Section 1

The three genders — masculine, feminine, neuter

Every Bulgarian noun has a gender. The good news: the ending almost always tells you which one.

Unlike French or Spanish, where gender must often be memorised per word, Bulgarian noun gender can be predicted from the ending about 85% of the time. Learn these three rules and you will be right most of the time from day one.

Masculine

Consonant

Ends in a consonant (б, г, д, к, л, м, н, р, т...)

мъжman

денday

столchair

братbrother

градcity

Feminine

-а / -я

Ends in -а or -я (very reliable rule)

женаwoman

масаtable

книгаbook

майкаmother

земяearth / land

Neuter

-е / -о

Ends in -е or -о (almost always neuter)

детеchild

кафеcoffee

мореsea

селоvillage

небеsky

⚠️ Exceptions worth knowing

баща (father) ends in -а but is masculine. нощ (night), кръв (blood) end in consonants but are feminine. There are a handful of these — learn them as you encounter them, not all at once.

📚 Complete exceptions reference — click to expand

Show all known gender exceptions

Masculine nouns ending in -а / -я / -о

These look feminine or neuter but are grammatically masculine

Bulgarian	English	Definite (the)
баща	father	бащата
дядо	grandfather	дядото
чичо	uncle	чичото
колега	colleague	колегата
съдия	judge	съдията
войвода	chieftain / warlord	войводата
слуга	servant	слугата

Feminine nouns ending in a consonant

Almost all are abstract — emotions, life stages, conditions

Bulgarian	English	Definite (the)
нощ	night	нощта
кръв	blood	кръвта
кост	bone	костта
радост	joy	радостта
болест	illness	болестта
смърт	death	смъртта
любов	love	любовта
младост	youth	младостта
старост	old age	старостта
сол	salt	солта
мощ	power / might	мощта
вест	news / message	вестта

💡 The shortcut: Consonant-ending nouns that are abstract (feelings, life stages, conditions) are very likely feminine. Consonant-ending nouns that are concrete physical things (стол, лекар, ден) are almost always masculine. When in doubt with an abstract noun, guess feminine.

Section 2

The definite article — "the" as a suffix

Bulgarian attaches "the" to the end of the noun. Four endings to know.

This is one of the most distinctive features of Bulgarian — and one of the first things that trips up English speakers. Instead of a separate word like "the", Bulgarian attaches it as a suffix. The form depends on gender and whether the noun is subject or object (for masculine).

Masculine — subject form

Indefiniteстолa chair

Definite (subj)столътthe chair

Definite (obj)столаthe chair (object)

Pluralстоловеchairs

Def. pluralстоловетеthe chairs

Feminine

Indefiniteмасаa table

Definiteмасатаthe table

Pluralмасиtables

Def. pluralмаситеthe tables

Neuter

Indefiniteдетеa child

Definiteдететоthe child

Pluralдецаchildren

Def. pluralдецатаthe children

💡 Masculine: -ът vs -а — when to use which

When the masculine noun is the subject (doing something): use -ът — Столът е тук. (The chair is here.)
When it is the object (receiving the action): use -а — Виждам стола. (I see the chair.)
For now, use -ът as your default — you will be right the majority of the time.

💡 Definite plural is always -те

Whatever the gender, the definite plural ends in -те (or -та for some neuters): столовете, масите, децата. This consistency is a relief — once you know the plural form, the definite plural is automatic.

Section 3

Plurals — the three main patterns

With audio on every example so you can hear the endings clearly.

Bulgarian plurals follow three main patterns by gender. The form is not always predictable, but once you have heard it a few times the pattern becomes automatic. Click every row to hear the singular → plural contrast.

Gender	Typical plural ending	Singular	Plural	English
Masc	-ове	стол	столове	chairs
Masc	-и	лекар	лекари	doctors
Masc	-я (irregular)	брат	братя	brothers
Fem	-и	маса	маси	tables
Fem	-и	жена	жени	women
Fem	-и	книга	книги	books
Neut	-а (stem change)	дете	деца	children
Neut	-та	кафе	кафета	coffees
Neut	-та	море	морета	seas

Section 4

Noun gallery — 30 essential words with full forms

Indefinite, definite, gender badge, and audio on every card.

These are the nouns you will encounter most in the course. Each card shows the plain form, the definite "the" form, gender, and has its own audio. Hover or click to practise.

Mмъжмъжътman / husband

Fженаженатаwoman / wife

Nдетедететоchild

M !бащабащатаfather (exception!)

Fмайкамайкатаmother

Mбратбратътbrother

Fсестрасестратаsister

Mприятелприятелятfriend (m)

Fприятелкаприятелкатаfriend (f)

Mградградътcity / town

Fулицаулицатаstreet

Fкъщакъщатаhouse

Fстаястаятаroom

Fмасамасатаtable

Fкнигакнигатаbook

Mстолстолътchair

Mпрозорецпрозорецътwindow

Fвратаврататаdoor

Mхлябхлябътbread

Nкафекафетоcoffee

Nмореморетоsea

Mлекарлекарятdoctor

Fбанкабанкатаbank

Fаптекааптекатаpharmacy

Fгарагаратаstation

Mхотелхотелътhotel

Mресторантресторантътrestaurant

Mмагазинмагазинътshop / store

Fнощнощтаnight (F exception!)

Nнебенебетоsky

Section 5

Real-world scenarios — the article in action

Four conversations where definite nouns appear naturally. Listen to each line.

The definite article is everywhere in Bulgarian conversation. Notice how nearly every noun in these dialogues has a suffix — "the bank", "the street", "the room". Try to spot each article ending as you read.

📍 Asking for directions in Sofia

Питане за посока

Notice: банката, хотела, аптеката, гарата — all definite nouns.

Извинете, къде е банката?Izvinete, kade e bankata?Excuse me, where is the bank?

Банката е на улица Витоша, до хотела.Bankata e na ulitsa Vitosha, do hotela.The bank is on Vitosha Street, next to the hotel.

А аптеката?A aptekata?And the pharmacy?

Аптеката е срещу гарата. Не е далеч.Aptekata e sreshtu garata. Ne e dalech.The pharmacy is opposite the station. It is not far.

На коя улица е гарата?Na koya ulitsa e garata?Which street is the station on?

Гарата е на улица Иван Вазов. Вземете автобуса.Garata e na ulitsa Ivan Vazov. Vzemete avtobus.The station is on Ivan Vazov Street. Take the bus.

Благодаря много! Приятен ден!Blagodarya mnogo! Priyaten den!Thank you very much! Have a nice day!

🛍 At the shop — asking about products

В магазина

Definite nouns in a shopping context: магазинът, хлябът, масата, книгата.

Добър ден! Магазинът отворен ли е?Dobar den! Magazinat otvoren li e?Good afternoon! Is the shop open?

Да, магазинът е отворен до осем вечерта.Da, magazinat e otvoren do osem vecherta.Yes, the shop is open until eight in the evening.

Хлябът пресен ли е?Khlyabat presen li e?Is the bread fresh?

Да, хлябът е от сутринта.Da, khlyabat e ot sutrinata.Yes, the bread is from this morning.

Книгата на витрината колко струва?Knigata na vitrinata kolko struva?How much does the book in the window cost?

Книгата е осем евро.Knigata e osem evro.The book is eight euros.

☕ At the cafe — asking about the menu

В кафенето

Neuter nouns in action: кафето, менюто, виното.

Масата за двама свободна ли е?Masata za dvama svobodna li e?Is the table for two free?

Да, масата е свободна. Заповядайте!Da, masata e svobodna. Zapovyadayte!Yes, the table is free. Please go ahead!

Менюто, моля.Menyuto, molya.The menu, please.

Заповядайте. Кафето е много хубаво тук.Zapovyadayte. Kafeto e mnogo hubavo tuk.Here you go. The coffee is very good here.

Виното от България ли е?Vinoto ot Balgariya li e?Is the wine from Bulgaria?

Да, виното е от Пловдив. Много е хубаво.Da, vinoto e ot Plovdiv. Mnogo e hubavo.Yes, the wine is from Plovdiv. It is very good.

🏠 Viewing a flat — room by room

Оглед на апартамент

Rooms and furniture: стаята, стаите, прозорецът, вратата, масата.

Апартаментът голям ли е?Apartamentut golyam li e?Is the flat big?

Да, апартаментът е три стаи.Da, apartamentut e tri stai.Yes, the flat is three rooms.

Стаята с прозорец ли е?Stayata s prozorets li e?Does the room have a window?

Да, прозорецът е голям. Гледката е хубава.Da, prozoretsut e golyam. Gledkata e hubava.Yes, the window is big. The view is nice.

Вратата на банята заключва ли се?Vratata na banyata zaklyuchva li se?Does the bathroom door lock?

Да, вратата заключва. Масата и столовете включени ли са?Da, vratata zaklyuchva. Masata i stolovete vklyucheni li sa?Yes, the door locks. Are the table and chairs included?

Да, всичко е включено в наема.Da, vsichko e vklyucheno v naema.Yes, everything is included in the rent.

Section 6

Writing task

✏️ Writing task — Day 6

Write the gender (M / F / N) of: книга, море, лекар, майка, кафе, брат, нощ, баща.
Attach the definite article to: жена, стол (as subject), дете, банка, хотел.
Make these plural: маса, книга, стол, кафе, лекар.
Translate: "The child is in the room. The mother is at the table. The door is open."
Why does баща take -та even though it is masculine?

Show answers

1. книга (F) · море (N) · лекар (M) · майка (F) · кафе (N) · брат (M) · нощ (F — exception!) · баща (M — exception!)

2. жената · столът · детето · банката · хотелът

3. маси · книги · столове · кафета · лекари

4. Детето е в стаята. Майката е на масата. Вратата е отворена.

5. баща ends in -а so it follows the feminine article pattern (-та), even though it is grammatically masculine.

💡 Tip: Every time you learn a new noun, write it in three forms: plain (стол), definite (столът), plural (столове). Three forms takes 30 seconds and locks in all the information at once.

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☕ Buy me a coffee

✏️

Day 6 Quiz

20 questions · score 14+ to mark day complete

Question 1 of 20

What gender is a noun ending in -а?

AMasculine

BFeminine

CNeuter

DCould be any gender

Question 2 of 20

How do you say "the table"?

Aмасата

Bмаса

Cмаси

Dмасите

Question 3 of 20

What ending does the definite plural always use?

A-та

B-ов

C-те

D-и

Question 4 of 20

"The child is here" — which form of дете is needed?

Aдете

Bдецата

Cдетето

Dдеца

Question 5 of 20

What gender is брат (brother)?

AFeminine

BNeuter

CMasculine

DIt has no gender

Question 6 of 20

How do you form the plural of маса?

Aмасове

Bмасата

Cмаси

Dмасе

Question 7 of 20

Where does Bulgarian put "the"?

ABefore the noun, like English

BAfter the noun as a suffix

CBefore the adjective only

DIt uses a separate article word

Question 8 of 20

"The books" in Bulgarian is:

Aкнига

Bкнигите

Cкниги

Dкнигата

Question 9 of 20

баща (father) is unusual because:

AIt is neuter

BIt has no definite article

CIt is feminine

DIt ends in -а but is masculine

Question 10 of 20

What is "the room" in Bulgarian?

Aстая

Bстаята

Cстаите

Dстаят

Question 11 of 20

In the directions scenario, where is the pharmacy?

AOpposite the station

BNext to the hotel

COn Vitosha Street

DNear the bank

Question 12 of 20

What gender is море (sea)?

AMasculine

BFeminine

CNeuter

DNo gender

Question 13 of 20

Which is the masculine definite form when the noun is the subject?

Aстола

Bстолата

Cстоле

Dстолът

Question 14 of 20

How do you say "the doctors"?

Aлекарят

Bлекарите

Cлекари

Dлекарите

Question 15 of 20

In the cafe scenario, where is the wine from?

APlovdiv

BSofia

CBulgaria generally

DFrance

Question 16 of 20

нощ (night) is an exception because:

AIt is neuter despite ending in a consonant

BIt is masculine despite ending in a consonant

CIt ends in a consonant but is feminine

DIt has no definite form

Question 17 of 20

What is the definite form of банка (bank)?

Aбанкат

Bбанката

Cбанките

Dбанкото

Question 18 of 20

In the flat-viewing scenario, what does the viewer ask about the bathroom?

AWhether it is big

BWhether it has a window

CWhether it is included

DWhether the door locks

Question 19 of 20

What is the plural of кафе?

Aкафета

Bкафета

Cкафеи

Dкафето

Question 20 of 20

Which sentence correctly uses the definite article?

AДетето е в стая.

BДетото е в стаята.

CДетето е в стаята.

DДетата е в стаята.

0/20

Day 6 Recap

Everything you covered today — review before Day 7.

Topic	Key rule	Example	English
Masculine	Ends in consonant. Article -ът (subj) / -а (obj)	стол → столът / стола	chair → the chair
Feminine	Ends in -а / -я. Article -та	жена → жената	woman → the woman
Neuter	Ends in -е / -о. Article -то	дете → детето	child → the child
Plural (M)	-ове or -и (varies by word)	столове · лекари	chairs · doctors
Plural (F)	-и (very consistent)	маси · жени · книги	tables · women · books
Plural (N)	-а or -та (or stem change)	кафета · деца	coffees · children
Definite plural	Always -те (all genders)	столовете · масите · децата	the chairs · the tables · the children
Exceptions	баща (-а but M) · нощ (consonant but F)	бащата · нощта	the father · the night