Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions
Starting with greetings and polite expressions is a good way to ease into the language. These words and phrases will help you make a good first impression.
– Здравей (Zdravey) – Hello
– Example: Здравей, как си? (Zdravey, kak si?) – Hello, how are you?
– Здрасти (Zdrasti) – Hi
– Example: Здрасти, какво ново? (Zdrasti, kakvo novo?) – Hi, what’s new?
– Добро утро (Dobro utro) – Good morning
– Example: Добро утро! Как спа? (Dobro utro! Kak spa?) – Good morning! How did you sleep?
– Добър ден (Dobŭr den) – Good afternoon
– Example: Добър ден, господине! (Dobŭr den, gospodine!) – Good afternoon, sir!
– Добър вечер (Dobŭr vecher) – Good evening
– Example: Добър вечер, госпожо! (Dobŭr vecher, gospozho!) – Good evening, madam!
– Лека нощ (Leka nosht) – Good night
– Example: Лека нощ и сладки сънища! (Leka nosht i sladki sŭnishta!) – Good night and sweet dreams!
– Моля (Molya) – Please
– Example: Моля, дайте ми вода. (Molya, daite mi voda.) – Please, give me water.
– Благодаря (Blagodarya) – Thank you
– Example: Благодаря за помощта. (Blagodarya za pomoshta.) – Thank you for the help.
– Извинявайте (Izvinyavayte) – Excuse me / Sorry
– Example: Извинявайте, къде е тоалетната? (Izvinyavayte, kŭde e toaletnata?) – Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
– Да (Da) – Yes
– Example: Да, разбирам. (Da, razbiram.) – Yes, I understand.
– Не (Ne) – No
– Example: Не, не съм готов. (Ne, ne sŭm gotov.) – No, I am not ready.
Common Nouns
Nouns are the building blocks of sentences. Learning some common nouns will help you identify and name objects, places, and people around you.
– Човек (Chovek) – Person
– Example: Този човек е учител. (Tozi chovek e uchitel.) – This person is a teacher.
– Къща (Kŭshta) – House
– Example: Живея в голяма къща. (Zhiveya v golyama kŭshta.) – I live in a big house.
– Училище (Uchilishte) – School
– Example: Уча в това училище. (Ucha v tova uchilishte.) – I study at this school.
– Град (Grad) – City
– Example: София е красив град. (Sofiya e krasiv grad.) – Sofia is a beautiful city.
– Село (Selo) – Village
– Example: Баба ми живее в село. (Baba mi zhivee v selo.) – My grandmother lives in a village.
– Магазин (Magazin) – Store
– Example: Трябва да отида до магазина. (Tryabva da otida do magazina.) – I need to go to the store.
– Книга (Kniga) – Book
– Example: Чета интересна книга. (Cheta interesna kniga.) – I am reading an interesting book.
– Храна (Khrana) – Food
– Example: Обичам българска храна. (Obicham bŭlgarska khrana.) – I love Bulgarian food.
– Вода (Voda) – Water
– Example: Може ли чаша вода? (Mozhe li chasha voda?) – Can I have a glass of water?
– Автомобил (Avtomobil) – Car
– Example: Това е моят автомобил. (Tova e moyat avtomobil.) – This is my car.
Numbers
Knowing numbers is essential for daily activities such as shopping, telling time, and understanding prices.
– Едно (Edno) – One
– Две (Dve) – Two
– Три (Tri) – Three
– Четири (Chetiri) – Four
– Пет (Pet) – Five
– Шест (Shest) – Six
– Седем (Sedem) – Seven
– Осем (Osem) – Eight
– Девет (Devet) – Nine
– Десет (Deset) – Ten
Example sentence: Имам три ябълки. (Imam tri yabalki.) – I have three apples.
Days of the Week
Learning the days of the week will help you manage your schedule and understand when events or activities are taking place.
– Понеделник (Ponedelnik) – Monday
– Вторник (Vtornik) – Tuesday
– Сряда (Sryada) – Wednesday
– Четвъртък (Chetvŭrtŭk) – Thursday
– Петък (Petŭk) – Friday
– Събота (Sŭbota) – Saturday
– Неделя (Nedelya) – Sunday
Example sentence: Уча български всеки понеделник. (Ucha bŭlgarski vseki ponedelnik.) – I study Bulgarian every Monday.
Colors
Colors are frequently used in everyday conversation, whether you’re describing objects, clothes, or even your preferences.
– Червен (Cherven) – Red
– Син (Sin) – Blue
– Зелен (Zelen) – Green
– Жълт (Zhŭlt) – Yellow
– Черен (Cheren) – Black
– Бял (Byal) – White
– Оранжев (Oranzhev) – Orange
– Лилав (Lilav) – Purple
– Розов (Rozov) – Pink
– Кафяв (Kafyav) – Brown
Example sentence: Харесвам червени цветя. (Kharesvam cherveni tsvetya.) – I like red flowers.
Common Verbs
Verbs are crucial for constructing sentences and expressing actions. Here are some common verbs that you’ll use frequently.
– Съм (Sŭm) – To be
– Example: Аз съм учител. (Az sŭm uchitel.) – I am a teacher.
– Имам (Imam) – To have
– Example: Имам котка. (Imam kotka.) – I have a cat.
– Мога (Moga) – Can
– Example: Мога да говоря български. (Moga da govorya bŭlgarski.) – I can speak Bulgarian.
– Искам (Iskam) – To want
– Example: Искам кафе. (Iskam kafe.) – I want coffee.
– Обичам (Obicham) – To love
– Example: Обичам музика. (Obicham muzika.) – I love music.
– Гледам (Gledam) – To watch
– Example: Гледам телевизия. (Gledam televizya.) – I watch TV.
– Чета (Cheta) – To read
– Example: Чета книга. (Cheta kniga.) – I am reading a book.
– Пиша (Pisha) – To write
– Example: Пиша писмо. (Pisha pismo.) – I am writing a letter.
– Говоря (Govorya) – To speak
– Example: Говоря английски. (Govorya angliyski.) – I speak English.
– Ям (Yam) – To eat
– Example: Ям ябълка. (Yam yabalka.) – I am eating an apple.
Adjectives
Adjectives describe nouns and provide more detail about them. Here are some common adjectives to get you started.
– Голям (Golyam) – Big
– Example: Имам голямо куче. (Imam golyamo kuche.) – I have a big dog.
– Малък (Malŭk) – Small
– Example: Живея в малък апартамент. (Zhiveya v malŭk apartament.) – I live in a small apartment.
– Красив (Krasiv) – Beautiful
– Example: Това е красива къща. (Tova e krasiva kŭshta.) – This is a beautiful house.
– Умен (Umen) – Smart
– Example: Той е много умен. (Toy e mnogo umen.) – He is very smart.
– Бърз (Bŭrz) – Fast
– Example: Този автомобил е бърз. (Tozi avtomobil e bŭrz.) – This car is fast.
– Бавен (Baven) – Slow
– Example: Интернет връзката е бавна. (Internet vrŭzkata e bavna.) – The internet connection is slow.
– Нов (Nov) – New
– Example: Това е нов телефон. (Tova e nov telefon.) – This is a new phone.
– Стар (Star) – Old
– Example: Тази книга е стара. (Tazi kniga e stara.) – This book is old.
– Вкусен (Vkusen) – Tasty
– Example: Този сладолед е вкусен. (Tozi sladoled e vkusen.) – This ice cream is tasty.
– Щастлив (Shtastliv) – Happy
– Example: Аз съм щастлив. (Az sŭm shtastliv.) – I am happy.
Family Members
Talking about your family is a common topic in conversations. Here are the Bulgarian words for various family members.
– Майка (Mayka) – Mother
– Example: Майка ми е учителка. (Mayka mi e uchitelka.) – My mother is a teacher.
– Баща (Bashcha) – Father
– Example: Баща ми работи в банката. (Bashcha mi raboti v bankata.) – My father works at the bank.
– Брат (Brat) – Brother
– Example: Имам по-голям брат. (Imam po-golyam brat.) – I have an older brother.
– Сестра (Sestra) – Sister
– Example: Сестра ми е студентка. (Sestra mi e studentka.) – My sister is a student.
– Дядо (Dyado) – Grandfather
– Example: Дядо ми е на 75 години. (Dyado mi e na 75 godini.) – My grandfather is 75 years old.
– Баба (Baba) – Grandmother
– Example: Баба ми прави вкусни гозби. (Baba mi pravi vkusni gozbbi.) – My grandmother makes delicious dishes.
– Син (Sin) – Son
– Example: Синът ми е на 5 години. (Sinŭt mi e na 5 godini.) – My son is 5 years old.
– Дъщеря (Dŭshcherya) – Daughter
– Example: Дъщеря ми обича да рисува. (Dŭshcherya mi obicha da risuva.) – My daughter loves to draw.
– Чичо (Chicho) – Uncle
– Example: Чичо ми живее в Германия. (Chicho mi zhivee v Germaniya.) – My uncle lives in Germany.
– Леля (Lelya) – Aunt
– Example: Леля ми е лекар. (Lelya mi e lekar.) – My aunt is a doctor.
Questions Words
Asking questions is crucial for effective communication. Here are the Bulgarian question words you should know.
– Кой (Koy) – Who
– Example: Кой е това? (Koy e tova?) – Who is this?
– Какво (Kakvo) – What
– Example: Какво правиш? (Kakvo pravish?) – What are you doing?
– Къде (Kŭde) – Where
– Example: Къде живееш? (Kŭde zhiveesh?) – Where do you live?
– Кога (Koga) – When
– Example: Кога ще дойдеш? (Koga shte doydesh?) – When will you come?
– Защо (Zashto) – Why
– Example: Защо си тук? (Zashto si tuk?) – Why are you here?
– Как (Kak) – How
– Example: Как си? (Kak si?) – How are you?
– Колко (Kolko) – How much / How many
– Example: Колко струва това? (Kolko struva tova?) – How much does this cost?
Useful Phrases
Finally, here are some useful phrases that will help you navigate everyday situations.
– Как се казваш? (Kak se kazvash?) – What is your name?
– Example: Казвам се Иван. (Kazvam se Ivan.) – My name is Ivan.
– От къде си? (Ot kŭde si?) – Where are you from?
– Example: Аз съм от Америка. (Az sŭm ot Amerika.) – I am from America.
– На колко си години? (Na kolko si godini?) – How old are you?
– Example: Аз съм на двадесет години. (Az sŭm na dvadeset godini.) – I am twenty years old.
– Как си? (Kak si?) – How are you?
– Example: Добре съм, благодаря. (Dobre sŭm, blagodarya.) – I am fine, thank you.
– Какво правиш? (Kakvo pravish?) – What are you doing?
– Example: Чета книга. (Cheta kniga.) – I am reading a book.
– Може ли да помогнете? (Mozhe li da pomognete?) – Can you help me?
– Example: Може ли да помогнете с багажа? (Mozhe li da pomognete s bagazha?) – Can you help me with the luggage?
– Колко струва това? (Kolko struva tova?) – How much does this cost?
– Example: Колко струва тази книга? (Kolko struva tazi kniga?) – How much does this book cost?
– Къде е тоалетната? (Kŭde e toaletnata?) – Where is the bathroom?
– Example: Извинявайте, къде е тоалетната? (Izvinyavayte, kŭde e toaletnata?) – Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
– Не разбирам (Ne razbiram) – I don’t understand
– Example: Извинявайте, не разбирам. (Izvinyavayte, ne razbiram.) – Excuse me, I don’t understand.
– Говорите ли английски? (Govorite li angliyski?) – Do you speak English?
– Example: Говорите ли английски? (Govorite li angliyski?) – Do you speak English?
Learning these essential Bulgarian words and phrases will give you a solid foundation as you begin your language journey. Practice them regularly, and don’t be afraid to use them in real-life situations. The more you practice, the more confident you will become in your ability to speak and understand Bulgarian. Happy learning!
