Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Learning Bulgarian: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Bulgarian course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Bulgarian is like

Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic and is a South Slavic language — a cousin of Serbian and Russian, so some words look familiar. Two things to notice: it has a suffix definite article (къща = house, къщата = the house), and verbs have no infinitive in the usual sense — you learn a form like искам (I want) and build from there. Stress can fall anywhere, so listen and repeat.

Words you may already know

Pronunciation notes

Bulgarian is written phonetically in Cyrillic — once you know the letters, you can read almost any word. These are the sounds to watch.

• ъ — like the vowel in "cut" — the short schwa sound, as in български = bəl-GAR-skee.
• щ — a soft "sht", as in баща = bah-SHTA.
• ж — like the "s" in "pleasure", as in жаба = ZHAH-ba.
• дж — like the "j" in "jam", as in джоб = job.
• х — a breathy "h" from the throat, as in хляб = hlyahp.
• ч — like the "ch" in "cheese", as in чай = chah-ee.
• ц — like the "ts" in "cats", as in цена = tseh-NAH.
• й — like the "y" in "yes" — it also softens the consonant before it, as in майка = MY-kah.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

How the Bulgarian course is structured

The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

1. Greetings & first words — здравей · добър ден · довиждане
2. Being polite — благодаря · моля · извинете
3. Numbers 1–10 — едно · две · три · десет
4. I want" — the verb искам — искам · бих искал · трябва ми
5. Food & drink — вода · хляб · кафе · чай
6. Getting around — къде е · наляво · надясно · направо
7. Questions & "do you have…?" — имате ли · има ли · мога ли
8. Family & people — семейство · майка · баща · брат
9. Time, days & weather — днес · утре · какво е времето?
10. Saying your name — казвам се · как се казваш · приятно ми е
11. Health & emergency — помощ · лекар · не разбирам
12. Tying it together — a capstone scene

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings & first words

Key pieces: здравей · добър ден · довиждане

The first greeting to learn: Здравей — hello (informal, to a friend). Say it out loud.

• Здравей (zdrah-VEY) — hello (informal)
• Добър ден (DOH-bər den) — good day (formal)
• Добро утро (doh-BROH OO-troh) — good morning
• Довиждане (doh-veezh-DAH-neh) — goodbye
• Да (dah) — yes
• Не (neh) — no

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Bulgarian: Здравей, как си? (zdrah-VEY, kahk see). Built from здравей = hello; как си? = how are you?.

To ask how someone is: Как си? (informal). The reply is Добре, благодаря — well, thanks.

• Как си? (kahk see) — how are you?
• Добре, благодаря (doh-BREH, blah-goh-DAH-ryah) — well, thanks
• Приятно ми е (pree-YAHT-noh mee e) — pleased to meet you

To say “Good day, how are you?” in Bulgarian: Добър ден, как си? (DOH-bər den, kahk see). Built from добър ден = good day; как си? = how are you?.

Being polite

Key pieces: благодаря · моля · извинете

The two words that open every door: Благодаря (thank you) and моля (please / you're welcome).

• Благодаря (blah-goh-DAH-ryah) — thank you
• Моля (MOH-lyah) — please / you're welcome
• Извинете (eez-vee-NEH-teh) — excuse me (formal)
• Съжалявам (suh-zhyah-LYAH-vahm) — I'm sorry

To say “Thank you very much” in Bulgarian: Много благодаря (MNOH-goh blah-goh-DAH-ryah). Built from много = very; благодаря = thank you.

Извинете is your 'excuse me' for getting attention. Моля works both as 'please' and as the reply to 'thank you'.

To say “Excuse me, please” in Bulgarian: Извинете, моля (eez-vee-NEH-teh, MOH-lyah). Built from извинете = excuse me; моля = please.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: едно · две · три · десет

Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: едно, две, три .

• едно (EHD-noh) — 1
• две (dveh) — 2
• три (tree) — 3
• четири (CHEH-tee-ree) — 4
• пет (peht) — 5
• десет (DEH-seht) — 10

To say “Two coffees, please” in Bulgarian: Две кафета, моля (dveh kah-FEH-tah, MOH-lyah). Built from две = two; кафета = coffees; моля = please.

Колко струва? = how much does it cost? The essential question for shopping.

To say “How much is it?” in Bulgarian: Колко струва? (KOL-koh STROO-vah). Built from колко = how much; струва = it costs.

To say “It's five leva” in Bulgarian: Пет лева (peht LEH-vah). Built from пет = five; лева = leva (currency).

I want" — the verb искам

Key pieces: искам · бих искал · трябва ми

The magic word to ask for anything: искам — I want.

More polite: бих искал — I would like. Use it when ordering.

To say “I want a coffee” in Bulgarian: Искам кафе (EES-kahm kah-FEH). Built from искам = I want; кафе = coffee.

To say “I would like water, please” in Bulgarian: Бих искал вода, моля (beekh EES-kahl voh-DAH, MOH-lyah). Built from бих искал = I would like; вода = water; моля = please.

For 'I need', Bulgarians say трябва ми .

To say “I need help” in Bulgarian: Трябва ми помощ (TRYAHB-vah mee POH-mohsht). Built from трябва ми = I need; помощ = help.

Food & drink

Key pieces: вода · хляб · кафе · чай

Key food words: вода (water), хляб (bread), кафе (coffee), чай (tea).

• вода (voh-DAH) — water Memory hook: ≈ English water & German Wasser.
• хляб (hlyahp) — bread
• кафе (kah-FEH) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
• чай (chah-ee) — tea Memory hook: ≈ English tea.
• бира (bee-RAH) — beer
• менюто (meh-NYOO-toh) — the menu Memory hook: ≈ English menu.

To say “Water and bread, please” in Bulgarian: Вода и хляб, моля (voh-DAH ee hlyahp, MOH-lyah). Built from вода = water; и = and; хляб = bread; моля = please.

To say “One coffee, please” in Bulgarian: Едно кафе, моля (EHD-noh kah-FEH, MOH-lyah). Built from едно = one; кафе = coffee; моля = please.

To ask for the bill: Сметката, моля — the bill, please.

To say “The bill, please” in Bulgarian: Сметката, моля (SMEHT-kah-tah, MOH-lyah). Built from сметката = the bill; моля = please.

Getting around

Key pieces: къде е · наляво · надясно · направо

The most useful question in any city: Къде е…? — where is…?

• Къде е...? (kuh-DEH eh) — where is...?
• наляво (nah-LYAH-voh) — to the left
• надясно (nah-DYAH-snoh) — to the right
• направо (nah-PRAH-voh) — straight ahead
• гарата (GAH-rah-tah) — the station Memory hook: ≈ English station (via French gare).
• банята (BAH-nyah-tah) — the bathroom Memory hook: ≈ English bath.

To say “Where is the station?” in Bulgarian: Къде е гарата? (kuh-DEH eh GAH-rah-tah). Built from къде е = where is; гарата = the station.

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Bulgarian: Къде е банята? (kuh-DEH eh BAH-nyah-tah). Built from къде е = where is; банята = the bathroom.

Наляво , надясно and направо steer you: left, right, straight ahead.

To say “Straight ahead” in Bulgarian: Направо (nah-PRAH-voh). Built from направо = straight ahead.

Questions & "do you have…?"

Key pieces: имате ли · има ли · мога ли

To ask if someone has something: Имате ли…? — do you have…? (formal).

To say “Do you have a table?” in Bulgarian: Имате ли маса? (ee-MAH-teh lee MAH-sah). Built from имате ли = do you have; маса = table.

Има ли…? = is there…? Very handy.

To say “Is there wifi?” in Bulgarian: Има ли уифи? (ee-MAH lee wee-FEE). Built from има ли = is there; уифи = wifi.

Мога ли…? = may I…? For polite requests.

To say “May I pay?” in Bulgarian: Мога ли да платя? (MOH-gah lee dah plah-TYAH). Built from мога ли = may I; да платя = to pay.

And to ask a price again: Колко струва?

To say “How much does it cost?” in Bulgarian: Колко струва? (KOL-koh STROO-vah). Built from колко = how much; струва = it costs.

Family & people

Key pieces: семейство · майка · баща · брат

Family words: семейство (family), майка (mother), баща (father).

• семейство (seh-MEY-stvoh) — family
• майка (MY-kah) — mother
• баща (bah-SHTA) — father
• брат (braht) — brother Memory hook: ≈ English brother.
• сестра (ses-TRAH) — sister
• приятел (pree-YAH-tehl) — friend (m.)

To say “I have a brother” in Bulgarian: Имам брат (EE-mahm braht). Built from имам = I have; брат = brother.

Имам = I have. The key verb to say what you've got.

To say “I have a family” in Bulgarian: Имам семейство (EE-mahm seh-MEY-stvoh). Built from имам = I have; семейство = family.

Time, days & weather

Key pieces: днес · утре · какво е времето?

Today is днес , tomorrow is утре , yesterday is вчера .

• днес (dnehs) — today
• утре (OO-treh) — tomorrow
• вчера (VCHER-ah) — yesterday
• сега (seh-GAH) — now
• Какво е времето? (KAHK-voh eh VREH-meh-toh) — what's the weather?

To say “See you tomorrow” in Bulgarian: До утре (doh OO-treh). Built from до = until; утре = tomorrow.

Ask about the weather: Какво е времето?

To say “It's raining” in Bulgarian: Вали (VAH-lee). Built from вали = it rains.

To say “It's sunny” in Bulgarian: Слънчево е (SLUHN-cheh-voh e). Built from слънчево = sunny; е = is.

Saying your name

Key pieces: казвам се · как се казваш · приятно ми е

Say your name: Казвам се… — my name is….

To say “My name is Alex” in Bulgarian: Казвам се Alex (KAHZ-vahm se Alex). Built from казвам се = my name is; Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: Как се казваш?

To say “What's your name?” in Bulgarian: Как се казваш? (kahk se KAHZ-vahsh). Built from как = how; се казваш = do you call yourself?.

Приятно ми е = pleased to meet you.

To say “Pleased to meet you” in Bulgarian: Приятно ми е (pree-YAHT-noh mee e). Built from приятно ми е = pleased to meet you.

To ask where someone is from: Откъде си?

To say “Where are you from?” in Bulgarian: Откъде си? (ot-KUH-deh see). Built from откъде = from where; си = are you.

Аз съм от… — I am from…

Health & emergency

Key pieces: помощ · лекар · не разбирам

The words that matter most in a crisis: Помощ! (help), лекар (doctor), болница (hospital).

• Помощ! (POH-mohsht) — help!
• лекар (leh-KAR) — doctor
• болница (bohl-NEE-tsah) — hospital
• аптека (ahp-TEH-kah) — pharmacy Memory hook: ≈ English pharmacy (from Greek apotheke).
• полиция (poh-LEE-tsee-ya) — police Memory hook: ≈ English police.
• Не разбирам (neh rahz-BEE-rahm) — I don't understand

To say “Help!” in Bulgarian: Помощ! (POH-mohsht). Built from помощ = help.

To say “I don't understand” in Bulgarian: Не разбирам (neh rahz-BEE-rahm). Built from не = not; разбирам = I understand.

Ask if someone speaks English: Говорите ли английски?

To say “Do you speak English?” in Bulgarian: Говорите ли английски? (goh-voh-REE-teh lee ahn-GLEE-skee). Built from говорите ли = do you speak; английски = English.

To request a doctor: Трябва ми лекар — I need a doctor.

To say “I need a doctor” in Bulgarian: Трябва ми лекар (TRYAHB-vah mee leh-KAR). Built from трябва ми = I need; лекар = doctor.

Tying it together

Key pieces: a capstone scene

Great — you've built a real toolkit. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Bulgarian: Здравей, как си? (zdrah-VEY, kahk see). Built from здравей = hello; как си? = how are you?.

To say “I would like a coffee, please” in Bulgarian: Бих искал кафе, моля (beekh EES-kahl kah-FEH, MOH-lyah). Built from бих искал = I would like; кафе = coffee; моля = please.

To say “Where is the station?” in Bulgarian: Къде е гарата? (kuh-DEH eh GAH-rah-tah). Built from къде е = where is; гарата = the station.

To say “How much is it?” in Bulgarian: Колко струва? (KOL-koh STROO-vah). Built from колко струва? = how much is it?.

Common mistakes and things to watch out for

• Здравей (zdrah-VEY): informal.
• Добър ден (DOH-bər den): formal.
• Извинете (eez-vee-NEH-teh): formal.

Culture and etiquette

The Cyrillic script

Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic — and it's actually this region's gift to the world, developed in the 9th century. Learn a few letters and signs suddenly unlock: З = "z", Т = "t", Д = "d", И = "i", М = "m".

The Rose Valley

Bulgaria is one of the biggest producers of rose oil in the world, centred on the Rose Valley below the Balkan mountains. The town of Kazanlak hosts a rose festival each year. It takes a huge number of petals to make a single drop — which is why it is so prized.

Orthodox faith

Most Bulgarians are Eastern Orthodox, and the richly painted churches with their icons and gold domes are part of everyday life. Look out for Рождество (Christmas) and especially Великден (Easter) — the biggest celebration of the year.

The reversed nod

In Bulgaria, a slow side-to-side head shake can mean "yes" and a small nod can mean "no" — roughly the opposite of what you might expect. Watch for the first few times and you'll pick it up fast.

Martenitsa & Baba Marta

On the 1st of March Bulgarians exchange martenitsi — red-and-white threads worn for health and luck — to welcome Baba Marta ('Grandma March'). The custom is to wear one until you see a blossoming tree, then tie it on a branch.

Banitsa & shopska

Banitsa is a flaky cheese pastry, and ice-cold yoghurt is a national obsession. The iconic shopska salad (with tomato, cucumber and grated sirene cheese) is a signature of Bulgarian cuisine and a light, refreshing way to start any meal.

Example dialogues

At a café

On the train

At a restaurant

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.