Bulgarian

BULGARIAN

Lonely Planet Publications

bulgarian alphabet

buh

vuh

guh

duh

zhuh

zuh

ee

ee kratko

kuh

luh

muh

nuh

puh

ruh

suh

tuh

oo

fuh

huh

tsuh

chuh

shuh

shtuh

uh

er maluhk

yoo

ya

bulgarian
0
0

200 km
100 mi

Danube

Ruse

Serbia

Varna

BLACK
SEA

BULG A R IA
Kosovo
(Serbia)

Burgas
Stara Zagora

Sofia

Maritsa

Plovdiv

Macedonia
Sea of
Marmara

Turkey

Greece

AEGEAN SEA

Surprisingly, the name of the oldest South Slavic literary language, Bulgarian
( buhlgarskee), isnt of Slavic origin. Its one of a handful of words
remaining in Bulgarian from the language of the Bulgars, a Turkic people who
invaded the eastern Balkans in the late 7th century. Together with their language,
they were assimilated by the local Slavs, who had crossed the Danube and settled in
the peninsula at the start of the 6th century.
As a member of the South Slavic group of languages, Bulgarian has Macedonian
and Serbian as its closest relatives. However, it also shows similarities with the nonSlavic languages in the so-called Balkan linguistic union (Romanian, Albanian and
Greek), as a result of multilingualism and interaction among the Balkan nations. These
foreign influences explain many of its grammatical features for example, the lack
of noun cases, which sets Bulgarian (and Macedonian) apart from the other Slavic
languages. In addition, numerous Turkish words entered the Bulgarian vocabulary
during five centuries of Ottoman rule. During the 19th century, many of the loanwords
from Turkish were eliminated from the language. Their place was partially filled by
Russian words, as Russian has influenced Bulgarian through both Bulgarias ties with
the Orthodox Church and long-standing cultural ties with Russia.
Old Bulgarian (also known as Old Church Slavonic) was the first Slavic language
recorded in written form, in religious literature from the 9th century. The central
figures in the development of the Slavic literary language were Saints Cyril and
Methodius, Byzantine Orthodox missionaries who invented the Glagolitic alphabet
around 863 AD and used it to translate Greek liturgical texts into Old Church Slavonic.
Their disciples devised the Cyrillic alphabet (based on Greek and Glagolitic) in which
Bulgarian has been written ever since. In its modern version, standardised after the
last spelling reform in 1945, its very similar to the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. Today,
Bulgarians celebrate St Cyril and Methodius Day as a national holiday on 24 May (also
known as the Day of Bulgarian Culture or the Cyrillic Alphabet Day).
Modern Bulgarian has about 9 million speakers and is the official language of
Bulgaria, with Bulgarian-speaking minorities in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Serbia,
Hungary, Greece and Turkey. The literary standard is based on the northeastern
dialects. The transitional dialects spoken around the borders between Bulgaria,
Serbia and Macedonia are very similar and the political issues arising from this
linguistic similarity have been sensitive throughout history.

i ntrodu ct i on BULGAR IAN

Romania

introduction

51

pronunciation

consonant sounds

vowel sounds

The consonant sounds in Bulgarian are pretty straightforward, as they all have equivalents in English. The only sound you might trip over is ts, which can occur at the start
of words. Try saying cats, then ats, then ts to get the idea.

The vowels in Bulgarian all have equivalents in English, so you shouldnt have any
problems. To make yourself sound like a native, just remember that in Bulgarian,
vowels in unstressed syllables are generally pronounced shorter and weaker than
they are in stressed syllables.
symbol

bulgarian
example

transliteration

bed

brat

transliteration

ch

cheat

cheest

dog

doosh

father

data

ai

aisle

mai

fat

fenerche

go

gooma

bet

lek

ee

see

beera

hat

hotel

voda

kit

karta

lot

beelet

pot

oo

zoo

took

uh

ago

kuhde

man

maslo

not

noola

pet

greep

run

ootro

sun

seen

sh

shot

shest

top

sto

ts

hats

kradets

very

vchera

yes

broy

zero

zad

zh

pleasure

plazh

word stress
Theres no general rule regarding word stress in Bulgarian it can fall on any
syllable and sometimes changes in different grammatical forms of the same word.
Just follow our coloured pronunciation guides, in which the stressed syllable is
always in italics.

p ronu nci a t io n BULG ARI AN

p ro n u nci a ti on

bulgarian
example

english
equivalent

52

english
equivalent

symbol

53

54

tools

numbers

language difficulties

0
1

Do you speak English?

oo ?
Do you understand?
?
I (dont) understand.
() .
What does () mean?
Ko ()?

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

govoreete lee angleeskee

razbeerate lee
(ne) razbeeram
kakvo znachee (mehana)

How do you ?
pronounce this
write ()

?

()

kak se
proeeznasya tova
peeshe (speerka)

Could you please ?

repeat that
speak more slowly
write it down

molya
povtorete tova
govorete bavno
napeeshete tova

essentials
Yes.
No.
Please.
Thank you
(very much).
Youre welcome.
Excuse me.
Sorry.

.
.
o.
o
().
o.
.
.

da
ne
molya
blagodarya
(mnogo)
nyama zashto
izveenete
suhzhalyavam

/a m/f
o n
a/ m/f&n

noola
edeen/edna
edno
dva/dve
tree
cheteeree
pet
shest
sedem
osem
devet
deset
edeenaiset
dvanaiset
treenaiset
cheteeree
naiset

15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000

petnaiset
shesnaiset
sedemnaiset
osemnaiset
devetnaiset
dvaiset
dvaiset ee edno
dvaiset ee dve
treeset
cheteereeset
petdeset
shestdeset
sedemdeset
osemdeset
devetdeset
sto
heelyada

time & dates

What time is it?
Its one oclock.
Its (two) oclock.
Quarter past (one).
Half past (one).
Quarter to (eight).
At what time ?
At

?
.
().
(E) .
(E) .
(O) .
?

kolko e chasuht
chasuht e edeen
chasuht e (dva)
(edeen) ee petnaiset
(edeen) ee poloveena
(osem) bez petnaiset
v kolko chasuh
v

am
pm

sootreen
sledobed

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

ponedelneek
vtorneek
sryada
chetvuhrtuhk
petuhk
suhbota
nedelya

t o o ls BULGAR I AN

t o o ls

Lonely Planet Publications

55

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

56

weather
Whats the weather like?

Ko o?

kakvo e vremeto

Its
cloudy
cold
hot
raining
snowing
sunny
warm
windy

e.
o
yo
oo
oo
oo
o

oo

e
oblachno
stoodeno
goreshto
duhzhdovno
snegoveeto
sluhnchevo
toplo
vettroveeto

spring
summer
autumn
winter

f
n
f
f

prolet
lyato
esen
zeema

border crossing
koya data e dnes
dnes e (petnaistee dekemvree)

since (May)
until (June)

()
()

ot (mai)
do (yoonee)

last/
next
night
week
year

meenalata/
sledvashtata
vecher
sedmeetsa
godeena

last month
next month

meenaleeya mesets
sledvashteeya mesets

yesterday/
tomorrow
morning
afternoon
evening

vchera/ootre

sootreenta
sledobed
vecherta

Im here
on business
on holiday

tooka suhm
po rabota
vuhv vakantseeya

Im here for
(10) days
(two) months
(three) weeks

()
()
()

tooka suhm za
(deset) dena
(dva) mesetsa
(tree) sedmeetsee

Im going to (Gabrovo).
().
Im staying at the (Serdika).
/
(). m/f
I have nothing to declare.
.
I have something to declare.
.
Thats (not) mine.
() .

oteevam v (gabrovo)
otsednal/otsednala
suhm v (serdeeka)
nyamam neeshto da deklareeram
eemam neshto da deklareeram

t o o ls BULGAR I AN

t o o ls

What date is it today?

?
Its (15 December).
( ).

yanooaree
fevrooaree
mart
apreel
mai
yoonee
yoolee
avgoost
septemvree
oktomvree
noemvree
dekemvree

tova (ne) e moye

57

transport

My luggage has been

damaged

lost

stolen

tickets & luggage

58

kuhde moga da see koopya beelet

tryabva lee da zapazya myasto

One ticket
(to Varna), please.
one-way
return

( ), .
oo
o

edeen beelet
(za varna) molya
v ednata posoka
za oteevane
ee vruhshtane

Id like to my
ticket, please.
cancel
change
collect
confirm

, .

eeskam da
svoya beelet molya
vuhrna
smenya
vzema
potvuhrdya

Id like a seat,
please.
nonsmoking
smoking

,
.

eeskam myasto
molya
za nepooshachee
za pooshachee

How much is it?

Koo y?
Is there air conditioning?

?
Is there a toilet?
?
How long does the trip take?
?
Is it a direct route?
?
Id like a luggage locker.

.

kolko stroova
eema lee kleemateechna
eenstalatseeya
eema lee toaletna
kolko traye puhtoovaneto
eema lee prekachvane
eeskam da ostavya bagazha
see na garderob

getting around
Where does flight (355) arrive?
(355)?
Where does flight (355) depart?
(355)?
Wheres (the) ?
arrivals hall

kuhde preesteega polet (tree pet pet)

otkuhde truhgva polet (tree pet pet)

K ?

()

kuhde se nameera
termeenal
preesteegane
termeenal
zameenavane
bezmeeten magazeen
eshod (dvanaiset)

Is this the
to (Burgas)?
boat
bus
plane
train

()?

oy
o

tova lee e
za (boorgas)
korabuht
avtoboosuht
samoletuht
vlakuht

What times
the bus?
first
last
next

oo
oy?

v kolko chasuh
e avtoboos
puhrveeyat
posledneeyat
sledvashteeyat

departures hall
duty-free shop
gate (12)

At what time does it arrive/leave?

/?
How long will it be delayed?
?
What station/stop is this?
/?
Does it stop at (Plovdiv)?
()?

v kolko chasuh preesteega/truhgva

kolko zakuhsneneeye eema
koya e tazee gara/speerka
speera lee v (plovdeev)

tra n s por t BU LGARI AN

t r a n s por t

Where can I buy a ticket?

K o y ?
Do I need to book a seat?
?

bagazhuht mee e
povreden
zagooben
otkraden

59

Please tell me when we get to (Smoljan).

kazhete mee molya kogato
().
preesteegnem v (smolyan)
How long do we stop here?
? sled kolko vreme truhgvame ottook
Is this seat available?
?
tova myasto svobodno lee e
Thats my seat.
.
tova e moyeto myasto
Id like a taxi
at (9am)

60

Is this taxi available?

?
How much is it to ?
Koo y o ?
Please put the meter on.
.
Please take me to (this address).

( ).
Please
slow down
stop here
wait here

eeskam da poruhcham
taksee
v (devet chasa
sootreenta)
sega
za ootre

takseeto svobodno lee e

kolko stroova do
molya da vklyoocheete takseemetuhra
molya da me dokarate
do (tozi adres)

molya
namalete
sprete took
chakaite took

car, motorbike & bicycle hire

Id like to hire a
bicycle
car
motorbike

eeskam da vzema
pod naem
edeen veloseeped
edna kola
edeen motoped

s
shofyor
kleemateechna
eenstalatseeya
anteefreez
vereegee za snyag

How much for

hire?
hourly
daily
weekly

kolko stroova na
da se naeme
chas
den
sedmeetsa

air
oil
petrol
tyres

y m
o n
m
y f pl

vuhzdooh
maslo
benzeen
goomee

antifreeze
snow chains

I need a mechanic.
oo.
Ive run out of petrol.
.
I have a flat tyre.
.

tryabva mee montyor

nyamam benzeen
pooknala mee se e goomata

directions
Wheres the ?
bank
city centre
hotel
market
police station
post office
public toilet
tourist office

o

o

kuhde se nameera
bankata
tsentuhruht na graduh
hoteluht
pazaruht
poleetseyskeeuht
oochastuhk
poshtata
edna gradska
toaletna
byooroto za
tooreesteecheska
eenformatseeya

tra n s por t BULGA RIA N

t r a n s por t

now
tomorrow

(
)

with
a driver
air conditioning

61

Is this the road to (Rila)?

()?
Can you show me (on the map)?
o o
( )?
Whats the address?
K ?
How far is it?
?
How do I get there?
?
Turn
at the corner

kakuhv e adresuht
na kakvo rastoyaneee e
kak se hodee do tam
zavyte
na sledvashteeya
uhguhl
pree svetofara
nalyavo/nadyasno

Its
behind
far away
here
in front of
left
near (to )
next to
on the corner
opposite
right
straight ahead
there

o
( )


y
o

tova e
zad
daleche
tooka
pred
nalyavo
bleezo (do )
do
na uhguhluh
sreshtoo
nadyasno
pravo
tam

by bus
by taxi
by train
on foot

s avtoboos
s taksee
s vlak
pesha

north
south
east
west

sever
yoog
eestok
zapad

signs
xo/xo
Ooeo/aoeo


oa

aaeo

oeo/eo

vhod/eeshod
otvoreno/zatvoreno
svobodnee stayee
nyama stayee
eenformatseeya
poleetseeya
zabraneno
toaletnee
muhzhe
zhenee
goreshto/stoodeno

Entrance/Exit
Open/Closed
Rooms Available
No Vacancies
Information
Police Station
Prohibited
Toilets
Men
Women
Hot/Cold

accommodation
finding accommodation
Wheres a ?
camping ground
guesthouse
hotel
youth hostel

K ?

ao
oe
ee

kuhde eema
kuhmpeeng
panseeon
hotel
obshtezheeteeye

Can you
recommend
somewhere ?
cheap
good
nearby

mozhete lee
da preporuhchate
neshto
evteeno
hoobavo
nableezo

I have a reservation.
.
My names

Id like to book a room, please.
, .

eemam rezervatseeya
kazvam se
eeskam da vzema edna staya molya

a ccommod a t io n BULG ARI AN

t r a n s por t

mozhete lee da mee pokazhete

(na kartata)

o
o/o

at the traffic lights

left/right

62

tova lee e puhtyat za (reela)

63

 a c com moda ti on

eemate lee staya s

edno leglo
edno golyamo leglo
dve legla

The room is too

expensive
noisy
small

stayata e prekaleno
skuhpa
shoomna
malka

How much is it per ? Koo ?

night

person
o

kolko e na
vecher
chovek

The doesnt work.

air conditioning

Can I pay ?
by credit card
with a travellers
cheque

moga lee da platya

s kredeetna karta
s puhtneecheskee
chekove

ne rabotee
kleemateechnata
eenstalatseeya
venteelatoruht
toaletnata

This isnt clean.

pillow
towel

tazee ne e cheesta
vuhzglavneetsa
kuhrpa

This sheet isnt clean.

o .

tozee charshaf ne e cheest

Id like to stay for (two) nights.

() .
From (2 July) to (6 July).
O ( ) ( ).
Can I see it?
o ?
Am I allowed to camp here?
o
y?
Is there a camp site nearby?
o?

eeskam stayata za (dve) noshti

ot (vtoree yoolee) do (shestee yoolee)

checking out

moga lee da ya veedya

What time is checkout?

?
Can I leave my luggage here?

?

moga lee da see slozha

palatkata took
eema lee kuhmpeeng nableezo

requests & queries

When/Where is breakfast served?
/ ?
Please wake me at (seven).
().
Could I have my key, please?
, .
Can I get another (blanket)?

().
Is there an elevator/a safe?
/?

fan
toilet

koga/kuhde serveerat zakooskata

molya suhboodete me v (sedem)
daite mee klyoocha molya
daite mee molya oshte edno
(odeyalo)
eema lee asansyor/seyf

Could I have my ?
deposit
passport
valuables

koga tryabva da napoosna stayata

moga lee da ostavya svoya
bagazh took

, .

o

daite mee molya

moya depozeet
moya pasport
moyeete tsennostee

communications & banking

the internet
Wheres the local Internet caf?
-
?
How much is it per hour?
?

kuhde se nameera naibleeskeeyat

eenternet
kolko se plashta na chas

commu ni ca ti ons & b a n k in g BULG ARI AN

64

Do you have a room? ?

single
o o
double

twin

65

Id like to
check my email
get Internet access
use a printer
use a scanner

eeskam da
-
proverya eemeyla see
izpolzvam eenterneta

izpolzvam preenter

izpolzvam skener

(Five) leva per minute.

() .

mobile/cell phone

66

SIM card for your

network

What are the rates?

eeskam
da vzema pod
naem edeen
mobeelen telefon
predplatena karta
za mobeelnee
telefonee za
vashata mrezha

kakvee sa tseneete

telephone
Whats your phone number?

?
The number is
o
Wheres the nearest public phone?
-
?
Id like to buy a phonecard.

.
I want to
call (Singapore)
make a local call
reverse the
charges

kakuhv e vasheeyat telefonen

nomer
nomeruht e
kuhde se nameera naibleeskata
telefonna boodka
eeskam da see koopya dna
telefonna karta

()

eeskam da
se obadya v
(seengapoor)
se obadya nyakuhde
v graduh
se obadya na
tyahnata smetka

?
kolko stroova

razgovor ot
()
(tree) meenootee

vsyaka dopuhlneetelna

meenoota
(pet) leva edna meenoota

post office
I want to send a
letter
parcel
postcard

eeskam da eezpratya
o
edno peesmo
o
edeen kolet
o
edna poshtenska

karteechka

I want to buy a/an

envelope
stamp

Please send it
(to Australia) by
airmail
express mail
registered mail
surface mail

molya da se eezpratee
( )
(v avstraleeya)
y o
s vuhzdooshna poshta

s buhrza poshta
o
preporuhchan
o o
s obeeknovena poshta

Is there any mail for me?

?

eeskam da koopya
edeen pleek
edna marka

eema lee peesma za mene

bank
Wheres a/an ?
ATM
foreign exchange
office

K ?

kuhde eema
bankomat
obmyana na valoota

commu ni ca ti ons & b a n k in g BULG ARI AN

c o m mu ni ca ti ons & b a nk i ng

Id like a
mobile/cell phone
for hire

How much does cost?

a (three)-minute
call
each extra minute

67

Id like to
Where can I ?
arrange a transfer
cash a cheque
change a travellers
cheque
change money
get a cash advance

68

Whats the ?
charge for that
commission

kakva e
komeeseeonna
taksata

Its
(10) leva
free

.
()

e
(deset) leva
bezplatno

Whats the exchange rate?

?
What time does the bank open?
?
Has my money arrived yet?
?

kakuhv e valooten koors

v kolko chasuh se otvarya bankata
pareete mee preesteegnaha lee veche

sightseeing
getting in
What time does it open/close?
oo o/? v kolko chasuh se otvarya/zatvarya
Whats the admission charge?
?
kakva e vhodnata taksa
Is there a discount for students/children?

eema lee namaleneeye za
/?
stoodentee/detsa

Id like a
catalogue
guide
map

eeskam

edeen katalog

edeen geed

edna karta na rayona

Id like to see
Whats that?
Can I take a photo?

Ko o?

?

eeskam da veedya
kakvo e onova
moga lee da napravya
sneemka

koga truhgva
sledvashtata
ednodnevna
ekskoorzeeya
obeekolka

tours
Whens the
next ?
day trip
tour

Is included?
?
accommodation

the admission charge

food

Is transport included?
?
How long is the tour?
?
What time should we be back?
?

vklyoochena lee e
noshtoovkata
vhodnata taksa
hranata

vklyoochen lee e transportuht

kolko trae ekskoorzeeyata
v kolko chasuh shte se vuhrnem

sightseeing
church
main square
monastery
monument
museum
old city
palace
ruins
stadium
statue

f
o m
m
m
y m
m
o m
f pl
o m
ya f

tsuhrkva
tsentralen ploshtad
manasteer
pametnik
moozey
stareeyuht grad
dvorets
razvaleenee
stadeeon
statooa

si ghts e ein g BULGA RIA N

s igh t s e e i ng

withdraw money

eeskam da
?
kuhde moga da

ooredya da mee se

eezpratyat paree

chrez bankov prevod

osrebryuh chek

osrebryuh

puhtneecheskee chek

obmenya paree

eezteglya paree ot

kredeetnata see karta

teglya paree v broy

69

shopping

Id like , please.
a bag
a refund

enquiries
Wheres a ?
bank
bookshop
camera shop
department store

70

Where can I buy ?

( )?
Im looking for

Can I look at it?
?
Do you have any others?
?
Does it have a guarantee?
?
Can I have it sent abroad?

?
Can I have my repaired?

?
Its faulty.
.

kuhde eema
banka
kneezharneetsa
magazeen za
fotoaparatee
ooneeversalen
magazeen
gastronom
pazar
keeosk
soopermarket

kuhde moga da see koopya

(edeen kaneetar)
tuhrsya
moga lee da go razgledam

to return this

paying
How much is it?
Koo y?
Can you write down the price?
, .
Thats too expensive.
.
Whats your lowest price?
- ?
Ill give you (five) euros.
() .
Ill give you (15) leva.
() .
Theres a mistake in the bill.
.

mozhete lee da go eezprateete

v choozhbeena

molya napeeshete tsenata

skuhpo e
kakva e naineezkata vee tsena
shte vee dam (pet) evro
shte vee dam (petnaiset) leva
eema greshka v smetkata

Do you accept ?
credit cards
debit cards
travellers cheques

preeemate lee
kredeetnee kartee
debeetnee kartee
puhtneecheskee
chekove

Id like , please.
a receipt
my change

daite mee molya

kveetantseeya
resto

eemate lee oshte

eema lee garantseeya

kolko stroova

clothes & shoes

mozhete lee da popraveete

moya

Can I try it on?

My size is (42).

ne e na red

It doesnt fit.

?

( ).
.

moga lee da go probvam

nomeruht mee e
(cheteereeset ee dva)
ne mee stava

shopp in g BULGAR I AN

s h op pi ng

grocery store
market
newsagency
supermarket

K ?

oo

, .
eeskam molya

edeen pleek

da mee se vratyuht

pareete

da vuhrna tova neshto

71

small
medium
large

malko
sredno
golyamo

books & music

Id like a
newspaper
(in English)
pen

( )

Is there an English-language bookshop?

?
Im looking for something by (Ivan Vazov).
( ).
Can I listen to this?
?

eeskam
edeen vestneek
(na angleeskee)
edna peesalka
eema lee kneezharneetsa s
kneegee na angleeskee
tuhrsya neshto ot (eevan vazov)
moga lee da sloosham tova

s h op pi ng
72

Can you ?
burn a CD from
my memory card
develop this film
load my film

?
mozhete lee da

zapeeshete na

kompakten deesk ot

moya fleshdraiv

proyaveete tozee film

zaredeete moya film

I need a film
for this camera.
APS
B&W
colour

o-

tryabva mee film

za tozee fotoaparat
a puh suh
chernobyal
tsveten

I need a film
for this camera.
slide
(200) speed

.

()

tryabva mee film

za tozee fotoaparat
za deeapozeeteevee
za skorost (dvesta)

When will it be ready?

Ko oo?

koga shte buhde gotov

greetings, goodbyes & introductions

Hello/Hi.
Good night.
Goodbye/Bye.

/.
.
o/.

zdraveyte/zdravey
leka nosht
doveezhdane/chao

Mr/Mrs
Miss

oo/oo
oo

gospodeen/gospozha
gospozheetsa

How are you?

Fine, thanks.
And you?
Whats your name?

K /? inf/pol
, .
/? inf/pol
K /
? inf/pol
K
o
o .

kak si/ste
dobre blagodarya
a te/veee
kak se kazvash/
kazvate
kazvam se
preeyatno mee e da se
zapoznaya s vas

m
f

y

m
f


y

tova e
moyat preeyatel
moyat brat
moyata duhshterya
moyat bashta
moy preeyatel
moya preeyatelka
moyata preeyatelka
moyat suhproog
moyata maika
moyat preeyatel
moyata preeyatelka
moyata sestra
moyat seen
moyata suhprooga

?
(-)

eto moya
kakuhv e vasheeyat
(eemeyl) adres
faks
telefonen nomer

My name is
Im pleased to
meet you.
This is my
boyfriend
brother
daughter
father
friend
girlfriend
husband
mother
partner (intimate)
sister
son
wife
Heres my
Whats your ?
(email) address
fax number
phone number

me e ti ng p e opl e B ULGARI AN

photography

meeting people

73

occupations

Im years old.
o .
He/She is years old. / .

Whats your occupation?

K ?

kakvo raboteete

Im a/an
artist

yo m
yo f
m
f
m
ka f
o m
o f
y m&f

az suhm
hoodozhneek
hoodozhneechka
beeznesmen
beeznesmenka
fermer
fermerka
cheenovneek
cheenovneechka
oochen

businessperson
farmer
office worker
scientist

74

feelings
Im
Im not
happy
hungry
sad
thirsty
tired

az suhm
ne suhm
shtastleev
gladen
tuhzhen
zhaden
oomoren

Im
Im not
cold
hot
OK

na mene mee e
ne mee e
stoodeno
toplo
dobre

lee vee e
stoodeno
toplo
dobre

Where are you from?

O ?

otkuhde ste

Im from
Australia
Canada
England
New Zealand
the USA

az suhm ot
avstraleeya
kanada
angleeya
nova zelandeeya
suhedeeneneete
shatee

Are you ?
cold
hot
OK

Are you married?

/O
? m/f
/
. m/f
/
. m/f

zhenen/omuhzhena
lee ste
zhenen/omuhzhena
suhm
ne suhm zhenen/
omuhzhena

going out

Im married.
Im single.

age
How old ?
are you
is your daughter
is your son

? na kolko godeenee
/ inf/pol
si/ste

e duhshterya
/ inf/pol
tee/vee
/ inf/pol
e seenuht tee/vee

entertainment
Where can I find ?
clubs
gay venues
pubs

kuhde eema
noshtnee zavedeneeya
gey kloobove
kruhchmee

I feel like going

to a/the
concert
movies
party
restaurant
theatre

hodee mee se
na
kontsert
keeno
edeen koopon
restorant
teatuhr

e nte r ta i n m en t BUL GARI AN

m ee t ing pe op le

background

na godeenee suhm
toy/tya e na godeenee

75

76

Do you like ?
I (dont) like
art
movies
reading
sport
travelling

?
()

haresvate lee
(ne) haresvam
izkoostvoto
keenoto
cheteneto
sportuht
puhtoovaneto

Do you like to ?
dance
go to concerts
listen to music

obeechate lee da
tantsoovate
hodeete na kontsertee
slooshate moozeeka

Id like (the) , please. , .

bill

drink list

menu

that dish

daite mee molya

smetkata
leestata s napeetkeete
menyooto
onova blyoodo

drinks
(cup of) coffee/tea
with milk
without sugar

() /

(chasha) kafe/chai
s mlyako
bez zahar

(orange) juice
soft drink

() m
(portokalov) sok
f bezalkoholna napeetka

food & drink

water
boiled
mineral

voda
prevarena
meeneralna

finding a place to eat

in the bar
shte vzema
shte tee/vee
pocherpya
kakvo shte vzemesh/
vzemete
nazdrave

Can you
recommend a ?
bar
caf
restaurant

mozhete lee da
preporuhchate
edeen bar
edno kafene
edeen restorant

Ill have
Ill buy you a drink.

Id like , please.
a table for (four)

, .

()

()

eeskam molya
edna masa za
(cheteerma)
v zalata za
(ne)pooshachee

Cheers!

/
. inf/pol
/
? inf/pol
!

brandy
cocktail
cognac
a shot of (whisky)

f
m
o m
()

rakeeya
kokteyl
konyak
edno malko (ooeeskee)

a of beer
bottle
glass

beera
edno sheeshe
edna chasha

a bottle of wine
a glass of wine
red
sparkling
white

o
yo
o

edno sheeshe veeno

edna chasha veeno
cherveno
shoomyashto
byalo

the (non)smoking
section

ordering food
breakfast
lunch
dinner
snack

y f
o m
f
f

zakooska
obed
vecherya
zakooska

What would you

recommend?

kakvo shte
preporuhchate

What would you like?

food & drink BULGARIAN

food & drink

interests

77

self-catering
Whats the local speciality?

?
How much is (a kilo of cheese)?
(
)?

menu reader
eema lee nyakakuhv
mesten spetseealeetet
kolko stroova (edeen
keelogram kashkaval)

Id like
(100) grams
(two) kilos
(three) pieces
(six) slices

()
()
()
()

daite mee
(sto) grama
(dva) keelograma
(tree) parcheta
(shest) parcheta

Less.
Enough.
More.

o-o.
.
.

pomalko
dostatuchno
poveche

agneshka
koorban chorba

boiled lamb, cut into cubes with chopped

onion, paprika, rice, parsley & eggs

baneetsa

flaky pasties stuffed with white cheese

bob

seasoned bean soup

buhrkanee yaitsa s
pechenee chooshkee

scrambled eggs with diced roasted

peppers & grated white cheese

droosan kebap

large cubes of meat fried in fat, then

boiled, with spices, onions & parsley

gradeenarska
chorba

soup of celery, carrots, parsley, cabbage

& potatoes, with white cheese & milk

gyoovech

peppers, tomatoes, aubergine, onions,

potatoes, zucchini, carrots & sometimes
meat, cooked in the oven

zryal fasool

boiled kidney beans with onions, carrots,

celery, dried red peppers & mint

kavarma

meat or vegetable stew (usually pork or

chicken), served in an earthenware pot

kebapcheta na
skara

grilled, sausage-shaped pork meatballs,

mixed with finely chopped onion

kyoofteta

round meatballs, similar to the above

kyoofte tatarsko

pork burger filled with melted cheese

lookanka

flat sausage, usually made from dried

pork, beef & spices

- m

meeshmash

scrambled eggs with baked peppers,

onions, tomatoes & cheese

mlechna baneetsa

sweet pastry made with milk & eggs

e f

moosaka ot
teleshko meso

minced beef, sliced eggplant & tomatoes,

covered in white sauce & oven-baked

food & drink

special diets & allergies

78

Is there a vegetarian restaurant near here?

eema lee nableezo
?
vegetereeanskee restorant
Do you have vegetarian food?
e ?
eemate lee vegetereeanska hrana
Could you
prepare a meal
without ?
butter
eggs
meat stock

mozhete lee da
preegotveete
yadeneto bez
krave maslo
yaitsa
mesen boolyon

Im allergic to

/A
m/f

alergeechen/alergeechna
suhm kuhm
mlechnee prodooktee
glooten
muh suh guh
yadkee
morskee prodooktee

dairy produce
gluten
MSG
nuts
seafood

me nu rea d er BUL GARI AN

- f

79

 m en u re a de r

ovneshko peelaf

cubed mutton fried with rice, onions,

seasonings & tomatoes, then cooked

palacheenkee

pancakes

patatneek

hearty cheese & potato omelette

pecheno peele s
domatee

chicken with tomatoes roasted in the

oven & served with rice

puhlnena reeba na
foorna

carp, sea bass or pike stuffed with rice,

hazelnuts, basil & rosemary, then baked

puhlnenee peeperkee
s meso

peppers stuffed with minced veal or pork,

paprika & rice, then cooked in the oven

- f

reeba plakeeya

baked fish (usually carp) with paprika &

tomato paste

seerene po
shopskee

white cheese, eggs & tomatoes baked

in a clay pot

spanak zagora

spinach baked with sour cream, walnuts,

parmesan, garlic, onions & spices

emergencies
basics
Help!
Stop!
Go away!
Thief!
Fire!
Watch out!

oo!
!
!
K!
!
!

pomosht
stop
mahaite se
kradets
pozhar
vneemavaite

Call !
a doctor
an ambulance
the police

o !

oo
o

poveekaite
lekar
buhrza pomosht
poleetseeyata

Its an emergency!
y!
Could you help me, please?
oo?
I have to use the telephone.
.
Im lost.
y .
Where are the toilets?
K o?

suhrmee

vine leaves stuffed with minced lamb

or veal & rice, then cooked in a sauce of
tomatoes, with sour cream or yogurt

tarator

chilled soup made with finely chopped

cucumber, yogurt, walnuts & spices

police

tyoorlyoogyoovech

diced mutton stewed with tomatoes,

peppers & potatoes

halva

dessert of melted butter, sugar &

water, served with crushed walnuts &
cinnamon

chorba ot zryal
fasool

boiled beans with tomato puree, paprika

& mint

Wheres the police station?

?
I want to report an offence.

.
I have insurance.
.

chorba ot peele

soup made by cooking rice in chicken

stock, with yogurt, flour & egg yolks

Ive been
assaulted
raped
robbed

eema speshen sloochai

beehte lee mee pomognalee
tryabva da telefoneeram
zagoobeeh se
kuhde eema toaletnee

kuhde e poleetseyskeeyat oochastuhk

eeskam da suhobshtya edno
naroosheneeye
emam zastrahovka

me
napadnaha
eeznaseeleeha
ograbeeha

e me rge n cies BUL GARI AN

80

- m

81

Ive lost my
y
My was/were stolen. O
backpack

bags

credit card

handbag

jewellery

money

passport
o
travellers

cheques
o
wallet

eezgoobeeh see
otkradnaha mee
raneetsa
chanteete
kredeetnata karta
chantata
beezhootata
pareete
pasporta
puhtneecheskeete
chekove
portfeyla

I want to contact
my
consulate
embassy

eskam da se svuhrzha
s nasheto
konsoolstvo
posolstvo

o
oyo
ooo

o/o . m/f
y o.
/
.

bolen/bolna suhm
took me bolee
bolee me glava/
zuhb

I have (a)
asthma
bronchitis
constipation
cough
diarrhoea
fever
heart condition
pain
sore throat

y

o
o o

eemam
astma
bronheet
zapek
kashleetsa
deeareeya
temperatoora
bolno suhrtse
bolkee
vuhzpaleno guhrlo

Im allergic to

/A
m/f
o

alergeechen/alergeechna
suhm na
anteebeeoteetsee
proteevo
vuhzpaleetelnee
lekarstva
aspeereen
pchelee
kodeeen
peneetseeleen

-/
- ? m/f
o m
m
o f
() f

I need a doctor (who speaks English).

( ).
Could I see a female doctor?
?
Ive run out of my medication.
.

kuhde e naibleezkeeyat/
naibleezkata
zuhbolekar
lekar
bolneetsa
(noshtna) apoteka

m
m
m pl

n pl

n

n
m
n
f pl
n

anteesepteechen
beent
prezervateevee
proteevozachatuhchnee
sredstva
lekarstvo proteev
raztroystvo
sredstvo proteev
nasekomee
poorgateev
obezbolyavashto
solee za ovodnyavane
preespeevatelno

aspirin
bees
codeine
penicillin
antiseptic
bandage
condoms
contraceptives
diarrhoea medicine

tryabva mee lekar

(govoresht angleeskee)
mozhe lee da me pregleda lekarka
svuhrshee mee se e lekarstvoto

insect repellent
laxatives
painkillers
rehydration salts
sleeping tablets

h ea lt h BULGAR I AN

h e al t h

medical needs

82

Im sick.
It hurts here.
I have a headache/
toothache.

antibiotics
antiinflammatories

health
Wheres the
nearest ?
dentist
doctor
hospital
(night) pharmacist

conditions, symptoms & allergies

83

 Lonely Planet Publications

englishbulgarian dictionary
Bulgarian nouns in this dictionary have their gender indicated by (masculine), (feminine) or
(neuter). If its a plural noun, youll also see pl. Adjectives are given in the masculine form only. Words
are also marked as a (adjective), v (verb), sg (singular), pl (plural), inf (informal) or pol (polite) where
necessary.

A A

accident katastrofa
accommodation noshtoovka
adaptor adapter
address adres
after sled
air-conditioned
s kleemateechna eenstalatseeya
airplane samolet
airport leteeshte
alcohol alkohol
all vseechko
allergy alergeeya
ambulance leeneyka
and ee
ankle glezen
arm ruhka
ashtray pepelneetsa
ATM bankomat

84

baby bebe
back (body) gruhb
backpack raneetsa
bad losh
bag chanta
baggage claim
podavane na bagazh
bank banka
bar bar
bathroom banya
battery batereeya
beautiful kraseev
bed leglo
beer beera
before pred
behind zad
bicycle kolelo
big golyam
bill banknota

caf kafene
camera fotoaparat
camp site kuhmpeeng
cancel otkazvam
can opener a otvarachka
car kola
cash paree
cash (a cheque) v osrebryavam
cell phone mobeelen telefon
centre tsentuhr
change (money) v smenyam
cheap evteen
check (bill) smetka
check-in regeestratseeya
chest guhrdee
child dete
cigarette tseegara
city grad
clean a cheest
closed zatvoren
coee kafe
coins pl monetee

D
dangerous opasen
date (time) data
day den
delay zakuhsneneeye
dentist zuhbolekar
depart truhgvam
diaper pelena
dictionary rechneek
dinner vecherya
direct pryak
dirty mruhsen
disabled (person) eenvaleed
discount namaleneeye
doctor lekar
double bed dvoyno leglo
double room staya s dve legla
drink peeya
drive v karam
drivers licence
shofyorska kneeshka
drug (illicit) narkoteek
dummy (pacifier) beeberon

ear ooho
east eeztok
eat yam
economy class vtora klasa
electricity elektreechestvo
elevator asansyor
email - eemeyl
embassy posolstvo

emergency speshen sloochai

English (language) angleeskee
entrance vhod
evening vecher
exchange rate valooten koors
exit eezhod
expensive skuhp
express mail buhrza poshta
eye oko

far daleche
fast buhrz
father bashta
film (camera) feelm
finger pruhst
first-aid kit puhrva pomosht
first class puhrva klasa
fish reeba
food hrana
foot krak
fork veeleetsa
free (of charge) bezplatno
friend / /
preeyatel/preeyatelka
fruit plod
full puhlen
funny smeshen

gift podaruhk
girl momeeche
glass (drinking) chasha
glasses pl ocheela
go oteevam
good dobuhr
green zelen
guide geed

half poloveena
hand ruhka
handbag damska chanta
happy shtastleev
have eemam
he toy
head glava

englishbulgarian

DI C T IO NARY

black cheren
blanket odeyalo
blood group kruhvna groopa
blue seen
boat korab
book (make a reservation) v zapazvam
bottle sheeshe
bottle opener otvarachka
boy momche
brakes (car) pl speerachkee
breakfast zakooska
broken (faulty) razvalen
Bulgaria buhlgareeya
Bulgarian (language) buhlgarskee
Bulgarian a buhlgarskee
bus avtoboos
business tuhrgoveeya
buy koopoovam

cold a stooden
collect call
obazhdane na tyahna smetka
come eedvam
computer kompyootuhr
condom prezervateev
contact lenses pl
kontaktnee leshtee
cook v gotvya
cost tsena
credit card kredeetna karta
cup chasha
currency exchange
obmyana na valoota
customs (immigration) meetneetsa

85

less - pomalko
letter (mail) peesmo
lift (elevator) asansyor
light svetleena
like v haresvam
lock brava
long duhluhg
lost zagooben
lost-property oce
byooro za zagoobenee veshtee
love v obeecham
luggage bagazh
lunch obyad

mail poshta
man muhzh
map karta
market pazar
matches keebreet
meat meso
medicine lekarstvo
menu menyoo
message suhobshteneeye
milk mlyako
minute meenoota
mobile phone
mobeelen telefon
money paree
month mesets
morning sootreen
mother maika
motorcycle o mototseeklet
motorway mageestrala
mouth oosta
music moozeeka

I az
identification (card)
legeeteematseeya
ill bolen
important vazhen
included vklyoochen
injury shteta
insurance zastrahovka
Internet eenternet
interpreter prevodach

jewellery beezhootereeya
job rabota

DI C T IO NARY

86

key klyooch
kilogram keelogram
kitchen koohnya
knife nozh

laundry (place) peralnya

lawyer advokat
left (direction) lyavo
left-luggage oce garderob
leg krak
lesbian a lezbeeskee

name eeme
napkin salfetka
nappy pelena
near bleezuhk
neck vrat
new nov
news noveena
newspaper vestneek
night nosht
no ne

noisy shoomen
nonsmoking za nepooshachee
north sever
nose nos
now sega
number cheeslo

oil (engine) maslo

old star
one-way ticket
ednoposochen beelet
open a otvoren
outside navuhn

package kolet
paper harteeya
park (car) v parkeeram
passport pasport
pay plashtam
pen peesalka
petrol benzeen
pharmacy apteka
phonecard telefonna karta
photo sneemka
plate cheeneeya
police poleetseeya
postcard poshtenska karta
post oce poshta
pregnant bremenna
price tsena

Q
quiet teeh

rain duhzhd
razor samobruhsnachka
receipt kveetantseeya
red cherven
refund
vruhshtane na pareete
registered mail
preporuhchano peesmo
rent v vzemam pod naem

repair v popravyam
reservation rezervatseeya
restaurant restorant
return v vruhshtam
return ticket
beelet za oteevane ee vruhshtane
right (direction) dyasno
road puht
room staya

safe a bezopasen
sanitary napkin
damska prevruhzka
seat myasto
send prashtam
service station
benzeenostantseeya
sex seks
shampoo shampoan
share a room
zheeveya v edna staya s
shaving cream
krem za bruhsnene
she tya
sheet (bed) charshaf
shirt reeza
shoes pl oboovkee
shop magazeen
short kuhs
shower dosh
single room staya s edno leglo
skin kozha
skirt pola
sleep v spyuh
slowly bavno
small maluhk
smoke (cigarettes) v poosha
soap sapoon
some nyakoyee
soon skoro
south yoog
souvenir shop
magazeen za sooveneeree
speak govorya
spoon luhzheetsa
stamp marka
stand-by ticket
beelet na tuhrsee se
station (train) gara
stomach stomah

englishbulgarian

heart suhrtse
heat goreshteena
heavy tezhuhk
help v pomagam
here tooka
high veesok
highway shose
hike v hodya pesh
holiday vakantseeya
homosexual a homoseksooalen
hospital bolneetsa
hot goresht
hotel hotel
hungry gladen
husband muhzh

87

stop v spryuh
stop (bus) speerka
street ooleetsa
student /y /
stoodent/stoodentka
sun sluhntse
sunscreen
krem proteev zagaryane
swim v ploovam

DI C T IO NARY

T T

88

tampons pl tamponee
taxi taksee
teaspoon luhzheechka
teeth pl zuhbee
telephone telefon
television televeezeeya
temperature (weather) epapa
temperatoora
tent palatka
that (one) oa onova
they te
thirsty zhaden
this (one) a tova
throat o guhrlo
ticket beelet
time vreme
tired oomoren
tissues pl
harteeynee nosnee kuhrpeechkee
today dnes
toilet toaletna
tomorrow ootre
tonight dovechera
toothbrush chetka za zuhbee
toothpaste pasta za zuhbee
torch (flashlight) fenerche
tour ekskoorzeeya
tourist oce
byooro za tooreesteecheska eenformatseeya
towel kuhrpa
train vlak
translate prevezhdam
travel agency
tooreesteecheska agentseeya
travellers cheque
puhtneecheskee chek
trousers pl pantalonee
twin beds pl dvoynee legla
tyre gooma

Lonely Planet Publications

underwear belyo
urgent speshen

V
vacant svoboden
vacation vakantseeya
vegetable zelenchook
vegetarian a vegetereeanskee
visa veeza

waiter serveetyor
walk v hodya
wallet portfeyl
warm a topuhl
wash (something) meeya
watch chasovneek
water voda
we neeye
weekend suhbota ee nedelya
west zapad
wheelchair
eenvaleedna koleechka
when koga
where kuhde
white byal
who koy
why zashto
wife zhena
window prozorets
wine veeno
with / s/suhs
without bez
woman zhena
write peesha

Y
yellow zhult
yes da
yesterday vchera
you sg inf tee
you sg pol & pl veeye

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