Family is among the first topics in any real Bulgarian conversation. Today you learn the core family words, possessive pronouns, and how to describe the people around you.
📅 Day 11⏳ ~60 minutes🎤 Audio on every section✅ Quiz at the end
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Section 1
Core family vocabulary — every word with audio
The words every Bulgarian conversation about family needs. Click each card to hear the word.
Bulgarian family vocabulary is rich and specific — there are separate words for maternal and paternal uncles, for example. The most important exception to memorise is баща (father): it ends in -а like a feminine noun, but it is grammatically masculine. You will use the masculine possessive with it: моят баща (my father), not моята. The informal forms are used far more in everyday speech than the formal ones.
Possessive pronouns — all forms with individual audio
My, your, his, her, our, your, their — each in all four gender/number forms.
Possessive pronouns in Bulgarian agree with the gender and number of the noun they describe — not the owner. So "my brother" and "my sister" both use "my" but with different endings: моят брат vs моята сестра. This is identical to the adjective agreement rule from Day 10. Once you know one, you know the other.
💡 Short vs long forms — when to use which
Possessives have a long form used before nouns (моят брат — my brother) and a short form used predicatively after the verb (Тази книга е моя — This book is mine). The long form is the everyday form you need first. The table below shows long forms throughout.
Every form with audio. Plus the vital има/няма impersonal uses.
Имам (to have) is everywhere — for family, possessions, appointments, time, and dozens of fixed expressions. Its negative нямам (I do not have) is equally essential. The third-person singular има / няма doubles as the impersonal "there is / there is no" — one of the most useful structures in the whole language.
Person✓ имам (have)✗ нямам (not have)
Азимамimamнямамnyamam
Тиимашimashнямашnyamash
Той / Тя / Тоимаimaнямаnyama
Ниеимамеimameнямамеnyamame
Виеиматеimateняматеnyamate
Теиматimatняматnyamat
💡 Има / няма — "there is / there is no"
The 3rd person singular forms do double duty as impersonal constructions. Има кафе = There is coffee (impersonal) vs Имам кафе = I have coffee (personal). Няма хляб = There is no bread. Няма го = It is not available / we do not have it (from Day 8). These impersonal forms are everywhere in shops, restaurants and everyday life.
Имам / няма / има in real sentences
Имам един брат и две сестри.Imam edin brat i dve sestri.I have one brother and two sisters.
Нямам деца.Nyamam detsa.I do not have children.
Тя има голямо семейство.Tya ima golyamo semeystvo.She has a large family.
Нямаме баба — тя почина.Nyamame baba — tya pochina.We do not have a grandmother — she passed away.
Има ли маса за двама?Ima li masa za dvama?Is there a table for two?
Няма свободни маси.Nyama svobodni masi.There are no free tables.
Имате ли деца?Imate li detsa?Do you have children? (formal)
Нямат кола — пътуват с автобус.Nyamat kola — patuvat s avtobus.They do not have a car — they travel by bus.
Section 4
Describing your family — full sentences in every situation
Combining имам, possessives, ages and adjectives into real descriptions.
Who is in your family
Имам голямо / малко семейство.Imam golyamo / malko semeystvo.I have a large / small family.
Имам един брат — по-малък от мен.Imam edin brat — po-malak ot men.I have one brother — younger than me.
Нямам братя или сестри — единствено дете съм.Nyamam bratya ili sestri — edinstvenо dete sam.I have no brothers or sisters — I am an only child.
Моите родители живеят в Пловдив.Moite roditeli zhiveyat v Plovdiv.My parents live in Plovdiv.
Баба ми е на осемдесет години.Baba mi e na osemdesset godini.My grandmother is eighty years old.
Дядо ми почина преди пет години.Dyado mi pochina predi pet godini.My grandfather passed away five years ago.
Relationship status and life events
Женен ли си? (to a man)Zhenen li si?Are you married? (asking a man)
Омъжена ли си? (to a woman)Omazhena li si?Are you married? (asking a woman)
Да, женен/омъжена съм.Da, zhenen/omazhena sam.Yes, I am married. (M/F)
Не, неженен/неомъжена съм.Ne, nezhenen/neomazhena sam.No, I am not married. (M/F)
Разведен/разведена съм.Razveden/razvedena sam.I am divorced. (M/F)
Живея с партньора/партньорката си.Zhiveya s partnyora/partnyorkаta si.I live with my partner. (M/F partner)
Очакваме дете.Ochakvaмe dete.We are expecting a child.
Имам две деца — момче и момиче.Imam dve detsa — momche i momiche.I have two children — a boy and a girl.
Talking about professions and family roles
Моят баща е лекар.Moyat bashta e lekar.My father is a doctor.
Моята майка работи като учителка.Moyata mayka raboti kato uchitelka.My mother works as a teacher.
Брат ми е инженер в София.Brat mi e inzhener v Sofiya.My brother is an engineer in Sofia.
Сестра ми учи медицина.Sestra mi uchi meditsina.My sister is studying medicine.
Моите родители са пенсионери.Moite roditeli sa pensioneri.My parents are retired.
Section 5
Real-world scenarios — family conversations in action
Five complete role-plays. Every line has audio.
👥 Meeting a Bulgarian family for the first time
Среща с българско семейство
You have been invited to a Bulgarian home. The host introduces their family. Listen for possessives and имам in natural use.
Иван
Заповядайте! Добре дошли! Това е моята съпруга, Елена.Zapovyadayte! Dobre doshli! Tova e moyata sapruga, Elena.Welcome! Come in! This is my wife, Elena.
Гост
Много приятно! Благодаря, че ме поканихте.Mnogo priyatno! Blagodarya, che me pokanihte.Very pleased to meet you! Thank you for inviting me.
Иван
Имаме две деца — момчето е Петър, на дванадесет. Момичето е Соня, на девет.Imame dve detsa — momcheto e Petar, na dvanadeset. Momicheto e Sonya, na devet.We have two children — the boy is Petar, twelve. The girl is Sonya, nine.
Гост
Страхотно! А родителите ви живеят ли в София?Strahоtno! A roditеlite vi zhiveyat li v Sofiya?Great! And do your parents live in Sofia?
Иван
Моите родители живеят в Пловдив. Нейните са тук в София. Баба й е на осемдесет и две.Moite roditeli zhiveyat v Plovdiv. Neynite sa tuk v Sofiya. Baba y e na osemdesset i dve.My parents live in Plovdiv. Hers are here in Sofia. Her grandmother is eighty-two.
Елена
Имате ли братя или сестри вие?Imate li bratya ili sestri vie?Do you have brothers or sisters?
Гост
Имам една по-голяма сестра. Тя живее в Лондон с нейния съпруг.Imam edna po-golyama sestra. Tya zhiveye v London s neyniуa saprug.I have one older sister. She lives in London with her husband.
📞 Phone call — catching up with family
Телефонен разговор с роднини
A typical Sunday call home. Notice the short possessive forms (баба ми, брат ми) which are very natural in informal speech alongside the full forms.
Дъщеря
Здравей, мамо! Как си?Zdravey, mamo! Kak si?Hi mum! How are you?
Мама
Добре съм, скъпа. А ти? Как е работата?Dobre sam, skapa. A ti? Kak e rabotata?I am fine, darling. And you? How is work?
Дъщеря
Добре. Мамо, как е баба ми? Чувах, че е болна.Dobre. Mamo, kak e baba mi? Chuvah, che e bolna.Fine. Mum, how is my grandmother? I heard she was ill.
Мама
Баба ти е по-добре вече. Лекарят каза — трябва да почива. На осемдесет и пет години е, скъпа.Baba ti e po-dobre veche. Lekarуat kaza — tryabva da pochiva. Na osemdesset i pet godini e, skapa.Your grandmother is better now. The doctor said — she needs to rest. She is eighty-five, darling.
Дъщеря
А брат ми? Как е Мартин?A brat mi? Kak e Martin?And my brother? How is Martin?
Мама
Мартин е чудесно — снаха ти е бременна! Очакват момче.Martin e chudestno — snaha ti e bremenna! Ochakvaт momche.Martin is wonderful — your sister-in-law is pregnant! They are expecting a boy.
Дъщеря
Страхотно! Ще стана леля! Кога е?Strahоtno! Shte stana lelya! Koga e?Wonderful! I am going to be an aunt! When is it?
💊 At the doctor — family medical history
При лекар — семейна история
Doctors routinely ask about family health history. This vocabulary is vital for any real-life medical visit.
Лекар
Имате ли сърдечни заболявания в семейството?Imate li sardechni zabolyavaniya v semeystvoto?Do you have heart disease in the family?
Пациент
Да. Моят баща имаше сърдечен удар преди десет години.Da. Moyat bashta imashe sardeochen udar predi deset godini.Yes. My father had a heart attack ten years ago.
Лекар
А майка ви? Тя здрава ли е?A mayka vi? Tya zdrava li e?And your mother? Is she well?
Пациент
Моята майка е добре. На шестдесет и три е. Нямаме диабет в семейството.Moyata mayka e dobre. Na shestdesset i tri e. Nyamame diabet v semeystvoto.My mother is fine. She is sixty-three. We have no diabetes in the family.
Лекар
Имате ли братя или сестри?Imate li bratya ili sestri?Do you have brothers or sisters?
Пациент
Имам един брат. Той е здрав. Нямам сестри.Imam edin brat. Toy e zdrav. Nyamam sestri.I have one brother. He is healthy. I have no sisters.
Лекар
Добре. Живи ли са и двамата ви родители?Dobre. Zhivi li sa i dvamata vi roditeli?Good. Are both your parents still alive?
Пациент
Майка ми е жива. Баща ми почина — на шестдесет и осем години.Mayka mi e zhiva. Bashta mi pochina — na shestdesset i osem godini.My mother is alive. My father passed away — at sixty-eight.
💍 At a wedding — introducing your family
На сватба — представяне на семейството
Weddings are central to Bulgarian family life. Rich vocabulary for introductions, ages, relationships and congratulations.
Гост 1
Поздравления! Бяхте ли от страната на булката или младоженеца?Pozdrаvleniya! Byahte li ot stranata na bulkata ili mladozhenеtsa?Congratulations! Are you from the bride or groom's side?
Гост 2
От страната на булката — аз съм нейният братовчед. Тя и аз израснахме заедно.Ot stranata na bulkata — az sam neyniyat bratovched. Tya i az izrasnahme zaedno.From the bride's side — I am her cousin. She and I grew up together.
Гост 1
Приятно ми е! Аз съм братът на младоженеца. Имаме още един брат и сестра.Priyatno mi e! Az sam bratat na mladozhenеtsa. Imame oshte edin brat i sestra.Pleased to meet you! I am the groom's brother. We have one more brother and sister.
Гост 2
Родителите им щастливи ли са?Roditеlite im shastlivi li sa?Are their parents happy?
Гост 1
Много! Неговите родители обичат булката като собствена дъщеря.Mnogo! Negovite roditeli obichat bulkata kato sobstvena dashterya.Very much! His parents love the bride like their own daughter.
🏠 Talking about family plans
Планове за семейството
Discussing future plans, whether to have children, where to live — common and personal conversations.
Колега
Женен ли си? Имате ли деца?Zhenen li si? Imate li detsa?Are you married? Do you have children?
Иван
Да, женен съм от три години. Нямаме деца все още — но планираме.Da, zhenen sam ot tri godini. Nyamame detsa vse oshte — no planirame.Yes, I have been married for three years. We do not have children yet — but we are planning.
Колега
Искате ли момче или момиче?Iskate li momche ili momiche?Do you want a boy or a girl?
Иван
Нямаме предпочитание. Главното е детето да е здраво.Nyamame predpochitanie. Glavnoto e deteto da e zdravo.We have no preference. The main thing is for the child to be healthy.
Колега
А родителите ви — близо ли живеят?A roditelite vi — blizo li zhiveyat?And your parents — do they live nearby?
Иван
Моите са в Варна — доста далеч. Нейните живеят тук в София, само десет минути с кола.Moite sa v Varna — dosta dalech. Neynite zhiveyat tuk v Sofiya, samo deset minuti s kola.Mine are in Varna — quite far. Hers live here in Sofia, just ten minutes by car.
Колега
Хубаво е, когато семейството е близо.Hubavo e, kogato semeystvoto e blizo.It is nice when family is nearby.
Section 6
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 11
Write a short paragraph (5–8 sentences) describing your own family using имам/нямам, possessive pronouns, ages, and professions.
What is the difference between Има кафе and Имам кафе? Give two more examples of the impersonal има / няма.
Conjugate имам in all six persons, then write the negative нямам alongside each.
Translate: "My grandmother is seventy years old. She has three grandchildren. My grandfather passed away ten years ago."
Why does баща (father) use the masculine possessive моят rather than моята?
Show answers
1. Free answer — model: Имам малко семейство. Моят баща е лекар. Моята майка работи като учителка. Имам един по-малък брат. Нямам сестри. Моите родители живеят в Пловдив. Баба ми е на седемдесет и пет години.
2.Има кафе = there is coffee (no one owns it — impersonal). Имам кафе = I have coffee. More examples: Няма хляб (there is no bread) · Има свободна стая (there is a free room).
4.Моята баба е на седемдесет години. Тя има три внука. Моят дядо почина преди десет години.
5. Because баща is grammatically masculine — the -а ending is an exception. The possessive agrees with the grammatical gender, not the spelling. Compare: дядо ends in -о but is also masculine: моят дядо.
💡 Tip: Write your own family tree in Bulgarian — just names and labels. Then write one sentence about each person: their age, job, and where they live. Real, personal content is the fastest vocabulary anchor there is.
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