Learning a new language is both an exciting and challenging endeavor. Bulgarian, a South Slavic language, is spoken by over 9 million people and is the official language of Bulgaria. For English speakers, mastering Bulgarian can open doors to understanding a rich cultural heritage and connecting with Bulgarian speakers worldwide. To get you started on this linguistic journey, here are essential Bulgarian words and phrases that every beginner should know.

Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

One of the first steps in learning any new language is mastering basic greetings and polite expressions. These are the words and phrases you’ll use most frequently when starting conversations, making new friends, and showing respect to others.

Zdravey (Здравей) – Hello (informal)
Zdraveyte (Здравейте) – Hello (formal or plural)
Dobro utro (Добро утро) – Good morning
Dobar den (Добър ден) – Good afternoon
Dobar vecher (Добър вечер) – Good evening
Leka nosht (Лека нощ) – Good night
Blagodarya (Благодаря) – Thank you
Molya (Моля) – Please / You’re welcome
Izvinete (Извинете) – Excuse me / Sorry (formal)
Izvinyavai (Извинявай) – Excuse me / Sorry (informal)

These basic phrases are essential for making a positive first impression and demonstrating good manners in Bulgarian-speaking environments.

Common Questions and Answers

When learning a new language, it’s important to know how to ask and answer basic questions. These questions and responses will help you navigate everyday situations, such as asking for directions, ordering food, or getting to know someone.

Kako si? (Како си?) – How are you? (informal)
Kak ste? (Как сте?) – How are you? (formal)
Az sum dobre (Аз съм добре) – I am fine
Vie? (Вие?) – And you? (formal)
Ti? (Ти?) – And you? (informal)
Kakvo e tova? (Какво е това?) – What is this?
Kade e…? (Къде е…?) – Where is…?
Kolko struva? (Колко струва?) – How much does it cost?
Kak se kazvate? (Как се казвате?) – What is your name? (formal)
Kak se kazvash? (Как се казваш?) – What is your name? (informal)
Az se kazvam… (Аз се казвам…) – My name is…

These questions and answers will help you engage in basic conversations and gather the information you need in various situations.

Numbers and Counting

Understanding numbers is essential for everyday activities such as shopping, telling time, and understanding dates. Here are the numbers from one to ten in Bulgarian:

1. Edno (едно)
2. Dve (две)
3. Tri (три)
4. Chetiri (четири)
5. Pet (пет)
6. Shest (шест)
7. Sedem (седем)
8. Osem (осем)
9. Devet (девет)
10. Deset (десет)

To form numbers from 11 to 20, you combine the numbers above with “надесет” (e.g., 11 is edinadeset – единадесет, 12 is dvanadeset – дванадесет). For multiples of ten, you use the base number followed by “десет” (e.g., 20 is dvaideset – двадесет, 30 is trideset – тридесет).

Days of the Week and Months

Knowing the days of the week and the months of the year is crucial for scheduling, planning, and understanding dates.

Ponedelnik (понеделник) – Monday
Vtornik (вторник) – Tuesday
Sryada (сряда) – Wednesday
Chetvurtuk (четвъртък) – Thursday
Petuk (петък) – Friday
Subota (събота) – Saturday
Nedelya (неделя) – Sunday

Yanuari (януари) – January
Fevruari (февруари) – February
Mart (март) – March
April (април) – April
Mai (май) – May
Yuni (юни) – June
Yuli (юли) – July
Avgust (август) – August
Septemvri (септември) – September
Oktomvri (октомври) – October
Noemvri (ноември) – November
Dekemvri (декември) – December

These words are essential for understanding and discussing time-related topics.

Colors and Descriptions

Describing objects and understanding their characteristics is crucial for effective communication. Here are some common colors and descriptive words:

Cherveno (червено) – Red
Siniyo (синьо) – Blue
Zeleno (зелено) – Green
Zhalt (жълт) – Yellow
Byalo (бяло) – White
Cherno (черно) – Black
Kafyavo (кафяво) – Brown
Oranjevo (оранжево) – Orange
Rozovo (розово) – Pink
Lila (лила) – Purple

Goliam (голям) – Big
Malk (малък) – Small
Hubav (хубав) – Beautiful / Nice
Graden (грозен) – Ugly
Staro (старо) – Old
Nov (нов) – New

These words will help you describe and identify objects, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively.

Food and Drink

Whether you’re dining out or shopping for groceries, knowing the names of common foods and drinks is essential. Here are some basic words related to food and drink:

Hlyab (хляб) – Bread
Mlyako (мляко) – Milk
Voda (вода) – Water
Kafe (кафе) – Coffee
Chai (чай) – Tea
Sirene (сирене) – Cheese
Plod (плод) – Fruit
Zelenchuk (зеленчук) – Vegetable
Yaytse (яйце) – Egg
Myaso (месо) – Meat
Riba (риба) – Fish
Shokolad (шоколад) – Chocolate

These words are essential for navigating menus, recipes, and food markets.

Family and Relationships

Understanding family and relationship terms is important for discussing your personal life and understanding others. Here are some key words:

Majka (майка) – Mother
Bashta (баща) – Father
Brat (брат) – Brother
Sestra (сестра) – Sister
Semeistvo (семейство) – Family
Prijatel (приятел) – Friend (male)
Prijatelka (приятелка) – Friend (female)
Sapruga (съпруга) – Wife
Saprug (съпруг) – Husband
Dete (дете) – Child

These words will help you talk about your family and relationships, an essential part of personal conversations.

Common Verbs

Verbs are the action words that form the backbone of sentences. Here are some essential verbs for beginners:

Sum (съм) – To be
Imam (имам) – To have
Pravya (правя) – To do / make
Kazvam (казвам) – To say
Hodya (ходя) – To go
Yadam (ям) – To eat
Piya (пия) – To drink
Spya (спя) – To sleep
Obicham (обичам) – To love
Razbiram (разбирам) – To understand

These verbs are foundational for constructing sentences and communicating actions and states of being.

Basic Adjectives

Adjectives help you describe nouns and provide more information about them. Here are some common adjectives:

Dobur (добър) – Good
Losho (лошо) – Bad
Toplo (топло) – Warm
Studeno (студено) – Cold
Barz (бърз) – Fast
Baven (бавен) – Slow
Vkusno (вкусно) – Delicious
Golyam (голям) – Big
Maluk (малък) – Small
Krasiv (красив) – Beautiful

These adjectives will help you describe people, places, and things more vividly.

Essential Phrases

Beyond individual words, knowing some common phrases can greatly enhance your ability to communicate in Bulgarian. Here are a few to get you started:

Kolko chasa e? (Колко часа е?) – What time is it?
Ne razbiram (Не разбирам) – I don’t understand
Govorya malko Bulgarski (Говоря малко български) – I speak a little Bulgarian
Mozhete li da povtorite? (Можете ли да повторите?) – Can you repeat that?
Kade e toaletnata? (Къде е тоалетната?) – Where is the bathroom?
Mozhete li da mi pomognete? (Можете ли да ми помогнете?) – Can you help me?
Kolko e tochno? (Колко е точно?) – How much is it exactly?
Kakvo shte pravyat? (Какво ще правят?) – What will they do?

These phrases will help you navigate common situations and communicate more effectively.

Conclusion

Learning Bulgarian is a rewarding experience that opens up a new world of cultural and linguistic knowledge. By mastering these basic words and phrases, you will be well on your way to engaging in simple conversations and understanding everyday Bulgarian. Practice regularly, be patient with yourself, and most importantly, enjoy the journey of discovering a new language. Happy learning!