Section 1

Full conjugation of съм — six forms, all irregular

Every form must be memorised. The good news: these six words unlock hundreds of sentences.

Bulgarian drops the subject pronoun in everyday speech — the verb ending already shows who you mean. You will hear Съм учител (I am a teacher) just as often as Аз съм учител. Both are correct; dropping the pronoun is more natural. Each card below has its own audio — click and repeat aloud.

I — Аз (az) съм sam Аз съм учител. — I am a teacher.

You (inf) — Ти (ti) си si Ти си тук. — You are here.

He — Той (toy) е e Той е лекар. — He is a doctor.

She — Тя (tya) е e Тя е учителка. — She is a teacher.

It — То (to) е e То е хубаво. — It is nice.

We — Ние (nie) сме sme Ние сме готови. — We are ready.

You (form/pl) — Вие (vie) сте ste Вие сте българи. — You are Bulgarians.

They — Те (te) са sa Те са там. — They are there.

💡 He / She / It all use е

Third-person singular always uses е regardless of gender. The pronoun changes (той / тя / то) but the verb stays the same. This is simpler than most European languages where the verb might also change.

💡 Memory trick — the six forms

Group them as: съм · си · е (singular) and сме · сте · са (plural). Notice the plural forms all end in a vowel + consonant pattern. Chant them as a rhythm: sam · si · e — sme · ste · sa until they are automatic.

Section 2

Negative forms — не + verb

Place не directly before the verb. One rule, no exceptions.

To negate any form of съм, place не (ne = not) directly before the verb. The word order and everything else stays the same. No auxiliary verb, no restructuring — simply insert не.

аз съм → аз не съм I am not

ти си → ти не си you are not

той / тя / то е → той / тя / то не е he / she / it is not

ние сме → ние не сме we are not

вие сте → вие не сте you are not (formal)

те са → те не са they are not

💡 не always goes before the verb

Unlike English, where "not" can go in several positions, Bulgarian не always immediately precedes the verb. Тя не е вкъщи ✓ Тя е не вкъщи ✗. This rule applies to every Bulgarian verb, not just съм.

Section 3

Yes/No questions with ли

One tiny particle turns any statement into a question — no restructuring needed.

To turn any Bulgarian statement into a yes/no question, add the particle ли directly after the verb. The focus word — the thing you are asking about — moves to the front of the sentence. This is very different from English, which uses do/does/is/are restructuring.

Statement	Question with ли	English
Той е лекар.	Лекар ли е той?	Is he a doctor?
Вие сте готови.	Готови ли сте вие?	Are you ready?
Тя е у дома.	У дома ли е тя?	Is she at home?
Те са тук.	Тук ли са те?	Are they here?
Ние сме готови.	Готови ли сме ние?	Are we ready?
Той е от Англия.	От Англия ли е той?	Is he from England?

💡 Word order in ли questions

The focus word moves first: Лекар ли е той? — literally "Doctor is he?" The thing you are asking about (лекар) leads the sentence. Compare: Той ли е лекарят? = "Is he the doctor?" (asking about the person, not the profession). Word order changes meaning in Bulgarian.

Section 4

Common sentences with съм — hear them all

Every sentence you will genuinely use. Every one has audio.

These sentences combine съм with vocabulary from Days 1–4. You already know most of the words — now you can build complete sentences. Click each one, listen, then say it aloud.

Аз съм студент.Az sam student.I am a student.

Тя не е вкъщи.Tya ne e vkashti.She is not at home.

Той е много добър лекар.Toy e mnogo dobar lekar.He is a very good doctor.

Ние сме от Англия.Nie sme ot Angliya.We are from England.

Те не са тук.Te ne sa tuk.They are not here.

Готови ли сте?Gotovi li ste?Are you ready? (formal)

Много студено е днес.Mnogo studeno e dnes.It is very cold today.

Каква е цената?Kakva e tsenata?What is the price?

Аз не съм от тук.Az ne sam ot tuk.I am not from here.

Стаята е свободна.Stayta e svobodna.The room is free / available.

Аз съм женен / омъжена.Az sam zhenen / omaazhena.I am married. (m / f)

Той е на тридесет години.Toy e na trideset godini.He is thirty years old.

Section 5

Real-world scenarios — съм in action

Four situations where the verb to be is your most important tool.

Notice how съм, its negation, and ли questions appear in every one of these everyday exchanges. Listen to each line, then cover the English and try to understand without it.

🏨 Hotel check-in

Настаняване в хотел

At the reception desk. Notice every use of е / сте / ли.

Добър вечер! Имате ли резервация?Dobar vecher! Imate li rezervatsiya?Good evening! Do you have a reservation?

Да. Казвам се Джон Смит. Аз съм от Англия.Da. Kazvam se Dzhon Smit. Az sam ot Angliya.Yes. My name is John Smith. I am from England.

Момент... Да, тук сте. Стаята е на третия етаж.Moment... Da, tuk ste. Stayta e na tretiya etazh.One moment... Yes, you are here. The room is on the third floor.

Включена ли е закуската?Vklyuchena li e zakushtata?Is breakfast included?

Да, закуската е включена. Заповядайте, ключът ви.Da, zakushtata e vklyuchena. Zapovyadayte, klyuchat vi.Yes, breakfast is included. Here is your key.

Много благодаря! Ресторантът включен ли е?Mnogo blagodarya! Restorantat vklyuchen li e?Thank you very much! Is the restaurant included?

Да, ресторантът е отворен от седем до десет.Da, restorantat e otvoren ot sedem do deset.Yes, the restaurant is open from seven to ten.

🏥 Doctor's receptionist

Регистратура при лекар

Registering at a GP surgery. Lots of съм for describing conditions and identity.

Добър ден! Имате ли час при лекар?Dobar den! Imate li chas pri lekar?Good afternoon! Do you have an appointment?

Да. Казвам се Ана Джоунс. Аз съм пациент тук.Da. Kazvam se Ana Dzhoyns. Az sam patsient tuk.Yes. My name is Anna Jones. I am a patient here.

Как се чувствате? Добре ли сте?Kak se chuvstvate? Dobre li ste?How do you feel? Are you well?

Не съм много добре. Имам температура.Ne sam mnogo dobre. Imam temperatura.I am not very well. I have a temperature.

Лекарят е свободен след десет минути.Lekaryt e svoboden sled deset minuti.The doctor is free in ten minutes.

Благодаря. Чакалнята тук ли е?Blagodarya. Chakalnata tuk li e?Thank you. Is the waiting room here?

Да, тя е там вдясно.Da, tya e tam vdyasno.Yes, it is over there on the right.

📞 Phone call — is someone available?

Телефонен разговор

Calling a Bulgarian friend's home. A classic use of е / не е for availability.

Ало?Alo?Hello?

Здравейте! Иван там ли е?Zdraveyte! Ivan tam li e?Hello! Is Ivan there?

Не, той не е вкъщи в момента.Ne, toy ne e vkashti v momenta.No, he is not at home at the moment.

Знаете ли кога ще е там?Znaete li koga shte e tam?Do you know when he will be there?

Той е на работа. Ще е вкъщи след шест.Toy e na rabota. Shte e vkashti sled shest.He is at work. He will be home after six.

Разбирам. Аз съм Том. Може ли да му кажете?Razbiram. Az sam Tom. Mozhe li da mu kazhete?I see. I am Tom. Could you tell him?

Разбира се! Той ще ви се обади.Razbirase! Toy shte vi se obadi.Of course! He will call you back.

☕ Cafe — is it available / included?

Кафене — наличност и включено

Ordering at a Bulgarian cafe and checking what's available. Perfect practice for има ли / включено ли е / свободно ли е.

Добър ден! Свободна ли е тази маса?Dobar den! Svobodna li e tazi masa?Good afternoon! Is this table free?

Да, тя е свободна. Заповядайте!Da, tya e svobodna. Zapovyadayte!Yes, it is free. Please, go ahead!

Включен ли е интернетът тук?Vklyuchen li e internetat tuk?Is the internet included here?

Да, Wi-Fi е безплатен. Паролата е на масата.Da, Wi-Fi e bezplaten. Parolata e na masata.Yes, Wi-Fi is free. The password is on the table.

Кафето с мляко ли е?Kafeto s mlyako li e?Is the coffee with milk?

Не, то е черно. Искате ли мляко?Ne, to e cherno. Iskate li mlyako?No, it is black. Would you like milk?

Да, моля. Включена ли е услугата в сметката?Da, molya. Vklyuchena li e uslugata v smetkata?Yes please. Is service included in the bill?

Не, тя не е включена.Ne, tya ne e vklyuchena.No, it is not included.

Section 6

Writing task

✏️ Writing task — Day 5

Write the full conjugation of съм from memory (all 6 persons, positive form).
Make these sentences negative: "Те са готови." "Аз съм вкъщи." "Тя е лекар."
Turn these into ли questions: "Той е лекар." "Ние сме готови." "Стаята е свободна."
Translate: "We are not from Bulgaria. Are you from England?" (formal)
Write three sentences about yourself using съм — your job, your nationality, and one thing you are (e.g. ready, tired, married).

Show answers

1. Аз съм · Ти си · Той/Тя/То е · Ние сме · Вие сте · Те са

2. Те не са готови. | Аз не съм вкъщи. | Тя не е лекар.

3. Лекар ли е той? | Готови ли сме ние? | Свободна ли е стаята?

4. Ние не сме от България. Вие от Англия ли сте?

5. Example: Аз съм учител. Аз съм от Англия. Аз съм готов/готова.

💡 Tip: Write the six conjugation forms from memory every day this week until they are automatic. Five minutes of active recall beats thirty minutes of passive reading.

☕ Enjoying the course? It is completely free. If it is helping you, a coffee keeps the server running.

☕ Buy me a coffee

✏️

Day 5 Quiz

20 questions · score 14+ to mark day complete

Question 1 of 20

What is the correct form of съм for "they"?

Aсме

Bсте

Cе

Dса

Question 2 of 20

How do you say "She is not a doctor"?

AТя е не лекар

BТя не е лекар

CТя не лекар е

DНе тя е лекар

Question 3 of 20

How do you form a yes/no question in Bulgarian?

AChange word order like in English

BAdd ли directly after the verb

CAdd ли at the very end always

DUse rising intonation only

Question 4 of 20

What is "We are from England"?

AНие сме от Англия

BНие са от Англия

CНие е от Англия

DНие сте от Англия

Question 5 of 20

Which form of съм is used for he, she AND it?

Aси

Bсме

Cе

Dса

Question 6 of 20

How do you say "Are you ready?" formally?

AГотови ли си?

BГотови ли сте?

CГотови ли са?

DГотови ли е?

Question 7 of 20

"I am a student" in Bulgarian is:

AАз си студент

BАз са студент

CАз съм студент

DАз е студент

Question 8 of 20

What does "не е" mean?

Ais not

Bare not

Cwas not

Ddo not

Question 9 of 20

In the hotel scenario, how does the receptionist confirm your booking is found?

AИмате резервация.

BСтаята е готова.

CТук сте.

DВие сте добре дошли.

Question 10 of 20

Which is the correct ли question for "Is breakfast included?"

AЗакуската ли включена е?

BВключена ли е закуската?

CЛи е включена закуската?

DЕ ли включена закуската?

Question 11 of 20

In the phone call scenario, where is Ivan?

AHe is at school

BHe is at the doctor

CHe is not available

DHe is at work

Question 12 of 20

How do you say "The room is available"?

AСтаята е свободна

BСтаята не е свободна

CСтаята свободна ли е

DСвободна стаята е

Question 13 of 20

Dropping "Аз" from "Аз съм учител" gives you:

AAn incomplete sentence

BA question

CA perfectly natural sentence — Съм учител

DA formal register

Question 14 of 20

What does the patient say to mean "I am not very well"?

AАз съм болен

BНе съм много добре

CАз не е добре

DНе сме добре

Question 15 of 20

Which correctly asks "Is he from England?"

AТой е ли от Англия?

BТой от Англия е ли?

CЛи е той от Англия?

DОт Англия ли е той?

Question 16 of 20

What is the form of съм for "you" (informal singular)?

Aси

Bсте

Cсъм

Dсме

Question 17 of 20

In the cafe, what is said about the Wi-Fi?

AIt is not available

BIt costs extra

CIt is free and the password is on the table

DYou need to ask the waiter

Question 18 of 20

"It is very cold today" in Bulgarian is:

AМного студено не е

BМного студено е днес

CДнес студено са

DТо е много студено днес

Question 19 of 20

The word "не" in Bulgarian negation goes:

AAt the end of the sentence

BAfter the subject

CAfter the verb

DDirectly before the verb

Question 20 of 20

How do you say "I am married" if you are a woman?

AАз съм омъжена

BАз съм женен

CАз е омъжена

DАз не съм омъжена

0/20

Day 5 Recap

Everything you covered today — review before Day 6.

Topic	Key rule	Example	English
6 conjugations	съм · си · е · сме · сте · са	Ние сме готови.	We are ready.
Drop subject	Аз optional — verb ending is enough	Съм тук. = Аз съм тук.	I am here.
He / She / It	All use е — pronoun changes, verb does not	Той е / Тя е / То е	He is / She is / It is
Negation	не goes directly before the verb	Тя не е вкъщи.	She is not at home.
ли questions	Add ли after verb; focus word first	Лекар ли е той?	Is he a doctor?
Word order	Flexible — emphasis decides what leads	Тук ли са те?	Are they here?
Gender & marriage	Adjectives agree — женен (m) / омъжена (f)	Аз съм омъжена.	I am married. (said by a woman)