English-Bulgarian glossary
What you should know first The purpose of this glossary is to help you learn the very basics of Bulgarian language.
Vowels in bold show where the stress is.
Okay, let‟s start with some numbers
One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten
Edno Dve Tri Chetiri Pet Shest Sedem Osem Devet Deset
…and more numbers :D
Twenty Thirty Forty Fifty Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred
Dvadeset Trideset Chetirideset Petdeset Sheyset Sedemdeset Osemdeset Devetdeset Sto
And now colors
Cheren Byal Sin Zhalt Cherven Zelen Oranzhev Kafyav Rozov
The months & seasons Meseci i sezoni
Spring - Prolet March April May
Mart April Mai
Summer - Lyato
June July August
Yuni Yuli Avgust
Autumn - Esen September October November
Septemvri Oktomvri Noemvri
Winter - Zima December January February
Dekemvri Yanuari Fevruari
Some basic phrases…
Yes No Maybe Certainly Hello Bye
Da Ne Mozhe bi Razbira se Zdravei Chao
…and more
Thanks! You‟re welcome Please Sorry
Today Tomorrow Yesterday
Blagodarya! Molya Molya te Izvinyavai Dnes Utre Vchera
…aand more Good Good Good Good
morning! afternoon! evening! night.
Dobro utro! Dobar den! Dobar vecher! Leka nosht.
How are you? Are you busy?
What‟s up?
Kak si? Zaet li si?
K‟vo stava?
…aaand more
What‟s your name? My name is… Good luck! Regards!
I‟m going to… Drive me to… Take me to…
Kak se kazvash? Kazvam se… Uspeh! Pozdravi! Otivam kam… Zakarai me kam… Zavedi me kam…
…aaaand more How much/many? How much does it cost? How can I find…?
Do you want…? I want… I don‟t want…
Kolko? Kolko struva? Kak da namerya…?
Iskash li? Iskam… Ne iskam…
Now for some common adjectives
Beautiful Ugly Good Bad Cheap Expensive Big Small
Krasivo Grozno Dobro Losho /Zle Evtino Skupo Golyamo Malko
…and some very common nouns
Credit Card ATM
Beer Wine Brandy
Kreditna karta Bankomat
Bira Vino Rakia
…and of course!
CHEERS!
Nazdrave!
Enjoy your meal!
Dobar apetit!
Travelling
Bus station Bus-stop Train station Train Ticket Time-schedule Trunk
Avtogara Spirka Zhe-Pe Gara Vlak Bilet Razpisanie Kufar
More common words…
Sheets Bed Washing machine Wash (clothes) Soap Iron
Charshafi Leglo Peralnya Pera (drehi) Sapun Yutia
Dust Bucket Mop Broom Vacuum cleaner
Prah Kofa Stirka Metla Prahosmukachka
Feelings - Chustva
Happy Sad Thirsty Hungry Full Shy
Shtastliv Tuzhen Zhaden Gladen Sit Sramezhliv
Some more 1.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6.
I‟m Hot I‟m Cold Sick Healthy Angry Bored (hope you aren‟t)
2. 3. 4.
5. 6.
Toplo mi e Studeno mi e Bolen Zdrav Yadosan Otekchen
Sizes - Razmeri
Big Small Fat Thin Tall Short (height) Short (length) Long Wide Tight
Golyam Malak Debel Slab Visok Nisak (visochina) Kas (dalzhina) Dalag Shirok Tesen
Hmm, you might also be interested in these
Eyes Lips Hair Face
I like you! I love you!
Ochi Ustni Kosa Lice
Haresvam te! Obicham te!
Traditional Bulgarian holidays
Liberation Day
On March 3, 1878 a treaty was signed at San Stefano, a small village west of Istanbul, between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, marking the end of the Russo-Turkish war (1877-78).
The treaty provided the creation of 2 areas on Bulgaria‟s current territory – Eastern Rumelia and the Principality of Bulgaria as autonomous, after almost 500 years of Ottoman domination. The day the treaty was signed is celebrated as Liberation Day in Bulgaria.
The Shipka monument
24th of May – Day of Slavonic script and culture
The Cyrillic alphabet
The Cyrillic alphabet, which is used today by most Slavonic people, was invented by the two brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century.
24th of May is not only the day of Slavonic script, Bulgarian education and culture, but also the day of the two saints – the Apostles of the Slavs. The day is widely celebrated all over the country by everyone and especially by people working in the education sector.
The two brothers – Cyril & Methodius
22nd of September – Independence Day After the union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, Bulgaria‟s political elite was entirely focused on reaching independence. After lots of efforts and favorable political circumstances, this was finally done on 22nd of September, 1908. Bulgaria was defined as a kingdom, ruled by King Ferdinand I. Nowadays this holiday is not as popular as it was before.
King Ferdinand I & the building of the National Assembly
After the treaty of San Stefano, the Great Powers began to fear that the reformed country of Bulgaria could threaten the balance of Europe. Therefore a new treaty was created and enforced by the Great Powers – the treaty of Berlin. It reduced the country‟s territory and was harming its economics greatly. Moreover, Bulgaria was defined as a tributary principality of the Ottoman Empire. Former President Georgi Parvanov at an army festivity
St. jordanâ€&#x;s day (yordanovden) ď‚—
In Eastern Christianity, Jesus' baptizing is commemorated on 6 January, the holiday of Epiphany.
A traditional custom of the day is diving into a river for a contest to get a cross thrown by a priest.
St. Nicholas‟ day (nikulden)
Revered as the savior of captives and protector of sailors, travelers, traders and bankers.
In the Orthodox faith of the Bulgarians, Saint Nikolay, whose name means "victorious“, is revered as the patron of fishermen. So it is very common to eat fish on this day, especially carp.
St. trifonâ€&#x;s day (trifon zarezan) ď‚—
Celebrated by wine growers, falconers, gardeners and tavern-keepers on 14 February.
On this day a custom is to trim the vineyards and to drink a lot of wine. Also for the table it is recommended to put a stuffed chicken.
Easter (velikden) ď‚—
Bulgaria celebrates the holy festival of Easter with immense splendor and grandeur. Easter celebrations are marked by red colored eggs, special Easter breads, midnight church round, and breaking eggs for good luck.
The custom of greeting can be seen through an orthodox Paschal greeting, "Christ has risen!" which is followed by "Indeed, He is risen".
St. George's day (gergyovden) ď‚—
The holy martyr St. George the Victor has been considered one of the most important Saints ever since Christianity became the official state religion in Bulgaria in the 9th century. In Bulgaria St. George is the patron of spring verdure and fertility, and of shepherds and farmers. His Day, May 6, is believed to set in summer and the new farming cycle.
Possibly the most celebrated name day in the country, St George's Day is a public holiday that takes place on 6 of May each year. A common ritual is to cook and eat a whole lamb, which is an ancient practice possibly related to Slavic pagan sacrificial traditions and the fact that St. George is the patron saint of shepherds. St George's Day is also the Day of the Bulgarian Army.
Kukeri & lent (zagovezni) ď‚—
Kukeri is a Bulgarian ritual to scare away evil spirits, with costumed men performing a ritual dance. The costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals and large bells attached to the belt. Around New Year and before Lent, the kukeri walk and dance through the village to scare evil spirits away with the costumes and the sound of the bells, as well as to provide a good harvest, health, and happiness to the village during the year.
The kukeri traditionally visit the peoples' houses at night so that "the sun would not catch them on the road." After going around the village they gather at the square to dance wildly and amuse the people. The ritual varies by region but its essence remains largely the same.
New year eve‟s banitsa It is a traditional Bulgarian food prepared by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and pieces of cheese between filo pastry and then baking it in an oven. It closely resembles a cheese cake.
Traditionally, lucky charms are put into the pastry on certain occasions, particularly on Christmas Eve, the first day of Christmas, or New Year’s Eve. These charms may be coins or small symbolic objects (e.g., a small piece of a dogwood branch with a bud, symbolizing health or longevity). More recently, people have started writing happy wishes on small pieces of paper and wrapping them in tin foil. Wishes may include happiness, health, or success throughout the new year.
“That‟s all folks!” For sure you‟re going to learn a lot more than this „till the end of your stay – things like different meals in example. If there‟s anything else you‟d like to know, just ask us! Also, be careful – fellow students and kids are likely to make pranks on you, trying to teach you bad words :D
Oh, and‌ welcome to