Learning a new language is a thrilling and enriching experience. If you’ve chosen to learn Bulgarian, you’re in for an exciting journey into a language that is both fascinating and unique. Bulgarian is a South Slavic language spoken by over 9 million people primarily in Bulgaria, but also in parts of Greece, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine. For beginners at the A1 level, mastering some essential words and phrases can significantly boost your confidence and ability to communicate. This article will provide you with a comprehensive list of Bulgarian words to know for A1 level, along with examples and explanations to help you understand and use them effectively.

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!