of free lessons to help you advance much more quickly.

Using flashcards to remember new words is also very useful at this level of language study. Wondering how to learn Bulgarian faster using mobile flashcards? You can learn more about this method on our website!

Absolute Beginner Pathways for Bulgarian Learners

Here are some tips on how to learn Bulgarian online using BulgarianPod101.com! 

  • Start with the Bulgarian alphabet. 

    The Bulgarian alphabet is the foundation upon which you’ll build the rest of your language skills. Do not skip or postpone this step! We recommend starting with our free alphabet guide for absolute beginners, which will help you quickly become familiar with the Bulgarian alphabet. It might take you up to a week to feel completely comfortable with it, but it’s well worth the effort.
  • Go through some well-structured audio lessons.

    Becoming comfortable with audio material right from the start will really help speed up your progress. You can check out our 3-Minute Bulgarian series, which consists of 25 three-minute lessons suitable for beginners. You’ll get acquainted with topics such as self-introductions, greetings, manners, asking questions, making apologies, and much more. It might take you a couple of weeks to get through the series, depending on how many lessons you do each day.
  • Study longer, more complicated beginner lessons. 

    Next, you might want to go through our Absolute Beginner pathway. It features 25 lessons (about 10 minutes each) that will help you better assimilate the information from the previous course and learn new vocabulary/skills. By the end of this series, you’ll be able to express your thoughts, needs, and questions more effectively. It might take 2-3 weeks of study and practice to feel confident speaking with your Bulgarian interlocutors.

Bonus: How much Bulgarian can you learn in 60 minutes? To find out, try out our 60-minute course Lessons for Your Flight to Bulgaria! If you’re an A2-level learner, you’ll find this easy to complete—but it’s still a great way to reinforce your vocabulary knowledge. 

How much time will it take to reach beginner-level Bulgarian with BulgarianPod101.com?

Mastering the Bulgarian AlphabetUp to 1 week
3-Minute Bulgarian SeriesUp to 2 weeks
Absolute Beginner PathwayUp to 3 weeks

It takes a maximum of 6 weeks to reach the beginner Bulgarian level with our platform. Not that bad, right?

  • We’ve also prepared a bunch of interesting 1-minute animated series videos that are well-suited for absolute beginners.

How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Intermediate Level?

What language skills are developed at the intermediate level?

The intermediate level (B1 and B2), can be summed up in just one word: communication

At this stage, you have the ability to communicate about broad topics that aren’t too complicated. These topics usually involve hobbies, weather, work, education, details about locations, holidays, etc. You’ll also be able to describe experiences, events, ideas, projects, likes, and dislikes; you could lead conversations with local Bulgarians more freely. 

At the B2 level, you’ll have additional fluency when communicating on a wider range of contexts.

Do any of the following points apply to you? Then it means you’re ready to start studying at the intermediate level. 

  • You have already completed the A2 level.
  • You’re able to lead basic conversations.
  • You require some extra practice in both spoken and written Bulgarian.
  • You would like to get prepared for an upcoming Bulgarian language exam.

How long does it take to become an intermediate-level Bulgarian speaker?

It usually takes 4 months (80-90 hours) to master these intermediate Bulgarian-language skills. This timeframe applies to intensive learners who study every day for about 4 hours. For those who study every other day, it may take 8 or more months to achieve this stage.

Start to Communicate More Freely at the Intermediate Level

How can you reach this level faster?

If this sounds like a long time to you, here are some tricks and tips on how to learn Bulgarian quickly at this stage:

Also make sure to check out our list of 5 Tips to Reach Intermediate Level!

Intermediate-Level Pathways for Bulgarian Learners

After achieving a basic level of Bulgarian, you may find that things become harder to learn. The new information is more complicated and should be gradually added to your existing knowledge. You’ll need to engage in many more practical exercises to start advancing. 

BulgarianPod101 has prepared appropriate lessons for this language level as well, to help intermediate learners accelerate their progress at this stage.

  • All About 

    Our All About course consists of 15 short audio lessons that will help you learn all about the society and culture of Bulgaria. The total duration of this series is 1hr 51min.
  • Conversational Phrases

    This is another short course of 10 audio lessons with a total duration of just 10 minutes. It will get you acquainted with more conversational phrases and teach you common words you’ll need in your conversations.
  • Essential Bulgarian for Emergencies

    This course consists of 8 lessons, and it’s a very practical set that will help you develop intermediate-level skills you can use in a pinch.
  • Level 3 Bulgarian

    As you start to feel more confident with level B1, you can try out our Level 3 Bulgarian pathway. It features 25 lessons for a total duration of 6hrs 21min; there are also 10 assignments to complete. This course is aligned with level B1 of the CEFR scale.

How Long Does it Take to Achieve an Advanced Level?

What language skills are developed at the advanced level?

The advanced level is commonly referred to as C1-C2 and is very close to the native language level. The C2 level is considered to be the highest proficiency possible, and reaching it means you can use Bulgarian fluently in nearly all contexts. 

Upon reaching an advanced level, you’ll be able to… 

  • …talk with native speakers fluently, without needing to grasp for specific words or phrases. 
  • …communicate with others about many different topics (personal experiences, professions, science, etc.).
  • …build a variety of complex sentences in all tenses. 

In addition, native Bulgarian speakers will be able to easily understand your thoughts and opinions when you speak. 

It’s important to note that lessons at this level no longer focus on grammar. Usually, they include reading or listening to media on different subjects in the Bulgarian language, as well as lectures and workshops.

Ready for an Advanced Level of Bulgarian?

You’re ready to start studying advanced Bulgarian if the following points apply to you:

  • You’ve completed the B2 level and you use Bulgarian grammar correctly.
  • You’re planning to work or study in Bulgaria.
  • You’re not satisfied with an average knowledge of Bulgarian and would like to gain fluency.

This level is definitely for those who are ready to double their efforts! 

How long does it take to become an advanced-level Bulgarian speaker?

As we mentioned above, Bulgarian is a Category III language, meaning that it features significant cultural and linguistic differences from English. 

To achieve proficiency in Bulgarian, intensive learners will need at least 1100 hours (44 weeks) of study. This equates to 5 hours per day, 5 days per week. You’ll need almost a full year of study to reach the C1 level of Bulgarian at this pace. If you study 2 hours a day (or less), you’ll need about 2 years to achieve this level.

How can you reach this level faster?

Although achieving the C1 level is not easy and takes a long time, there are some tips you could try in order to reach your goal faster:

  • Find a native Bulgarian friend with whom you can often communicate.
  • Spend a few months in Bulgaria to experience deep immersion into its language and culture.
  • Watch special Bulgarian lessons intended for advanced learners.
  • Continue to read, write, and listen in Bulgarian on a daily basis.

Advanced-Level Pathways for Bulgarian Learners

Are you serious about your studies and want some tips on how to learn Bulgarian faster? BulgarianPod101.com offers our advanced students plenty of fun and effective lessons to help enhance their skills. 

  • Level 5 Bulgarian 

    This advanced lesson pathway features 25 lessons for a total duration of 1hr 21min. This course is aligned with level C1 of the CEFR and covers topics including the top 10 Bulgarian tourist destinations, the top 10 Bulgarian leaders, and the top 10 Bulgarian writers.
  • Listening Comprehension for Advanced Learners

    Another great course is our Listening Comprehension for Advanced Learners series. Each lesson includes dialogues, answers to questions, and a full breakdown. The total duration of these 20 lessons is 1hr 9min.

If you’re looking for even more ways to stay motivated, check out the Innovative Language 101 app for mobile devices. It allows you to learn Bulgarian anywhere, anytime! This innovative app is appropriate for all levels, so don’t miss out.

Download the Free Mobile App to Learn Bulgarian!

How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn the Bulgarian Language

In this article, we talked about how long it takes to learn Bulgarian for each level of proficiency. We also discussed what’s expected of learners at each level and how to reach your learning goals faster with BulgarianPod101.com

There’s still one key feature of our site we haven’t mentioned yet: MyTeacher for Premium PLUS members. With this service, you can get one-on-one tutoring and help from a native Bulgarian teacher. He or she can help you learn Bulgarian faster by guiding you step by step through the language—vocabulary, grammar rules, pronunciation, and more—so you can reach your desired proficiency level with little problem.

Before you go, we’re curious: How likely are you to start learning Bulgarian after reading this article? Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns you still have—we’ll be glad to help!

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Bulgarian Proverbs Guide: Learn 30 Wise Bulgarian Sayings

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Proverbs are short and straightforward sayings that express valuable life advice. Studying Bulgarian proverbs means digging deeper into the local culture—it also means that you’re an advanced Bulgarian language learner who’s ready to take their knowledge to the next level. And while proverbs can be quite valuable to language learners, they also teach people how to be wiser in different life situations.

It’s always a fascinating adventure to explore the proverbs and sayings of other cultures, so BulgarianPod101 has compiled this list of thirty proverbs in Bulgarian along with their English translations. We think you’ll step away from this article a little wiser than before…

Are You Ready to Start This Journey to Wisdom?

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Bulgarian Proverbs About Success
  2. Bulgarian Proverbs About Wisdom
  3. Bulgarian Proverbs About Love
  4. Bulgarian Proverbs About Friendship
  5. Bulgarian Proverbs About Food
  6. Bulgarian Proverbs About Health
  7. Bulgarian Proverbs About Work and Language Learning Efforts
  8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

1. Bulgarian Proverbs About Success

We all strive to be successful in life, whatever that means to us. So what essential features must one develop to achieve success in life? Here are a few Bulgarian proverbs and sayings to offer you some cultural perspective on the topic. 

#1 

BulgarianКапка по капка, вир става.
PronunciationKapka po kapka, vir stava.
LiteralDrop by drop turns into a pool.
EquivalentDrop by drop is the water pot filled.
This Bulgarian saying means that diligence and persistence lead to success. Even a few drops of water, if collected instead of being wasted, can add up over time so that you have enough to fill an entire pot. The same concept applies to money, experience, and any life skill that requires endurance. If you want to be successful, you have to be patient.

Fill Your Cup of Success Drop by Drop

#2 

BulgarianКойто се учи, той ще сполучи.
PronunciationKoyto se uchi, toy shte spoluchi.
LiteralA person who learns will succeed.
EquivalentKnowledge is power and power is success.
If you want to be successful, then learn, learn, learn. The more knowledge you gain, the more confidence you’ll have while meeting different challenges in your work. Although knowledge alone is not enough, it’s an important part of achieving success. 

Now, let’s apply this proverb to Bulgarian language learning. In order to become a fluent Bulgarian speaker, you must learn more and more Bulgarian words. Add new words to your vocabulary every single day and you’ll succeed.

#3 

BulgarianКапката дълбае камъка не със сила, а с постоянство.
PronunciationKapkata dalbae kamaka ne sas sila, a s postoyanstvo.
LiteralA drop carves a stone not with force, but with perseverance.
EquivalentIf you want a well, dig only in one place.
This Bulgarian saying means that people who would like to become real experts in something should work hard in their field until they’ve perfected their skills. There are many people out there who try hard in the beginning, only to give up once they get tired or discouraged, which prevents them from becoming successful. Everyone is able to be successful if he or she is persistent enough to continue even in the face of challenges.

#4 

BulgarianАко не кърпиш вехтото, ново няма да носиш.
PronunciationAko ne karpish vehtoto, novo nyama da nosish.
LiteralIf you don’t patch your old cloth, you will not wear a new one.
EquivalentSpending is quick, earning is slow.
Older Bulgarians in particular tend to prefer saving money over spending it on unnecessary things. Years of stringency made them frugal, and they respect people who know how to save money in order to spend it when a real need arises.

The Way to Success

2. Bulgarian Proverbs About Wisdom

Bulgarians have many proverbs about wisdom. In fact, they even have a national folklore character named Хитър Петър (Hitar Petar), who is a symbol of cunning, wisdom, and wit. That said, let’s go over a few inspirational Bulgarian proverbs related to wisdom! 

#5

BulgarianУтрото е по-мъдро от вечерта.
PronunciationUtroto e po-madro ot vecherta.
LiteralThe morning is wiser than the evening.
EquivalentAn hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
On the one hand, this Bulgarian proverb suggests that the morning hours are the most productive ones. On the other hand, people in Bulgaria say this proverb when they have an important decision to make and it’s already late in the evening. They believe that making the decision should be postponed until the next morning, as the brain is tired in the evening and cannot think clearly. In the morning, when a person wakes up, he or she can consider problems much more efficiently and are more likely to make the right decision. That is why the morning is wiser than the evening.

#6

BulgarianДокато мъдрите се намъдруват, лудите се налудуват.
PronunciationDokato madrite se namadruvat, ludite se naluduvat.
LiteralWhile the wise people philosophize, the mad people go crazy.
This Bulgarian proverb means that if the rulers are weak, the whole nation will suffer at the hands of offenders. In this case, the word “wise” is used in an ironic sense, because these “wise people” only philosophize instead of taking real actions to stop the criminals.

#7

BulgarianУм царува, ум робува, ум патки пасе.
PronunciationUm tsaruva, um robuva, um patki pase.
LiteralThe mind reigns, the mind is enslaved, the mind grazes ducks.
EquivalentSome are wise and some are otherwise.
This Bulgarian saying means a few different things:
  • A person can become engaged in various activities, whether it’s science, management, or anything else. It depends on his motivation, what kind of work he is going to choose, and what future he will have.

  • Everyone is capable of being a shepherd, a hotel manager, a policeman, a builder, etc.

  • The decisions you make can take you down from the position of a ruler to that of a slave.

Some Are Wise and Some Are Otherwise.

#8

BulgarianПо дрехите посрещат, по ума изпращат.
PronunciationPo drehite posreshtat, po uma izprashtat.
EquivalentFirst impression is from your dress, last impression from your brains/wits.
The first thing people notice about you is your clothes, so they might initially be impressed by your appearance. But after talking with you, they’ll get an impression of your brain or wits. Wiser people don’t talk too much, and Bulgarians usually don’t welcome those who are too talkative. They like balanced conversations, so be aware of this if you’re ever invited to a Bulgarian’s home.

How Much Better to Get Wisdom than Gold...

3. Bulgarian Proverbs About Love

As a popular song states, “All you need is love.” In that vein, let’s explore some of the most popular Bulgarian love proverbs

#9

BulgarianЛюбов хубост не гледа.
PronunciationLyubov hubost ne gleda.
LiteralLove does not look for beautiful appearance.
EquivalentBeauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
When one person loves another, he or she doesn’t notice any defects in the appearance or character of the one they love. A Bible proverb written by Solomon says that “love covers over all wrongs.”

#10

BulgarianСтарата любов ръжда не хваща.
PronunciationStarata lyubov razhda ne hvashta.
EquivalentOld love does not rust.
This saying means that old feelings do not fade away. Metal may rust over time and waste away, but feelings of love typically don’t and can even stay as strong as they were in the very beginning!

It’s interesting to note that Bulgarians have another proverb which states exactly the opposite: 

#11

BulgarianОчи, които дълго не се виждат, се забравят.
PronunciationOchi, koito dalgo ne se vizhdat, se zabravyat.
LiteralEyes that have not seen each other for a long time can be forgotten.
EquivalentOut of sight, out of mind.
If two lovers are separated for a long time, they might forget each other—especially if their love is not well-rooted.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind.

#12

BulgarianМладост без любов — пролет без цвете.
PronunciationMladost bez lyubov — prolet bez tsvete.
LiteralYouth without love is spring without a flower.
EquivalentWithout love, everything is in vain.
One cannot be happy without loving and being loved. This Bulgarian proverb states that love is the essence of life, making everything around it beautiful—just like flowers make springtime the most beautiful season.

Love


4. Bulgarian Proverbs About Friendship

Bulgarians value true friendship, so it should come as no surprise that we have many proverbs on the topic. Who knows? Maybe they’ll help you understand who your true friends are! 

#13

BulgarianПриятел в нужда се познава.
PronunciationPriyatel v nuzhda se poznava.
LiteralA friend is recognized in need.
EquivalentA friend in need is a friend indeed.
A true friend will always help out in times of need, and will never leave his or her friend to suffer alone. They’ll dedicate their time, money, and efforts to help you, doing everything they can to make you feel better. A false friend, on the other hand, will hide from you as soon as you run into troubles.

#14

BulgarianКажи ми какви са приятелите ти, за да ти кажа какъв си.
PronunciationKazhi mi kakvi sa priyatelite ti, za da ti kazha kakav si.
EquivalentTell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
This Bulgarian saying means that the friends you hang out with can define you. This makes sense, as friends tend to share personality and behavioral traits. As such, you can tell a lot about a person based on who their friends are. 

What Friendship Looks Like

#15

BulgarianЛют човек приятел не държи.
PronunciationLyut chovek priyatel ne darzhi.
LiteralA furious man does not keep any friends around.
It’s difficult for some people to find friends. They might think that the problem lies with other people, but often the problem is hidden within themselves. No one wants to hang around or be associated with an angry person.

Hey, You!!! Why Don’t You Become My Friend?!

#16

BulgarianПриятелството си е приятелство, но сиренето е с пари.
PronunciationPriyatelstvoto si e priyatelstvo, no sireneto e s pari.
LiteralFriendship is friendship, but cheese costs money.
Although a friend in need is a friend indeed, a true friend will not take advantage of a friend’s generosity. Just because your friend sells cheese doesn’t mean you should expect to get any for free!


5. Bulgarian Proverbs About Food

Food is an important detail of one’s life, so here are a few wise Bulgarian sayings related to food.

#17

BulgarianНикой не е по-голям от хляба.
PronunciationNikoy ne e po-golyam ot hlyaba.
LiteralNo one is larger than bread.
This saying reveals the attitude that Bulgarians have toward bread and how important it is to them. In Bulgaria, bread plays an important role and it’s always present on the table. It’s also considered the most holy of foods.

The Importance of Bread for Bulgarians

#18

BulgarianУмният навсякъде си изкарва хляба.
PronunciationUmniyat navsyakade si izkarva hlyaba.
LiteralA smart man earns his bread anywhere.
EquivalentA smart man can earn a living anywhere.
The saying “to earn your own bread” in Bulgarian means to earn a living, which again underlines the importance of bread in Bulgarian culture. This saying means that the wise can overcome all challenges so that they always have enough to live on wherever they are. 

#19

BulgarianГладна кокошка просо сънува.
PronunciationGladna kokoshka proso sanuva.
LiteralA hungry hen dreams of millet.
This proverb relates to wishful thinking. It means that some people dream of things greater than what they have, but they take no action to make it happen in reality.

A Hungry Hen Dreams of Millet

#20

BulgarianДен година храни.
PronunciationDen godina hrani.
TranslationA single day helps you get food for the whole year.
In the past, this saying meant that every day of the year was equally important for earning a living. But nowadays, it’s mostly associated with unfair traders who make their prices unrealistically high in order to make lots of money quickly and remain idle the rest of the year. 


6. Bulgarian Proverbs About Health

Health is among the most valuable acquisitions a person can have, so let’s see what Bulgarian proverbs have to say about it. 

#21

BulgarianЗдрав дух – здраво тяло.
PronunciationZdrav duh – zdravo tyalo.
EquivalentA healthy mind, a healthy body.
This Bulgarian proverb expresses the importance of inner peace, forgiveness, trust, etc., for people’s wellbeing. We should keep our spirit healthy in order to have a healthy body, as stress, anxiety, suspicion, and other negative feelings can increase our chances of getting sick. 

#22

BulgarianНикой не може да бъде по-добър лекар от верния приятел.
PronunciationNikoy ne mozhe da bade po-dobar lekar ot verniya priyatel.
EquivalentNo one is a better doctor than a faithful friend.
This Bulgarian saying is a continuation of the previous one. A faithful friend is able to bear our griefs, so we won’t feel alone in our sorrow. 

A similar proverb goes: 

Споделената мъка е половин мъка, а споделената радост е двойна радост. 
Spodelenata maka e polovin maka, a spodelenata radost e dvoyna radost.
“Shared sorrow is half the sorrow; shared joy is double the joy.”

No One Is a Better Doctor than a Faithful Friend

#23

BulgarianЖивот, здраве и добри помисли като има човек, пари не му трябват.
PronunciationZhivot, zdrave i dobri pomisli kato ima chovek, pari ne mu tryabvat.
TranslationWhen a person has a good life, good health, and good thoughts, he does not need money.
Мoney can’t buy happiness! This saying is as old as money, but it’s true. You can find poor people barely earning a living who are constantly smiling and happy, as well as millionaires who are so miserable and depressed that they take their own lives. This Bulgarian proverb states that there are three factors involved in being happy: life, health, and good thoughts.

#24

BulgarianЗдравето е най-големият имот.
PronunciationZdraveto e nay-golemiyat imot.
TranslationOur health is our largest property.
No matter how many properties we have, and no matter how luxurious and large they are, we cannot enjoy them (or our lives) if we aren’t healthy. That’s why health is considered one of the most valuable and precious things in this world!

Do you have health problems you would like to share with your Bulgarian friends in their own language? BulgarianPod101 can help! Just head over to our vocabulary list of Bulgarian Vocabulary for Common Health Problems

7. Bulgarian Proverbs About Work and Language Learning Efforts

Those who are diligent and persistent in their language learning efforts will soon see progress and advance quickly. For extra motivation, let’s see what Bulgarian proverbs say about work and learning

#25

BulgarianЧовек се учи, докато е жив.
PronunciationChovek se uchi, dokato e zhiv.
LiteralA person learns while he is alive.
EquivalentYou are never too old to learn.
This popular Bulgarian proverb means that we never stop learning, as knowledge itself is endless and our life is too short to comprehend it all.

On the other hand, this saying could also be applied to your Bulgarian language studies. The more you learn, the more successful you’ll be over time. 

Learn to succeed

#26

BulgarianБез труд почивката не е сладка.
PronunciationBez trud pochivkata ne e sladka.
LiteralWithout work, rest is not sweet.
This saying encourages diligence. It suggests that those who don’t work cannot feel the sweetness of rest. They probably cannot sleep as well as those who work hard all day.

#27

BulgarianРаботата на ум учи.
PronunciationRabotata na um uchi.
LiteralThe work teaches the mind.
One only gains practical skills and experience through working, and the same concept applies to language learning. Once you gain minimal knowledge of a language, you should start practicing it in real life to expand upon your skills and gain new ones. Passive learning is often in vain.  

#28

BulgarianЛозето не ще молитва, а мотика.
PronunciationLozeto ne shte molitva, a motika.
LiteralThe vineyard does not need a prayer, but a hoe.
EquivalentGod helps those who help themselves.
This saying is quite popular in Bulgaria, and it conveys the importance of hard work in being successful. If you want your vineyard to give fruit, don’t just sit beside it and pray; take the hoe and start working. No matter how many prayers you say, you won’t receive a good crop unless you work for it. 

The Discerning Heart Seeks Knowledge

8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

In this Bulgarian proverbs guide, you’ve picked up some useful phrases and gained some valuable insight into the beauty of Bulgarian culture. Learning these proverbs will make it easier for you to communicate with the local people and help you better fit in during your stay in Bulgaria. 

If you would like to learn even more Bulgarian proverbs or dig deeper into Bulgarian grammar, we recommend you try our MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members. You can choose a private teacher from our team of experienced Bulgarian language experts, who will give you additional information on any topics of your choosing and provide you with practical assignments to hone your skills. 

We hope you enjoyed today’s lesson on Bulgarian proverbs, and that you feel a little bit wiser now. 😉 Before you go, let us know in the comments which of these proverbs you can relate to the most right now. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Give Your Vocab a Boost: English Words in Bulgarian

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If you’ve just started studying the Bulgarian language, you might need additional motivation to cope with the initial shock that this language usually provokes in foreigners. To give you more confidence for your Bulgarian language learning journey, we have prepared this overview of Bulgarian words in English (and vice-versa).

You’ll definitely be surprised to learn how many words are the same in English and Bulgarian. But this is great news for all learners of the Bulgarian language! Why? Because it means you already know all of these words, their meanings, and how to use them in different situations. That’s a great start, isn’t it?

BulgarianPod101 has prepared this guide to help you quickly recognize these well-known words in Bulgarian so that you can easily enrich your vocabulary and have more effective communication with Bulgarians.


Overcome Your Initial Foreign Language Shock with This Overview of English Words in Bulgarian!

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Table of Contents
  1. Why is it Important to Study English Words Used in the Bulgarian Language?
  2. Why Are There So Many English Words in Bulgarian?
  3. The Use of Foreign Words in Bulgarian
  4. English Words Used in Bulgarian Business Culture
  5. English Words Used in the Bulgarian IT Sector
  6. English Words Used in Professional Terminology
  7. World-Famous Celebrity Names Translated to Bulgarian
  8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn More Bulgarian

Why is it Important to Study English Words Used in the Bulgarian Language?

Let’s start with a quote by the great Bulgarian writer, Yordan Yovkov:

“The word is a scary thing. It contains the means of expression of all the arts: colors, lines, shapes, sounds, movements—everything, as long as you can handle these riches.”

View the Bulgarian language as a treasure trove and each new word you learn as a golden coin you have discovered. In this sense, BulgarianPod101.com will help you become rich with scores of golden coins—we’ll even show you how best to use them. 

This form of treasure hunting can be intimidating, but picking up a few English loanwords in Bulgarian is a great place to start. Because you’re already familiar with the meaning of these words, you can begin applying them to your Bulgarian conversations right away. 

So let’s get to it!

Each New Bulgarian Word You Learn Is a Golden Coin that You Discover!

Why Are There So Many English Words in Bulgarian?

Globalization is the main reason there are so many English words in the Bulgarian language. Recent technologies such as the World Wide Web, social media, and global trading mediums facilitate the global spread of English words. Virtual communication encourages the use of many English words, which have become widely used in both spoken and written Bulgarian. 

As a result, many English words are used in the Bulgarian political, social, cultural, and economic spheres and people use them to describe services, products, and business information. There are also many professional terms in Bulgarian that originate from English vocabulary.

The Globalization and Modernization of Today’s World Promotes the Exchange of Languages and Cultures

The Use of Foreign Words in Bulgarian

Like most other languages, Bulgarian adopts many foreign words for regular use in the language. When a foreign word is used often enough for a long enough period of time, it’s common for Bulgarians to perceive that word as being native to Bulgarian. For example, there are many Turkish words that are so widely used by Bulgarians that many of them don’t even realize they’re foreign. 

Such Turkish words include:

  • чешма (cheshma) – faucet
  • памук (pamuk) – cotton
  • зехтин (zehtin) – olive oil

There are so many Turkish words in Bulgarian because Bulgarians were under the Turkish yoke for five centuries. The Russian, French, and German languages later influenced Bulgarian as well. 

Here are some examples of Russian words in the Bulgarian language:

  • дружба (druzhba) – friendship
  • хазяин (hazyain) – house owner
  • болшинство (bolshinstvo) – majority
  • съблюдавам (sablyudavam) – observe
  • милосърдие (milosardie) – mercy

Here are examples of French words in the Bulgarian language. You’ll notice that these words are also used in English.

  • трофей (trofey) – trophy
  • меню (menyu) – menu
  • майонеза (mayoneza) – mayonnaise
  • бюро (byuro) – buro
  • булевард (bulevard) – boulevard

Here are examples of German words in the Bulgarian language:

  • вафла (vafla) – waffle
  • курорт (kurort) – resort
  • табела (tabela) – signboard
  • ауспух  (auspuh) – muffler

Because of the common history between Bulgaria and Greece, there are many Greek words in the Bulgarian language, as well. Here are some of them:

  • евтин (eftin) – cheap
  • пирон (piron) – nail
  • ангел (angel) – angel
  • килер (kiler) – closet
  • стомах (stomah) – stomach
  • тиган (tigan) – frying pan
  • тетрадка (tetradka) – notebook

After communism fell in 1990, Bulgaria opened up to the Western world—its food, music, culture, markets, and language. Naturally, more and more English words entered the Bulgarian language and even began to replace some Bulgarian words. Here are some examples:

Original Bulgarian Word/PhraseEnglish Replacement Meaning
търсене в глобалната мрежа
(tarsene v globalnata mrezha)
сърфиране в нета
(sarfirane v neta)
surfing the Net
разговори
(razgovori)
чатове
(chatove)
chats
сприятеляване
(spriyatelyavane)
aдване на френдове
(advane na frendove)
to add friends
опит
(оpit)
eкспириънс
(ekspirians)
experience
публикувам информация във Фейсбук
(publikuvam informatsiya vav Feysbuk)
поствам
(postvam)
to post
изключвам от приятелите си
(izklyuchvam ot priyatelite si)
ънфрендвам
(аnfrendvam)
to unfriend

English Words Used in Bulgarian Business Culture

Each year, thousands of new foreign words enter the Bulgarian language. Some of them may not be well-accepted by people and will be forgotten over time. Others are widely used and end up becoming a part of the daily or business language. Over time, some of them can even take the place of existing Bulgarian words. 

Below is a list of twenty Bulgarian words replaced by English words in the business world. People who know English will find this information very useful when speaking with their Bulgarian business partners.

Learn Which English Words Would be Understood by Your Bulgarian Business Partners!
Original Bulgarian Word/PhraseEnglish ReplacementMeaning
започвам
(zapochvam)
стартирам
(startiram)
I start
в брой
(v broy)
в кеш
(v kesh)
in cash
връзка
(vrazka)
контакт
(kontakt)
contact
положение
(polozhenie)
ситуация
(situatsiya)
situation
място
(myasto)
локация
(lokatsiya)
location
среща с журналисти
(sreshta s zhurnalisti)
брифинг
(brifing)
briefing
финансова проверка
(finansova proverka)
одит
(odit)
audit
наблюдение
(nablyudenie)
мониторинг
(monitoring)
monitoring
майстор-готвач
(maystor-gotvach)
мастър-шеф
(mastar-shef)
chef
курс
(kurs)
мастър-клас
(mastar-klas)
master class
изложба
(izlozhba)
експозиция
(ekspozitsiya)
exposition
събитие
(sabitie)
евент
(event)
event
представяне
(predstavyane)
презентация
(prezentatsiya)
presentation
осъществявам
(osashtestvyavam)
реализирам
(realiziram)
I realize / I achieve
представление
(predstavlenie)
шоу
(shou)
show
съдържание
(sadarzhanie)
контент
(kontent)
content
желание
(zhelaniye)
мотивация
(motivatsiya)
motivation



English Words Used in the Bulgarian IT Sector

The Bulgarian IT sector is probably the field that’s most influenced by English terminology. This is understandable, since computer science borrows heavily from the English language. As a result, foreigners will be able to quickly recognize these famous English words in Bulgarian. Take a look at these examples, keeping in mind that the Bulgarian versions are pronounced almost identically to the original English words. 

English WordBulgarian Equivalent 
organizerорганайзер (organayzer)
timerтаймер (taymer)
scannerскенер (skener)
printerпринтер (printer)
routerрутер (ruter)
monitorмонитор (monitor)
sensitiveсензитивен (senzitiven)
cancelingканселиране (kanselirane)
to clickкликам (clikam)
developerдивелъпър (diveloper)
digitalдигитален (digitalen)
headerхедър (heder)
fontфонт (font)
userюзър (user)


Computer Terminology in Bulgaria Draws Heavily from English

English Words Used in Professional Terminology

There are many newly coined words and phrases related to professional terminology that originate from the English language. Here is a list of some of the most popular English words in Bulgarian that may sound very familiar to you.


English Words Are Often Used in Professional Terminology

English WordBulgarian Equivalent 
voucherваучер (vaucher)
actionекшън (ekshan)
integrationинтеграция (integratsiya)
globalizationглобализация (globalizatsiya)
anti-globalismантиглобализъм (antiglobalizam)
Euroscepticismевроскептицизъм (evroskeptitsizam)
dollarizationдоларизация (dolarizatsiya)
sponsorспонсор (sponsor)
imageимидж (imidzh)
logoлого (logo)
trainingтренинг (trening)
trendтренд (trend)
mediaмедия (mediya)
weekendуикенд (uikend)


World-Famous Celebrity Names Translated to Bulgarian

Have you ever wondered how Bulgarians pronounce the names of world-famous celebrities? Then you’re going to enjoy this section! 

Celebrity names are most often transliterated into Bulgarian instead of receiving a brand-new translation. We’ll provide you with some examples of how this works, using the names of several popular celebrities. 

    ★ Before proceeding, we would like to give you a task: Cover the right side of the screen with a sheet of paper in order to hide the English translation of the names, and read them in Bulgarian on the left side. Try to guess who they are and then check the answers in the right column. Good luck!

World-famous Celebrities

Bulgarian Names of CelebritiesEnglish Names of Celebrities
БийонсеBeyoncé 
Дуейн ДжонсънDwayne Johnson
Тейлър Суифт Taylor Swift
Дженифър АнистънJennifer Aniston
Анджелина ДжолиAngelina Jolie
Том Ханкс Tom Hanks
Брад ПитBrad Pitt
РианаRihanna
Уил СмитWill Smith
Леонардо ди КаприоLeonardo DiCaprio
Ким КардашянKim Kardashian
Джони ДепJohnny Depp
Джъстин БийбърJustin Bieber
Бен АфлекBen Affleck
Мадона Madonna 
Джулия РобъртсJulia Roberts

How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn More Bulgarian

BulgarianPod101 was created with one goal in mind: to help people learn Bulgarian more easily. We know how tough a foreign language can seem, but we believe that the process of learning can be fun and simple. In fact, that’s why we put together this overview of English words in the Bulgarian language—this way you can start adding words you already know to your Bulgarian vocabulary arsenal. And as you can see, they are not few!

If you believe that at this stage of your learning, you need a professional native Bulgarian teacher to give you individualized assignments and guidance, then you might be interested in our MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members.

We hope that you were able to successfully complete the task about celebrity names. If not, don’t get discouraged—just head over to our Alphabet lesson where you’ll find our Free Guide to Beginner Bulgarian. 

Before you go, please share with us whether you found this article useful and how you did guessing the celebrity names. We’re always happy to read your comments and help out the best we can!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian

A Detailed Overview of Bulgarian Culture and Traditions

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Just like every other country in the world, Bulgaria has a very specific culture influenced by its past and origins. The history of Bulgaria is fascinating and sheds some light on the various aspects of Bulgarian culture and customs, from the way Bulgarians live to their mindset and common character traits. Learners of the Bulgarian language can greatly benefit from knowing more about this country, which some consider to be “The Cradle of Civilization.”

BulgarianPod101 invites you to join us on this intriguing adventure through the culture of Bulgaria. Who knows, maybe this special overview of Bulgarian culture will prompt you to come and experience everything for yourself!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. How Bulgarian History Has Influenced Our Culture
  2. Philosophies and Religions
  3. Family & Work
  4. Art
  5. The Hospitality of Bulgarian People
  6. Traditional Bulgarian Holidays
  7. Cultural Taboos
  8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

1. How Bulgarian History Has Influenced Our Culture

Bulgaria boasts a long history that has influenced its folklore and ancient rituals, some of which are still preserved to this day. The nation’s religious background has also shaped the character, traditions, and cuisine of the Bulgarian people. Let’s explore the relationship between Bulgarian history and culture in more detail.

What makes Bulgaria special?

Bulgaria is a country located on the Black Sea’s western shore. This land is full of riches and has a very diverse landscape. Here you will find fruitful plains, valleys, and lowlands where lush rivers flow, as well as multiple seaside summer resorts, rural villages, ancient settlements, and high mountains and mountain ranges. The territory of Bulgaria includes all types of relief, and the diversity of its natural resources attracts millions of tourists every year.

Bulgaria is definitely a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Just imagine: spending a nice summer vacation at the beach or by a swimming pool…taking advantage of healing thermal springs and mud baths…exploring artifacts left by the ancient Thracians, Romans, Greeks, and Proto-Bulgarians…or even enjoying mountain resorts that are open to tourists year-round. Yes, please!

A Bulgarian Flag Blowing in the Wind with a Mountain in the Background

History of Bulgaria

According to ancient historical reports, Bulgarian territory was once inhabited by different tribes who built settlements here as early as 500 BC. They were united by the Odrysian King Teres and later conquered by Alexander the Great. Then, in 46 AD, the Roman Empire took possession of the land, followed by the Byzantine Empire in the fifth century.

The First Bulgarian Empire began in 681 when a treaty with Byzantium was concluded. The first Bulgarian capital was the city of Pliska, and the country was ruled by Khans, who expanded the nation’s territory and strength.

A noble moment in early Bulgarian history was the Bulgarian people’s baptism in the Christian faith. Prior to this, Bulgarians believed in various pagan gods. The Christianization of Bulgaria began in 864, thanks to Khan Boris (who then received the title Knyaz). During the reign of his son Simeon the Great, Bulgaria entered its Golden Age and expanded its territory to reach three seas: the Aegean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Black Sea.

The First Bulgarian Empire ended in 1018 when the Byzantine conquered the entire territory. However, in 1185 the Asen dynasty built the Second Bulgarian Empire after a successful revolt. Unfortunately, this empire also fell, being conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the fourteenth century.

The Ottoman Yoke continued for five centuries, during which there were many unsuccessful revolts. The most popular of them was the 1876 April Uprising, which was severely suppressed by the Ottomans; this resulted in thousands of victims from the Bulgarian population. One year later, in 1877, Russia declared a war against the Ottomans and helped Bulgarians liberate their land. This is how the Third Bulgarian State was established in 1878.

In 1946, Bulgaria became a communist republic. The communist regime remained until late 1989 and was followed by a democracy. This was when Bulgaria opened to the entire world. In the thirty years that followed, Bulgarian culture, customs, art, and heritage were promoted and gained worldwide fame. In 2004, Bulgaria joined NATO; in 2007, it became a European Union member.

    → To gain even more insight into Bulgarian history and culture, you can head over to our lesson on Historical Figures!

Influence on Bulgarian culture

Bulgarian culture and traditions have been greatly influenced by those of the Thracians, Slavs, and Bulgars. After Bulgaria’s Christianization, the Eastern Orthodox Church also began to shape the culture, though numerous ancient customs were preserved and are now recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Examples include the Thracian barefoot ember dancing known as Nestinarstvo, the dance of the Kukeri, Bulgarian Folklore, and Martenitsa

The Bulgarian folkloric tradition is so strong that it has influenced many fields, including art, music, literature, celebrations, and even the daily lives of Bulgarians in certain territories of the country.

Bulgarian Martenitsa
    → Are you interested in learning more about the History of the Bulgarian Language? Then make sure you check out our relevant lesson to gain more insight on the topic.

2. Philosophies and Religions

Religion plays an important role in society, which makes it a key component in understanding Bulgarian culture. In this section, we’ll look at the different ethnic groups in Bulgaria, the prominent religions of the past, and what religion looks like in modern Bulgaria.

Ethnic groups in Bulgaria

Obviously, the majority of Bulgaria’s population consists of Bulgarians, who make up 76.9% of the total population. Turkish people make up another 8% and Romani 4.4%. These are the main ethnic groups in the country. However, you can find many other ethnic groups in different parts of the country, which amount in total to more than 10% of the population. These include Greeks, Russians, Armenians, Ukrainians, Vlachs, etc.

It is interesting to note that in recent years, morе and more foreigners from Western Europe are settling in the rural areas of Bulgaria. They prefer to live in this country, or to spend long summer vacations here.

Before moving on, let’s look at the population’s age demographics:

Age%
<1414.6%
15 to 249.43%
25 to 4043.12%
55 to 6413.3%
65+19.54%

Religions in the past

As we mentioned earlier, ancient Bulgars practiced paganism. They believed in the pagan god Tangra, which is why their religion was called Tengrism. The Slavs and the Thracians who also inhabited this land worshipped different pagan gods, which created a sort of separation between the groups. This separation made them unable to withstand attacks from their surrounding enemies in the face of Byzantium. 

One of the main reasons Khan Boris I decided to introduce Christianity into the state was to unite these different tribes into one strong nation. And he succeeded. The unity created by this new religion caused the Byzantine Empire and other great nations to recognize Bulgaria as a kingdom.

Bulgaria Converts to Christianity

Religions in Bulgaria today

The main religion in Bulgaria is still Eastern Orthodox Christianity, to which about 60% of the population adheres. Some of the minorities in the country, such as Russians, Romanians, Greeks, Ukrainians, and Armenians also practice this religion. The Bulgarian Calendar is rich in Orthodox holidays, some of which we’ll discuss later in this lesson.

Islam is Bulgaria’s second largest religion with about 8% of the total population identifying as Muslim. This portion of the population mainly consists of Turkish people, Pomaks, and Roma. There are many villages and cities in Bulgaria with mosques.

Only 0.8% of the Bulgarian population identifies as Catholic; 0.9% (and the number is growing) are Protestants. It is interesting to note that after communism ended, the membership of various Protestant churches in Bulgaria tripled in a matter of ten years. This was due to the foreign missionaries who converted many atheists and Muslims to Christianity. Today, about 10% of Bulgarians are declared atheists or agnostics.

3. Family & Work

In any country, work and family life play significant roles in society. Let’s explore the different facets of work and family in Bulgaria!

Family Values

The most popular family structure in Bulgaria is the nuclear family. Couples normally have one or two children, and it’s rare to see a Bulgarian family with more than three children (with the exception of Roma families). 

During the years of communism, family was among the most important values in Bulgaria. In those times, 95% of women believed that a full and satisfying life could be obtained only by having a family. Before democracy was declared in 1989, there were almost no divorces in the country; the few that did happen were looked upon with resentment by society. Things have changed since the start of our democracy and the number of divorces has reached about 10,000 per year. 

Western culture has significantly influenced Bulgarian society. According to some sociologists, this has led to the degradation of family values and has made cohabitation a popular choice. In 2011, about 82% of young people aged between 20 and 30 preferred to stay unmarried.

Another change in society is reflected in the relationship between younger and older generations. In the past, elders were widely respected and their children took care of them. Nowadays, the intense speed of our daily routines, as well as the deviation from our traditional family values, have made more and more people rely on hospices and homes to take care of their elderly parents.

Elderly People in Bulgaria

Working in Bulgaria

There has been a recent increase in the number of working people over 45 years of age in Bulgaria, which is a logical consequence of the nation’s aging demographics. Another interesting fact about Bulgarian work culture is that more and more Bulgarians who emigrated to work in foreign countries are returning to Bulgaria. While Bulgaria still has a low salary standard compared to other European countries, the salary is gradually increasing in some sectors, such as IT and outsourcing. This is a motivating factor for job seekers. 

The bigger the city, the more jobs there are available. This means that it is more difficult for people who live in the countryside to find a job. Usually, they cultivate the land and raise livestock to produce and sell food.

Rural Areas in Bulgaria

Bulgaria as an agricultural country

Agriculture is well-developed in Bulgaria and the country is an exporter of many kinds of agricultural products. These include different kinds of cereals, technical crops, vegetables, fruits, viticulture, herbs, honey, and even edible mushrooms. The most common cereals include wheat, barley, oats, and rye. Other popular crops include beans, rice, corn, lentils, and alfalfa. 

Bulgaria is one of the biggest producers of rose oil and lavender oil in the world. The country is also famous for its tasty and quality dessert and wine grapes. The country’s climate is favorable for an abundance of vegetables and fruits, such as: 

  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Peppers
  • Squash
  • Zucchini
  • Cabbage
  • Eggplant
  • Carrots
  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Cherries
  • Sour cherries
  • Watermelons
  • Melons 
  • All kinds of berries

As for livestock, Bulgarians grow sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo, turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, horses, and so on. As a consequence, over 250 thousand tons of milk, 211 thousand tons of meat, and 1.2 million eggs are produced yearly.

4. Art

Bulgarians have contributed to the world’s art development through their great athletes, musicians, opera singers, writers, actors, artists, sculptors, and other personalities who have dedicated their lives to art. Let’s look at three areas of Bulgarian art for which the country is especially famous.

Traditional Bulgarian music

Bulgarian folk music is unique not only because of the special folk instruments used to perform it, but also because of its irregular rhythms, complex harmonies, and the difficulty of the performance. In previous centuries, Bulgarians lived mainly in rural areas, where this was the most popular type of music they created and listened to. Many of the songs and melodies have been passed down from generation to generation until today. 

Among the most common musical instruments used in Bulgarian folk music are: 

  • the gaida (a goatling- or lamb-skin bagpipe)
  • the kaval (an end-blown flute)
  • the gadulka (a bowed stringed instrument)
  • the tupan (а large double-headed drum)
  • the tambura (similar to the mandolin)

There are some Bulgarian villages and small towns that have special schools or clubs to teach children and young people how to play these instruments.

One of the most famous Bulgarian folk singers is Valya Balkanska, who was awarded with the highest Bulgarian award “Orden Stara Planina” in 2002. The song Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin, which she performed in 1977, was selected as part of the Golden Record located aboard the two identical spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. It is a part of a sound message that the Earth is sending to potential civilizations in the universe. You can hear this popular song here.

Popular sports

Many Bulgarians have gained worldwide fame thanks to their incredible achievements in the world of sports.

Let’s start with Hristo Stoichkov, who is the best-known Bulgarian soccer player of all time. His achievements were so great that many foreigners started to associate Bulgaria with his name. Other popular soccer players of Bulgaria are Dimitar Berbatov and the deceased Georgi Asparuhov, known as Gundi.

Soccer

Among the most popular Bulgarian boxers are Kubrat Pulev and the late Dan Kolov. Kolov was the first European freestyle wrestling champion from Bulgaria and a mixed martial artist who lived most of his life in the USA.

Another famous name is that of the Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov, who won the World Chess Championship in 2005 and 2006. Fans of tennis will also be familiar with the name Grigor Dimitrov. Finally, we should mention Stefka Kostadinova, whose World Record of a 209-centimeter high jump in 1987 still remains unbeaten.

Bulgarian literature

There are many notable Bulgarian writers. We’ll start by mentioning Paisiy Hilendarski, who wrote Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya in 1762, which was the first written report of Bulgarian history up to that time. Some of the more popular writers include Ivan Vazov with his famous novel Under The Yoke, Emiliyan Stanev with The Peach Thief, and Nikolay Haytov, whose book Wild Stories is included in the Historical Collection of UNESCO.

5. The Hospitality of Bulgarian People

Bulgaria, among other Balkan nations, is famous for its hospitality. Sometimes, Bulgarians еven invite strangers and random visitors for lunch or dinner. However, this kind of hospitality is seen less in the cities and more in rural villages like Ribaritsa (the longest Bulgarian village in Stara Planina), Delchevo (a beautiful village in Pirin, where instead of “Hello,” old people greet with “God bless you”), Leshten (with its nineteenth-century architectural style), Kovachevitsa, and Ognyanovo (where a popular thermal spring is located).

A Bulgarian Countryside Village

People who offer you hospitality might be offended if you don’t accept their invitation, so it is polite to accept it. Once you enter their home, you are considered a friend. Bulgarians can be very curious about how foreigners live, so be prepared to answer their multiple questions about your country. You can also expect them to reciprocate: most Bulgarians are very garrulous, so you’ll be able to learn many things about Bulgaria in your conversation with them.

Bulgarians who invite foreigners are usually happy to prepare traditional Bulgarian food for them to sample. Common dishes include tarator, banitsa, guvech, and shkembe chorba. This would be a great chance to try authentic Bulgarian dishes cooked by a skilled homemaker who would probably be happy to share the recipes with you—and even give you tips on how to cook them properly.


6. Traditional Bulgarian Holidays

Knowing about the most popular Bulgarian holidays will allow you to plan your visit for a period when the most important cultural events in Bulgaria are happening. Taking part in the festive atmosphere will help you experience the culture, personality, and history of this country better. However, be aware that some restaurants and shops, and most public institutions, are closed during the official holidays.

Liberation Day (March 3)

This day celebrates the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 from the Ottoman Rule. This took place after the Russian Empire won the last Russian-Turkish War. From that day on, Bulgaria was a free country again.

St. George’s Day (May 6)

May 6 is associated with the Christian martyr St. George, who killed the dragon. In Bulgaria, it is also celebrated as the day of the Bulgarian Army and bravery. To celebrate, Bulgarians usually prepare a whole lamb as a traditional meal for the entire family. Moreover, the name George (Георги) is very common in Bulgaria and those with this name celebrate their name day on May 6 as well.

Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet (May 24)

The alphabet created by the Slavonic brothers Cyril and Methodius is called Glagolitsa. It was later simplified by their students, who named the new alphabet after Cyril: Cyrillic alphabet. On May 24, all students and teachers in Bulgaria have a special celebration.

Easter

This is among the most important religious holidays in Bulgaria, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. If you are in the country during this period, your Bulgarian friends will probably give you a painted hard-boiled egg and a special sweet Easter bread called kozunak.

Kozunak and  Painted Eggs
    → In this article, you can learn more about another Bulgarian holiday related to Easter: Tsvetnitsa.

Christmas Eve (December 24)

This is another religious holiday in Bulgaria, celebrating the birth of Christ on Earth. According to Bulgarian traditions for this holiday, we only eat lean dishes on Christmas Eve, and there should be a specific number of dishes: 7, 9, or 11/12 different kinds. A festive bread or banitsa should be made with a coin hidden inside; whoever finds the coin in his piece is considered lucky and will have prosperity and health in the next year.

7. Cultural Taboos

Bulgarians accept people of different countries, social levels, professions, etc. They are generally open to foreigners, which is why the country is home to so many minorities from many different countries. But there are still a couple of things to consider in order to be polite while visiting someone’s house.

When you’re invited to be a guest in someone’s house, it is considered impolite to enter without taking off your shoes. Even Bulgarians take off their shoes when entering the home, even if the housewife insists that they don’t have to do that. This is a sign of respect toward the housewife’s work. She will probably offer you slippers, but some Bulgarians prefer to take their own slippers from home when visiting friends, so you could opt to do the same. It is also impolite to refuse any food or drink offered to you by the host.

8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

There are certainly many fascinating aspects of Bulgarian culture, and we hope that our brief overview has inspired you to continue learning. There is so much more for you to discover, and the more you know Bulgaria, the more effective and immersive your language studies will be.

If you would like to continue studying the Bulgarian language with a personal teacher, you can choose one from MyTeacher by creating a Premium PLUS account. Native Bulgarian linguists will not only lead you through the grammar points, but will also share with you more interesting facts about Bulgarian history and culture. 

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there’s anything we missed in this lesson. Is there anything you still want to know about Bulgarian culture? We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

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Bulgarian Food Guide: Try the Best of Bulgarian Cuisine

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To truly learn a foreign language, you must also become familiar with that country’s culture. And its national cuisine is a great place to start! 

Traditional Bulgarian food offers a glimpse of the country’s cultural background and will help you learn more about the people there. As a language learner, you’ll benefit from exploring Bulgarian cuisine and tasting many of the traditional dishes yourself.

Today, BulgarianPod101 will lead you through the sweetest part of language learning. We’ll introduce you to the best Bulgarian foods, go over some essential food-related vocabulary, and even give you a couple of simple Bulgarian recipes you can make at home. 

Let’s begin our delicious journey into Bulgarian cuisine!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Let's Cook in Bulgarian Table of Contents
  1. Five Must-Try Dishes in Bulgarian Restaurants
  2. Authentic Bulgarian Food vs. Overseas Food
  3. Unique Bulgarian Foods
  4. Food-Related Vocabulary
  5. Bonus: Simple Recipes to Make Authentic Bulgarian Food at Home
  6. Final Thoughts

Bulgarian Vita Banitsa

1. Five Must-Try Dishes in Bulgarian Restaurants

If you’re planning a trip to Bulgaria, the most important consideration—after your accommodation and sightseeing agenda—is what you’ll eat during your visit. To help you make the most of your stay in Bulgaria, we’ll start with a list of traditional Bulgarian food you must try while you’re here. 

Banitsa

The Bulgarian food banitsa is one of the most popular traditional dishes. Its ingredients include eggs, Bulgarian cheese, Bulgarian yogurt, and “filo dough,” or кори за баница (kori za batnitsa). Filo dough refers to very thin sheets of pastry, which are used specifically for preparing banitsa. You can find them at any Bulgarian food market. 

There are many types of banitsa, differing in the arrangement of the filo dough as well as the fillings used. Besides the yogurt, cheese, and eggs, one could also add spinach, leek, or even minced meat.

One thing is for sure: You need to try banitsa! We guarantee you’ll fall in love with it, especially if you have the chance to taste a homemade one.

Bulgarian Banitsa
Photo by Borzo, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Banitsa is often eaten as a breakfast item with one of the following drinks:

  • айрян (ayrian), which is a Turkish beverage made of yogurt, water, and salt. You can easily prepare this beverage at home with the recipe at the end of this article.
Ayrian
Photo by Mavigogun, under CC BY-SA 3.0
  • боза (boza), which is an unfermented or lightly fermented beverage prepared by boiling cereal porridge and then diluting it with water. People also add sugar to make it sweet.
Boza
Photo by Ikonact, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Tarator

This is a very popular cold Bulgarian summer soup, so no boiling is needed! It’s made of yogurt, water, finely chopped or grated cucumbers, chopped walnuts, and some spices like salt and dill.

The good news is that tarator is so simple and convenient to prepare. You can make it yourself in just ten to twenty minutes using the recipe at the end of this article. But if you’re having lunch in a Bulgarian restaurant during a hot summer day, you can order tarator made with organic ingredients for a refreshing meal.

Tarator
Photo by Ikonact, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Shopska Salata

Шопска салата (Shopska salata) is a Bulgarian salad made with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers, onions, fresh parsley, and grated white cheese. It tastes wonderful with a dressing of olive oil and vinegar. This salad makes a perfect side dish to tarator, so your vegetarian lunch in a restaurant could consist of tarator and shopska salata.

Bulgarians love to drink rakiya, a traditional strong alcoholic beverage, with this salad.

Shopska Salata

Patatnik

As the name suggests, the main ingredient of patatnik is potatoes. This is a delicious dish that’s commonly prepared by people who live in the Rhodope Mountains, and its recipe is transferred from generation to generation. 

Patatnik is made from grated potatoes, onions, cheese, eggs, and sometimes meat. These ingredients are baked in the oven at a low temperature for the perfect taste and texture. 

This is a must-try Bulgarian dish that makes a great dinner in any season!

Gyuvech

Гювеч (gyuvech) is a traditional Bulgarian dish that’s prepared in a refractory clay pot with a clay lid, also called gyuvech in Bulgarian. It’s prepared with different vegetables, such as potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, eggplants, carrots, and onions, and meat can also be added.

This traditional Bulgarian food is worth trying because of its unique taste, achieved through cooking slowly in the clay pot. It’s a great lunch or dinner item in Bulgarian restaurants.

Guvech
Photo by Seraphim System, under CC BY-SA 4.0

2. Authentic Bulgarian Food vs. Overseas Food

Bread is a staple of authentic Bulgarian cuisine, present at the table for every meal. The nation’s history and culture play a huge role in this phenomenon. Even centuries ago, Bulgarians ate a lot of bread while under the Turkish yoke; during the years of hunger after the World Wars, many people ate хляб и лук (hlyab i luk), or “bread and onion.”

Bread Is Revered in Every Bulgarian Home
Photo by 3268zauber, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Over the past few decades, foreign restaurants have introduced Bulgarians to cuisines from many other cultures: Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Moroccan, and the list goes on. In particular, restaurants offering Mediterranean cuisine have become more and more popular because of their tasty and healthy food. 

But there are still some popular international dishes that are unfamiliar to Bulgarians, which means you’re unlikely to find them in restaurants during your visit. For example, if you were to ask a Bulgarian about gingerbread, goulash, or pot-au-feu, they probably wouldn’t have heard of them. These foods just aren’t typical for Bulgarian culture.

3. Unique Bulgarian Foods

Now, let’s take a closer look at some unique Bulgarian food classics that can really only be found in-country. You’ve probably heard of these already, so don’t miss out on tasting them during your visit.

Bulgarian Yogurt

Bulgarian yogurt is milk that’s been fermented with the microorganisms Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. These two bacteria are in a symbiotic relationship that produces Bulgarian кисело мляко (kiselo mlyako), which is famous for its health benefits and slightly sour (yet pleasant) taste. 

Unfortunately, these bacteria cannot survive naturally on other places on earth, which makes this Bulgarian milk product unique.

Bulgarian Yogurt
Photo by Ned Jelyazkov, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Bulgarian Strawberry Jam

One of the most popular and delicious jams made in Bulgaria is сладко от ягоди (sladko ot yagodi), or strawberry jam made from whole fruit wild strawberries. Our strawberry jam has no artificial ingredients, colorants, or preservatives—not to mention it tastes fantastic! Bulgarians usually eat this jam with палачинки (palachinki), or “pancakes,” for breakfast.

Bulgarian Strawberry Jam
Photo by VI, under CC BY-SA 3.0

Bulgarian Lyutenitsa

Another unique Bulgarian food to try is definitely лютеница (lyutenitsa). This is a chutney made of roasted vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers) and seasoned with spices. The vegetables are made into a thick paste with a rich red color and an amazing flavor. Bulgarians love lyutenitsa, and they usually eat it on a slice of bread with white cheese.

Bulgarian lutenitsa
Photo by Чакаровска, under CC BY-SA 4.0

Kozunak – Easter Bread

It’s impossible to celebrate Easter in Bulgaria without this Bulgarian Easter food called козунак (kozunak) on the festive table. This sweet bread is traditionally made on the Saturday morning just before Easter, and no one is allowed to eat it before Sunday. If you happen to visit Bulgaria during the Easter celebrations, don’t miss out on trying this special bread, which typically contains raisins and Turkish delight.

Bulgarian Kozunak
Photo by Voyager, under CC BY-SA 3.0

4. Food-Related Vocabulary

Now that you’re good and hungry for traditional Bulgarian cuisine, let’s go over some useful food-related words and phrases! We’ll start with a brief review of all the dishes we’ve already mentioned.

  • баница (banitsa) – cheese pastry
  • кори за баница (kori za banitsa) – filo dough
  • айрян (ayrian) – beverage made of yogurt and water
  • боза (boza) – sweet fermented grain beverage
  • таратор (tarator) – a cold Bulgarian summer soup made of yogurt and cucumbers
  • шопска салата (shopska salata) – Bulgarian salad
  • ракия (rakiya) – traditional strong alcoholic beverage
  • пататник (patatnik) – traditional Rhodope Mountain dish made of potatoes
  • гювеч (gyuvech) – traditional Bulgarian dish made in a refractory clay pot
  • хляб (hlyab) – bread
  • лук (luk) – onion
  • кисело мляко (kiselo mlyako) – Bulgarian yogurt
  • сладко от ягоди (sladko ot yagodi) – strawberry jam
  • палачинки (palachinki) – pancakes
  • лютеница (lyutenitsa) – a thick paste made of roasted vegetables
  • козунак (kozunak) – sweet Easter bread

What’s your favorite Bulgarian food? Learn its name on our free vocabulary list!

Now, let’s suppose that you’re in a Bulgarian restaurant. Here are a few practical words and phrases you can use with your waiter.

How to Order in a Bulgarian Restaurant?

  • келнер (kelner) – waiter
  • Менюто, моля! (menyuto, molya!) – The menu, please.
  • Пържени яйца (parzheni yaitsa) – fried eggs
  • Варени яйца (vareni yaitsa) – boiled eggs
  • Пица (pitsa) – pizza
  • Пържени картофи (parzheni kartofi) – french fries
  • Кашкавал пане (kashkaval pane) – fried breaded yellow cheese
  • Запеканка (zapekanka) – casserole
  • Какво ще ми препоръчате за основно ястие? (Kakvo shte mi preporachate za osnovno yastie?) – What would you recommend for a main course?
  • Какво предлагате за пиене? (Kakvo predlagate za piene?) – What do you offer to drink?
  • Какви видове супи имате? (Kakvi vidove supi imate?) – What types of soups do you have?
  • Какво предлагате за десерт? (Kakvo predlagate za desert?) – What do you offer for dessert?

If you would like to learn some more useful phrases you could use in a restaurant, BulgarianPod101 offers a list of the most Useful Phrases for Ordering Food.

5. Bonus: Simple Recipes to Make Authentic Bulgarian Food at Home

If you like to cook, you might enjoy making some traditional Bulgarian dishes. You could certainly impress your family, friends, or guests with your Bulgarian cooking! Here are three easy-to-follow Bulgarian food recipes you can try.

How to Make Mekitsi

Mekitsi, also known in English as Bulgarian Fried Dough, is one of the favorite breakfast foods among Bulgarians—both young and old!

How to Make Bulgarian Mekitsi?
Photo by Biser Todorov, under CC BY-SA 3.0

The recipe is easy to follow and you’ll definitely want to make these fried mekitsi again and again after you try them once. 

Ingredients:

  • 14  cup of warm water
  • 12  teaspoon of dry yeast
  • 1 egg
  • about 2 cups of flour
  • 12  cup of yogurt
  • a pinch of salt
  • oil (for frying)

Instructions:

1. Dilute the dry yeast in the warm water. To help it activate faster, you can also add a pinch of sugar to the water. 

2. Then, add the yogurt and egg to the water and stir the mixture well. Now add the salt and flour, and mix. Make sure your dough is soft and not too thick. Then, let it stay for an hour. 

3. After that period, it’s ready for frying. Heat the oil in a pot. Meanwhile, roll the dough into circles. Once the oil is heated, drop them in the pot. When they turn golden in color, turn them over to fry the other side. 

4. When ready, mekitsi are usually sprinkled with powdered sugar. Bon appetit!

How to Make Tarator

This simple Bulgarian cold soup will take a maximum of twenty minutes to prepare. 

Ingredients:

  • 500g of Bulgarian yogurt (kiselo mlyako)
  • 2 cucumbers
  • 500g of water
  • 2 tablespoons of crushed walnuts
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • Olive oil 
  • Salt
  • Dill

Instructions:

1. Cut the cucumbers into tiny cubes or use a grater to grate them. 

2. Beat the yogurt to give it an even consistency and add it together with the cucumbers, crushed garlic, and walnuts in a big bowl. The dill is an obligatory spice for this soup, so add a generous amount of it. Add salt and olive oil to taste, add the water, and stir. 

3. Your tarator is ready. If you would like to chill it, you can add a few ice cubes or put it in the refrigerator for thirty minutes.

How to Make Ayran

This beverage is quite popular in Bulgaria, especially during the hot summer days. To make it, you need only three ingredients. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of Bulgarian yogurt (kiselo mlyako)
  • 1 cup of water
  • Salt to taste

Instructions:

Just mix all the ingredients together using your blender (or you can stir them together by hand). Your cool summer beverage is ready!

6. Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our little guide to Bulgarian meals and other popular food items! Which of these Bulgarian foods would you most like to try? Have you already tried any of them? 

Are you new here? BulgarianPod101 is a Bulgarian language learning platform where you can learn Bulgarian in a different and innovative way. We offer tons of fun and effective lessons for learners at every level, as well as free vocabulary lists and other learning resources. We hope to see you around!

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