English Bulgarian Phrases
Bulgarian was the first “Slavic” language attested in writing – alphabet – 850-866 AD.
In the midst of 9 c AD, two brothers – Cyril and Methodius created an alphabet for the Bulgarian (Slavic) language and translated the liturgical books, who were accepted by the state power and personally by Boris I of Bulgaria (852-889). Boris I ruled a country that had already been established on location where the future belongs to the “Family of Christian countries”.
Cyrillic is one of the most used writing systems in the world. The Cyrillic alphabet has been adapted to write over 50 different languages, mainly in Russia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. The Bulgarian priests succeed to establish it in 10 c in Russia and Serbia. After 988, when Kiev Russia also took up Christianity, Cyrillic becomes the first Russian alphabet. At the end of the 18th century the Russian version of Cyrillic or the “civil script” of Peter the Great (1672-1725) was adapted to write Bulgarian.
In many cases additional letters are used, some of which are adaptations of standard Cyrillic letters and using the same roots of the words.
Bulgaria – Bulgarian alphabet, language, religion, traditions, culture for centuries.
Standard Cyrillic-to-Latin transliteration systems include:
- ISO 9:1995, from the International Organization for Standardization.
- American Library Association and Library of Congress Romanization tables for Slavic alphabets (ALA-LC Romanization), used in North American libraries.
- BGN/PCGN Romanization (1947), United States Board on Geographic Names & Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use).
The most popular PC/MAC/Android/iPhone Cyrillic keyboard layouts in English-speaking world in which Cyrillic letters are mapped to the QWERTY keys for Latin letters that “sound” or “look” the same, with several exceptions:
Bulgarian new Phonetic layout.svg
Literacy in Bulgaria – CIA: age 15 and over can read and write.
Most letters in the Bulgarian alphabet stand for just one specific sound! There are various systems for Romanization of Cyrillic text, including transliteration to convey Cyrillic spelling in Latin letters, and transcription to convey pronunciation: Listen to a recording of the Bulgarian alphabet by Стефан Валериев Станчев
/English – Bulgarian Cyrillic – Bulgarian Latin letters/
Greeeting Поздрави – Pozdravi
Hi! Здравей! – Zdravey!
Good morning! Добро утро! – Dobro utro!
Good afternoon! Добър ден! – Dobʲr den!
Good evening! Добър вечер! – Dobʲr vechyer!
Welcome! (to greet someone) Добре дошъл/ Добре дошла – Dobre doshʲl/ Dobre doshla
Hello my friend! Здравей, приятелю! – Zdravey, priyatyelyo!
How are you? (friendly) Как си? – Kak si?
How are you? (polite, official) Как сте? – Kak ste?
I’m fine, thank you! Добре съм, благодаря! – Dobre sum, blagodarya!
And you? (friendly) А ти? – A ti?
And you? (polite) А вие? – A viye?
Good Добре – Dobre
Not so good Не много добре – Ne mnogo dobre
Long time no see! Дълго време не сме се виждали – Dulgo vryeme ne sme se vizhdali
I missed you! Липсаше ми – Lipsashye mi
What’s new? Какво ново? – Kakvo novo?
Nothing new! Нищо ново – Nishto novo
Thank you (very much)! Благодаря ти (много)! – Blagodarya ti (mnogo)!
You’re welcome! (for “thank you”)За нищо! – Za nishto!
My pleasure! Удоволствието е мое – Oodovolstviyeto ye moye
Come in! (or: enter!) Влез! – Vlyez!
Make yourself at home! Чувствай се като у дома! – Choovstvay sye kato oo doma!
How to Introduce Yourself Как да се представите – Kak da se pryedstavite
What’s your name? Как се казвате? – Kak sye kazvatye?
My name is (John Doe) Моето име е (…)/Казвам се… – Moyeto imye ye (…)/Kazvam sye…
Nice to meet you! Приятно ми е да се запознаем! – Priyatno mi ye da sye zapoznayem!
Where are you from? Откъде сте? – Otkʲdye stye?
I’m from the U.S Аз съм от САЩ – Az sum ot USA
Where do you live? Къде живееш? – Kʲdye ʐivyeyesh?
I live in the U.S )Аз живея в Съединените щати – Az ʐivyeya v Sʲyedinyenitye shtati
Do you like it here? Там харесва ли ти? – Tam kharyesva li ti?
Bulgaria is a beautiful country България е красива страна. – Bʲlgariya ye krasiva strana.
What do you do for a living? Какво работите? – Kakvo rabotitye?
I’m a (teacher/ student/ engineer) Аз съм (учител/студент/инженер) – Az sʲm (oochityel/stoodyent/inʐyenyer)
Do you speak (English/ Bulgarian)? Говорите ли (английски/български)? – Govoritye li (angliyski/bʲlgarski)?
Just a little Само малко. – Samo malko.
I like Bulgarian Аз харесвам български (език) – Az kharyesvam bʲlgarski (yezik)
I’m trying to learn BulgarianОпитвам се да науча български – Opitvam sye da naoocha bʲlgarski
It’s a hard languageТой е труден език – Toy ye troodyen yezikIt’s
Oh! That’s good! О, така е добре! – O, taka ye dobrye!
Can I practice with you? Мога ли да практикувам с вас? – Moga li da praktikoovam s vas?
I will try my best to learn Ще направя всичко необходимо да науча – Shtye napravya vsichko nyeobkhodimo da naoocha
How old are you? На колко години сте? – Na kolko godini stye?
I’m (twenty one, thirty two) years old Аз съм на (двадесет и една, тридесет и две) години – Az sʲm na (dvadyesyet i yedna, tridyesyet i dvye) godini
It was nice talking to you! Беше ми приятно да разговарям с вас. – Byeshye mi priyatno da razgovaryam s vas.
It was nice meeting you! Приятно ми е, че се срещнахме! – Priyatno mi ye, chye sye sryeshtnakhmye!
This is my wife Това е съпругата ми – Tova ye sʲproogata mi
Say hi to John for me Кажете на Джон “здравей” от мен – Kaʐyetye na John “zdravyey” ot myen
Short Expressions and words Кратки фрази и думи – Kratki frazi i doomi
Good Добре – Dobrye
Bad Зле – Zlye
So-so (not bad not good) Горе-долу – Gorye-doloo
Big Голям – Golyam
Small Малък – Malʲk
Today Днес – Dnyes
Now Сега – Syega
Tomorrow Утре – Ootrye
Yesterday Вчера – Vchyera
Yes Да – Da
No Не – Nye
Fast Бързо – Bʲrzo
Slow Бавно – Bavno
Hot Горещ – Goryesht
Cold Студен – Stoodyen
This Това – Tova
That Онова – Onova
Here Тук – Took
ThereТам – Tam
Me (Who does this?) Аз – Az
You Ти – Ti
Him Той – Toy
Her Тя – Tya
Us Ние – Niye
Them Те – Tye
Really?Наистина? – Naistina?
Look! Виж! – Viʐ!
What? Какво? – Kakvo?
Where? Къде? – Kʲdye?
Who? Кой? – Koy?
How? Как? – Kak?
When? Кога? – Koga?
Why? Защо? – Zashto?
Zero Нула – Noola
One (1) Едно – Yedno
Two (2) Две – Dvye
Three (3) Три – Tri
Four (4) Четири – Chyetiri
Five (5) Пет – Pyet
Six (6) Шест – Shyest
Seven (7) Седем – Syedyem
Eight (8) Осем – Osyem
Nine (9) Девет – Dyevyet
Ten (10) Десет – Dyesyet
Asking Питане Pitane
Excuse me! (before asking someone) Извинете… – Izvinyetye…
I’m lost Изгубих се – Izgoobikh sye
Can you help me? Можете ли да ми помогнете? – Moʐyetye li da mi pomognyetye?
Can I help you? Мога ли да ви помогна? – Moga li da vi pomogna?
I’m not from here Не съм от тук – Nye sʲm ot took
How can I get to (this place, this city)? Как да стигна до (това място, този град) – Kak da stigna do (tova myasto, tozi grad)
Go straight Вървете направо – Vʲrvyetye napravo
Then След – Slyed
Turn left завийте вляво – zaviytye vlyavo
Turn right завийте вдясно – zaviytye vdyasno
Can you show me? Може ли да ми покажете? – Moʐye li da mi pokaʐyetye?
I can show you! Аз ще ви покажа! – Az shtye vi pokaʐa!
Come with me! Елате с мен! – Yelatye s myen!
How long does it take to get there? Колко време ми е неободимо да стигна до там? – Kolko vryemye mi ye nyeobodimo da stigna do tam?
Downtown (city center) Център – Tzyentʲr
Historic center (old city) Исторически център – Istorichyeski tzyentʲr
It’s near here Близо е до тук – Blizo ye do took
It’s far from here Далече е от тук – Dalyechye ye ot took
Is it within walking distance? Може ли да се стигне пеша? – Moʐye li da sye stignye pyesha?
I’m looking for Mr. Ivanov Търся г-н Иванов. – Tʲrsya g-n Ivanov.
One moment please! Един момент, моля! – Yedin momyent, molya!
Hold on please! (when on the phone) Изчакайте, моля! – Izchakaytye, molya!
He is not here Той не е тук – Toy nye ye took
Airport Летище – Lyetishtye
Bus station Автобусна гара, автогара – Avtoboosna gara, avtogaraT
rain station Гара – Gara
Taxi Такси – Taksi
Near Близо – Blizo
Far Далече – Dalyechye
Misunderstanding неразбирателство nyerazbiratyelstvo
Sorry! (I beg your pardon!) Моля? – Molya?
Sorry (for a mistake) Извинете! – Izvinyetye!
No problem! Няма проблеми – Nyama problyemi
Can you repeat please? Може ли да повторите? – Moʐye li da povtoritye?
Can you speak slowly? Може те ли да говорите по-бавно? – Moʐye tye li da govoritye po-bavno?
Can you write it down? Бихте ли го написали? – Bikhtye li go napisali?
Did you understand what I said? Разбрахте ли какво казах? – Razbrakhtye li kakvo kazakh?
I don’t understand! Не ви разбирам! – Nye vi razbiram!
I don’t know! Не знам! – Nye znam!
What’s that called in Bulgarian?Как се казва това на български? – Kak sye kazva tova na bʲlgarski?
What does that word mean in English? Какво означава тази дума на английски? – Kakvo oznachava tazi dooma na angliyski?
What is this? Какво е това? – Kakvo ye tova?
My Bulgarian is bad Моя български е лош – Moya bʲlgarski ye losh
Don’t worry! Не се безпокой! – Nye sye byezpokoy!
I agree with you Съгласен съм с тебе – Sʲglasyen sʲm s tyebye
Is that right? Това правилно ли е? – Tova pravilno li ye?
Is that wrong? Какво е грешно? – Kakvo ye gryeshno?
What should I say? Какво трябва да кажа? – Kakvo tryabva da kaʐa?
I just need to practice Имам нужда от практика – Imam nooʐda ot praktika
Your Bulgarian is good Твоя български е добър – Tvoya bʲlgarski ye dobʲr
I have an accent Говоря с акцент – Govorya s aktzyent
Emergency Survival Phrases Спешни случаи – Spyeshni sloochai
Help! Помощ! – Pomosht!
Stop! Спрете! – Spryetye!
Fire! Пожар! – Poʐar!
Thief! Крадец! – Kradyetz!
Run! Бягай! – Byagay!
Watch out! (alert!) Внимавай! – Vnimavay!
Call the police! Извикайте полиция! – Izvikaytye politziya!
Call a doctor! Извикайте лекар! – Izvikaytye lyekar!
Call the ambulance! Извикайте линейка! – Izvikaytye linyeyka!
Are you okay? Добре ли си? – Dobrye li sye?
I feel sick Чувствам се зле – Choovstvam sye zlye
I need a doctor Трябва ми лекар – Tryabva mi lyekar
Acciden tИнцидент – Intzidyent
Food poisoning Хранително отравяне – Khranityelno otravyanye
Where is the closest pharmacy? Къде е най-близката аптека? – Kʲdye ye nay-blizkata aptyeka?
It hurts here Боли ме тук – Boli mye took
It’s urgent! Спешно е! – Spyeshno ye!
Calm down! Успокой се! – Oospokoy sye!
You will be okay! Всичко ще е наред! – Vsichko shtye ye naryed!
Can you help me? Може ли да ми помогнете? – Moʐye li da mi pomognyetye?
Can I help you? Мога ли да помогна? – Moga li da pomogna?
Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases Хотел, ресторант пътуване – Khotyel, ryestorant pʲtoovanye
I have a reservation (for a room) Имам резервация (за стя) – Imam ryezyervatziya (za stya)
Do you have rooms available? Имате ли свободни стаи? – Imatye li svobodni stai?
With shower / With bathroomс душ/със баня – s doosh/sʲs banya
I would like a non-smoking room Искам стая за непушачи – Iskam staya za nyepooshachi
What is the charge per night? Каква е цената за нощувка? – Kakva ye tzyenata za noshtoovka?
I’m here on business /on vacation Аз съм тук по бизнес/на почивка – Az sʲm took po biznyes/na pochivka
Dirty Мръсно – Mrʲsno
Clean Чисто – Chisto
Do you accept credit cards? Приемате ли кредитни карти? – Priyematye li kryeditni karti?
I’d like to rent a car Искам да наема кола – Iskam da nayema kola
How much will it cost? Колко ще струва? – Kolko shtye stroova?
A table for (one / two) please! Маса за един/двама, моля! – Masa za yedin/dvama, molya!
Is this seat taken? Това място заето ли е? – Tova myasto zayeto li ye?
I’m vegetarian Аз съм вегетарианец – Az sʲm vyegyetarianyetz
I don’t eat pork Не ям свинско – Nye yam svinsko
I don’t drink alcohol Не пия алкохол – Nye piya alkokhol
What’s the name of this dish? Как се казва това ядене? – Kak sye kazva tova yadene?
Waiter / waitress! Келнер! – Kyelnyer!
Can we have the check please? Може ли сметката. Моля? – Moʐye li smyetkata. Molya?
It is very delicious! Много е вкусно! – Mnogo ye vkoosno!
I don’t like it Не ми харесва – Nye mi kharyesva
Shopping Expressions Пазаруване – Pazaroovanye – In the store & mall – магазин и мол Magazin Mall
How much is this? Колко струва? – Kolko stroova?
I’m just looking Само разглеждам – Samo razglyeʐdam
I don’t have change Нямам дребни – Nyamam dryebni
This is a little expensive Това е малко скъпо – Tova ye malko skupo
Expensive Скъпо – Skʲpo
Cheap Евтино – Yevtino
Extra Expressions Разни изрази – Nyakoi izrazi
What time is it? Колко е часът? – Kolko ye chasʲt?
It’s 3 o’clock Три часа е – Tri chasa ye
Give me this! Дай ми това! – Day mi tova!
Are you sure? Сигуре ли си? – Sigoorye li si?
Take this! (when giving something) Вземи това! – Vzyemi tova!
It’s freezing (weather) Замръзвам – Zamrʲzvam
It’s cold (weather) Студено е – Stoodyeno ye
It’s hot (weather) Горещо е – Goryeshto ye
Do you like it? Харесва ли ти? – Kharyesva li ti?
I really like it! Наистина ми харесва! – Naistina mi kharyesva!
I’m hungry Гладен/на съм – Gladyen/na sʲm
I’m thirsty Жаден съм – ʐadyen sʲm
He is funny Той е смешен – Toy ye smyeshyen
Hurry up! Побързай! – Pobʲrzay!
Romance and Love – Любов и Романтика – Lyubov i Romantika
Are you free tomorrow evening? Свободен ли сте утре вечер? – Svobodyen li stye ootrye vyechyer?
I would like to invite you to dinner Бих искал да ви поканя на вечеря – Bikh iskal da vi pokanya na vyechyerya
You look beautiful! (to a woman) Красива сте! – Krasiva stye!
You have a beautiful name Имате красиво име – Imatye krasivo imye
Can you tell me more about you? Кажете ми повече за себе си? – Kaʐyetye mi povyechye za syebye si?
Are you married? Женен/а ли сте? – ʐyenyen/а li stye?
I’m single Не съм женен/а – Nye sʲm ʐyenyen/а
I’m married Аз съм женен/а – Az sʲm ʐyenyen/а
Can I have your phone number? Може ли да ми дадете вашия телефон? – Moʐye li da mi dadyetye vashiya telephone?
Can I have your email? Може ли да ми дадете вашия имейл? – Moʐye li da mi dadyetye vashiya imyeyl?
Do you have any pictures of you? Имате ли снимки? – Imatye li snimki?
Do you have children? Имате ли деца? – Imatye li dyetza?
Would you like to go for a walk? Искате ли да идем на разходка? – Iskatye li da idyem na razkhodka?
I like you Харесвате ми – Kharyesvatye mi
I love you Обичам те – Obicham tye
You’re very special! Вие сте много специален/а – Viye stye mnogo spyetzialyen/a
You’re very kind! Много сте мил/а – Mnogo stye mil/a
I’m very happy Щастлив(а) съм – Shtastliv(a) sʲm
Would you marry me? Ще се ожените ли за мен? – Shtye sye oʐyenitye li za myen?
I’m just kidding Шегувам се – Shyegoovam sye
I’m serious Сериозен съм – Syeriozyen sʲm
My heart speaks the language of love Моето сърце говори на езика на любовта – Moyeto sʲrtzye govori na yezika na lyobovta
Cuss Words
This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness)Това е глупост! – Tova ye gloopost!
My God! (amazement) Господи! – Gospodi!
Oh gosh! (making a mistake) О. боже! – O. boʐye!
It sucks! (this is not good) Кофти! – Kofti!
What’s wrong with you? Какво ти става? – Kakvo ti stava?
Are you crazy? Да не си луд? – Da nye si lood?
Get lost! (go away) Махай се! – Makhay sye!
Leave me alone! Остави ме на мира! – Ostavi mye na mira!
I’m not interested! Неме интересува! – Nyemye intyeryesoova!
Farewell Expressions Изрази при раздяла – Izrazi pri razdyala
Have a nice day! Приятен ден! – Priyatyen den!
Good night! Лека нощ! – Leka nosht!
Good night and sweet dreams! Лека нощ и приятни сънища! – Lyeka nosht i priyatni sʲnishta!
See you later! До по-късно! – Do po-kusno!
See you soon! До скоро! – Do skoro!
See you tomorrow! До утре! – Do ootrye!
Good bye! Довиждане! – Dovizhdanye!
Have a good trip! Приятно пътуване! – Priyatno putoovanye!
I have to go! Трябва да тръгвам – Tryabva da trʲgvam
I will be right back ! Връщам се веднага! – Vrushtam sye vyednaga!
Holidays and Wishes Пожелания – Pozhelaniya
Happy birthday! Честит рожден ден! – Chyestit rozhdyen dyen!
Happy new year! Честита нова година! – Chyestita nova godina!
Merry Christmas! Весела Коледа! – Vyesyela Kolyeda!
Happy anniversary! Честита годишнина! – Chyestita godishnina!
Congratulations! Поздравления! – Pozdravlyeniya!
Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) Добър апетит! – Dobur apyetit!
Bless you (when sneezing) Наздраве! – Nazdrave!
Best wishes! Най-добри пожелания! – Nay-dobri pozhyelaniya!
Cheers! (or: to your health) Наздраве! – Nazdrave!
Accept my best wishes! Приемете най-добрите ми пожелания! – Priyemyetye nay-dobritye mi pozhelaniya!
Writing a Letter
Dear Ivan/Ivana Скъпи/а, – Skʲpi/a Ivan/Ivana
My trip was very nice Моето пътуване беше много хубаво – Moyeto pʲtoovanye byeshye mnogo khoobavo
The culture and people were very interesting Културата и хората са много интересни – Kooltoorata i khorata sa mnogo intyeryesni
I had a good time with you Прекарах добре с тебе – Pryekarakh dobrye s tyebye
I would love to visit your country again Бих искал да посетя вашата страна отново – Bikh iskal da posyetya vashata strana otnovo
Don’t forget to write me back from time to time Не забравяй да ми пишеш отвреме навреме – Nye zabravyay da mi pishyesh otvryemye navryemye
“The Bulgarian voice in outer space”
— Famous singer Valya Balkanska is one of Bulgaria’s greatest treasures. Her name is equivalent for “The Bulgarian voice in outer space”. The most famous voice of Bulgaria, symbol of the “Rhodope song” is also called the phenomenon in the Bulgarian folklore. The glamorous career of the talented Balkanska, born in the Rhodopes mountains, began with the song “Izlel e Delyu Haidutin.” This particular song together with twenty-seven other musical performances was sent to space in August 1977 with US Voyager.
Mmm
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