Saying no and asking questions are two of the most fundamental things you do in any language. Today you master both — including the Bulgarian double negative that surprises English speakers.
📅 Day 13⏳ ~60 minutes🎤 Audio on every section✅ Quiz at the end
🔊 Speed:
Section 1
Simple negation with не — one rule, zero exceptions
Place не directly before the verb. No "do/does/did" needed. That is the whole rule.
In English, negation needs the auxiliary verb "do" — "I do not speak", "she does not understand". Bulgarian has no such requirement. You simply place не directly before the main verb, and the sentence is negated. The verb form itself does not change. This is one of the ways Bulgarian grammar is genuinely simpler than English.
💡 The имам exception — the most important rule in this section
Имам (have) is the only verb that does NOT use не for its negative. Instead it has its own negative verb: нямам (I do not have). Saying не имам sounds wrong to every Bulgarian speaker. Similarly, има (there is) becomes няма (there is no). These are among the most frequently used words in the language — get them right from day one.
Не говоря български.Ne govorya balgarski.I don't speak Bulgarian.
✓ Positive
Той разбира.Toy razbira.He understands.
✗ Negative
Той не разбира.Toy ne razbira.He doesn't understand.
✓ Positive
Имам кола.Imam kola.I have a car.
✗ Negative
Нямам кола.Nyamam kola.I don't have a car. (нямам, NOT не имам!)
✓ Positive
Тя е вкъщи.Tya e vkashti.She is at home.
✗ Negative
Тя не е вкъщи.Tya ne e vkashti.She is not at home.
✓ Positive
Имам пари.Imam pari.I have money.
✗ Negative
Нямам пари.Nyamam pari.I have no money. (нямам!)
✓ Positive
Харесвам филма.Haresvam filma.I like the film.
✗ Negative
Не харесвам филма.Ne haresvam filma.I don't like the film.
✓ Positive
Отивам на работа.Otivam na rabota.I am going to work.
✗ Negative
Не отивам на работа.Ne otivam na rabota.I am not going to work.
✓ Positive
Има свободна стая.Ima svobodna staya.There is a free room.
✗ Negative
Няма свободна стая.Nyama svobodna staya.There is no free room. (няма!)
More negation in context — with audio
Не знам.Ne znam.I don't know.
Не мога да дойда.Ne moga da doyda.I can't come.
Не разбирам въпроса.Ne razbiram vaprosa.I don't understand the question.
Не говоря руски.Ne govorya ruski.I don't speak Russian.
Не обичам студеното кафе.Ne obicham studenoto kafe.I don't like cold coffee.
Нямам резервация.Nyamam rezervatsiya.I don't have a reservation.
Няма проблем.Nyama problem.No problem. / There is no problem.
Не трябва да бързаш.Ne tryabva da barzash.You must not rush.
Section 2
Negative words — and why Bulgarian double negatives are correct
никой, нищо, никога, никъде and more — each requires не before the verb. This is standard grammar, not an error.
English teaches that double negatives cancel each other out ("I don't know nothing" is considered non-standard). Bulgarian is the opposite: when you use a negative pronoun or adverb, you must also add не before the verb. Omitting it sounds ungrammatical. Think of it as the negative word and the не working together as a team — one announces the negative context, the other marks the verb. Both are required.
никой
nikoynobody / no one
Никой не идва.Nikoy ne idva.Nobody is coming.
нищо
nishtonothing
Нищо не разбирам.Nishto ne razbiram.I understand nothing.
никога
nikoganever
Никога не закъснявам.Nikoga ne zakasnavam.I never arrive late.
никъде
nikadenowhere
Никъде не отивам.Nikade ne otivam.I am not going anywhere.
никакъв
nikakavno kind of / none at all
Нямам никакъв проблем.Nyamam nikakav problem.I have absolutely no problem.
нито...нито
nito...nitoneither...nor
Нито говоря, нито разбирам.Nito govorya, nito razbiram.I neither speak nor understand.
💡 The pattern is always: negative word + не + verb
Memorise this word order once: [никой / нищо / никога / никъде] + не + [verb]. Example: Никой не знае — the underlined не is mandatory. If you remove it, every Bulgarian speaker will wince. Think of не as the verb's "negative tag" — the negative word simply tells you what is negated.
Double negative sentences — all with audio
Никой не знае отговора.Nikoy ne znae otgovora.Nobody knows the answer.
Нищо не ме интересува.Nishto ne me interesуva.Nothing interests me.
Никога не пия алкохол.Nikoga ne piya alkohol.I never drink alcohol.
Никъде не го намирам.Nikade ne go namiram.I cannot find it anywhere.
Нито яде, нито пие.Nito yade, nito pie.He neither eats nor drinks.
Никой нищо не казва.Nikoy nishto ne kazva.Nobody says anything.
Section 3
Yes/No questions with ли — the particle that does everything
One tiny word turns any statement into a question. Position matters — and it carries emphasis.
Unlike English, Bulgarian does not rearrange word order to form a yes/no question. You simply add ли immediately after the verb (or after whatever word you want to put in focus). The rest of the sentence stays unchanged. This makes Bulgarian yes/no questions far simpler to form than English ones — no auxiliary verbs, no inversion.
💡 ли position carries emphasis — a subtle but powerful tool
Placing ли after the verb is the neutral question: Говориш ли български? (Do you speak Bulgarian?). Moving a different word to the front and placing ли after it shifts the emphasis: Там ли работи тя? (Is it there that she works?). The same content, but different focus. This is like English stress: "Does SHE work there?" vs "Does she work THERE?"
Statement → ли question — contrastive pairs with audio
Говориш ли български?Govorish li balgarski?Do you speak Bulgarian?
✓ Positive
Имате свободна стая.Imate svobodna staya.You have a free room.
✗ Negative
Имате ли свободна стая?Imate li svobodna staya?Do you have a free room?
✓ Positive
Тя работи тук.Tya raboti tuk.She works here.
✗ Negative
Тук ли работи тя?Tuk li raboti tya?Is it HERE that she works? (emphasis on tuk)
✓ Positive
Харесва ти ли?Haresva ti li?Do you like it? (neutral)
✗ Negative
Теб ли те харесва?Teb li te haresva?Is it YOU who likes it? (emphasis on теб)
Essential ли questions for everyday life
Говорите ли английски?Govorite li angliyski?Do you speak English? (formal)
Разбирате ли ме?Razbirate li me?Do you understand me? (formal)
Имате ли резервация?Imate li rezervatsiya?Do you have a reservation?
Свободно ли е това място?Svobodno li e tova myasto?Is this seat free?
Работи ли тази сутрин?Raboti li tazi sutrin?Is he/she working this morning?
Затворено ли е?Zatvoreno li e?Is it closed?
Скъпо ли е?Skapo li e?Is it expensive?
Далеч ли е?Dalech li e?Is it far?
Section 4
The eight question words — with example Q&A for each
Every question word with a full example question and natural answer.
These eight question words cover every kind of open question in Bulgarian. Unlike ли questions, these cannot be answered with yes/no — they demand real information. Memorise the question word and the typical answer structure together — this is how real conversations work.
Какво?Kakvo?What?
Q
Какво правиш?
A
Уча български.Ucha balgarski.I am learning Bulgarian.
В Лондон, в Англия.V London, v Angliya.In London, in England.
Откъде?Otkade?Where from?
Q
Откъде си?
A
От Великобритания съм.Ot Velikobritaniya sam.I am from the UK.
Кога?Koga?When?
Q
Кога идваш?
A
В петък, в три.V petак, v tri.On Friday, at three.
Защо?Zashto?Why?
Q
Защо учиш български?
A
Защото обичам България.Zashtoto obicham Balgariya.Because I love Bulgaria.
Как?Kak?How?
Q
Как отиваш до работа?
A
С метрото — за двадесет минути.S metroto — za dvadesset minuti.By metro — in twenty minutes.
Колко?Kolko?How many / How much?
Q
Колко струва?
A
Двадесет евро.Dvadesset evro.Twenty euros.
Чий?Chiy?Whose?
Q
Чия е тази чанта?
A
Моя е — извинете!Moya e — izvinete!It is mine — sorry!
💡 Защо vs Защото — the pair you will use every single day
Защо? = Why? (question). Защото... = Because... (answer). They are always a pair. Every time someone asks защо, the answer begins with защото. Learn them as one unit: защо → защото.
Защо / защото in natural exchanges
Защо учиш български?Zashto uchish balgarski?Why are you learning Bulgarian?
Защото искам да живея в България.Zashtoto iskam da zhiveya v Balgariya.Because I want to live in Bulgaria.
Защо не идваш?Zashto ne idvash?Why aren't you coming?
Защото нямам кола днес.Zashtoto nyamam kola dnes.Because I don't have a car today.
Защо харесваш България?Zashto haresvash Balgariya?Why do you like Bulgaria?
Защото хората са приятелски настроени и храната е вкусна.Zashtoto horata sa priyatelski nastroeni i hranata e vkusna.Because the people are friendly and the food is delicious.
Section 5
Real-world scenarios — negation and questions in action
Five role-plays where every line uses не, нямам, ли or a question word. Every line has audio.
🏠 Hotel check-in — everything that can go wrong
Настаняване в хотел
Negation and ли questions are everywhere at a hotel reception. Watch how нямам and няма do the heavy lifting for "there is no".
Рецепция
Добър вечер! Имате ли резервация?Dobar vecher! Imate li rezervatsiya?Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
Гост
Да, имам. На името Джон Смит.Da, imam. Na imeto Dzhon Smit.Yes, I do. In the name of John Smith.
Рецепция
Момент... За съжаление не намирам вашата резервация в системата.Moment... Za sazhаlenie ne namiram vashata rezervatsiya v sistemata.One moment... Unfortunately I cannot find your reservation in the system.
Гост
Как е възможно? Резервирах онлайн миналата седмица.Kak e vazmozhno? Rezervirah onlayn minalata sedmitsa.How is that possible? I reserved online last week.
Рецепция
Нямаме резервация на вашето име. Свободна ли е вашата стая с две легла?Nyamame rezervatsiya na vasheto ime. Svobodna li e vashata staya s dve legla?We have no reservation in your name. Is your room with two beds free?
Гост
Нямам стая с две легла — исках единична стая. Ето потвърждението.Nyamam staya s dve legla — iskah edinichna staya. Eto potvarzhdenieto.I don't have a room with two beds — I wanted a single room. Here is the confirmation.
Рецепция
Извинявайте! Виждам сега — имаме грешка. Нямаме проблем, ще ви настаним веднага.Izvinyavayte! Vizhdam sega — imame greshka. Nyamame problem, shte vi nastanim vednaga.I apologise! I can see now — we have an error. No problem, we will accommodate you immediately.
👔 Job interview — questions and honest answers
Интервю за работа
All eight question words appear in this interview. Notice how the candidate uses negation honestly and effectively.
Мениджър
Откъде сте и как намерихте нашата обява?Otkade ste i kak nameriknte nashata obyava?Where are you from and how did you find our job posting?
Кандидат
От Великобритания съм. Намерих обявата онлайн — харесах я веднага.Ot Velikobritaniya sam. Namirih obyavata onlayn — haresah ya vednaga.I am from the UK. I found the posting online — I liked it immediately.
Мениджър
Говорите ли български добре? Защо кандидатствате тук?Govorite li balgarski dobre? Zashto kandidatstvate tuk?Do you speak Bulgarian well? Why are you applying here?
Кандидат
Говоря малко — не говоря перфектно още, но уча всеки ден. Кандидатствам, защото обичам България и искам да живея тук.Govorya malko — ne govorya perfektno oshte, no ucha vseki den. Kandidatstvam, zashtoto obicham Balgariya i iskam da zhiveya tuk.I speak a little — I don't speak perfectly yet, but I study every day. I am applying because I love Bulgaria and I want to live here.
Мениджър
Колко години опит имате? Работили ли сте с клиенти?Kolko godini opit imate? Rabotili li ste s klienti?How many years of experience do you have? Have you worked with clients?
Кандидат
Имам пет години опит. Работих с клиенти — никога не имах оплаквания.Imam pet godini opit. Rabotih s klienti — nikoga ne imah oplakvaniya.I have five years of experience. I worked with clients — I never had complaints.
👥 Getting to know someone — questions and real answers
Запознанство
Natural conversation mixing question words and negation — the most authentic use of everything from today.
Виктор
Откъде си? Не изглеждаш като местен.Otkade si? Ne izgrezhdash kato mesten.Where are you from? You don't look local.
Сара
От Лондон съм, но живея в София от шест месеца. А ти откъде си?Ot London sam, no zhiveya v Sofiya ot shest mesетsa. A ti otkade si?I am from London, but I have been living in Sofia for six months. And where are you from?
Виктор
Аз съм местен — роден съм тук. Харесва ли ти София?Az sam mesten — roden sam tuk. Haresva li ti Sofiya?I am local — I was born here. Do you like Sofia?
Сара
Много! Нищо не ми липсва от Лондон — освен времето! Тук е много по-хубаво.Mnogo! Nishto ne mi lipsva ot London — osven vremeto! Tuk e mnogo po-hubavo.Very much! Nothing from London do I miss — except the weather! Here it is much nicer.
Виктор
Защо дойде в България? Никой не очаква туристи от Лондон!Zashto doyde v Balgariya? Nikoy ne ochakva turisti ot London!Why did you come to Bulgaria? Nobody expects tourists from London!
Сара
Защото исках нещо различно. Никога не съм харесвала типичните дестинации.Zashtoto iskah neshto razlichno. Nikoga ne sam haresvala tipichnite destinatsii.Because I wanted something different. I have never liked the typical destinations.
🏗 At the border — official questions and honest answers
На граничния контрол
Official contexts use formal ли questions almost exclusively. The negation pattern with нямам appears constantly when declaring items.
Служител
Добър ден. Откъде пътувате?Dobar den. Otkade patuvatе?Good day. Where are you travelling from?
Пътник
От Великобритания. Пристигам от Лондон.Ot Velikobritaniya. Pristigam ot London.From the United Kingdom. I am arriving from London.
Служител
Колко дни ще престоявате? Имате ли хотелска резервация?Kolko dni shte prestoyavate? Imate li hotelska rezervatsiya?How many days will you stay? Do you have a hotel reservation?
Пътник
Ще престоявам две седмици. Да, имам резервация в хотел в центъра.Shte prestoyavam dve sedmitsi. Da, imam rezervatsiya v hotel v tsentara.I will stay two weeks. Yes, I have a reservation in a hotel in the centre.
Служител
Носите ли стоки за деклариране? Имате ли кеш над пет хиляди евро?Nosite li stoki za deklarirane? Imate li kesh nad pet hilyadi evro?Are you carrying goods to declare? Do you have cash over five thousand euros?
Пътник
Нямам нищо за деклариране. Нямам толкова кеш. Никакви стоки.Nyamam nishto za deklarirane. Nyamam tolkova kesh. Nikakvi stoki.I have nothing to declare. I have no such cash. No goods at all.
📞 Phone call — plans, questions, and excuses
Телефонен разговор
A natural mix of ли questions, защо/защото, никога, and нямам in an informal chat.
Мартин
Здравей! Идваш ли довечера?Zdravey! Idvash li dovechera?Hi! Are you coming tonight?
Петя
За съжаление не идвам. Нямам кола тази вечер — приятелката ми я взе.Za sazhalenie ne idvam. Nyamam kola tazi vecher — priyatelkata mi ya vze.Unfortunately I am not coming. I don't have a car tonight — my girlfriend took it.
Мартин
Защо не вземеш такси? Колко струва до нас?Zashto ne vzemesh taksi? Kolko struva do nas?Why don't you take a taxi? How much does it cost to get to us?
Петя
Нямам достатъчно пари тази седмица — нищо не остана след наема.Nyamam dostatachno pari tazi sedmitsa — nishto ne ostana sled naema.I don't have enough money this week — nothing was left after the rent.
Мартин
Никой от нас никога не те оставя да плащаш! Ние покриваме таксито.Nikoy ot nas nikoga ne te ostavya da plashtash! Nie pokrivame taksito.None of us would ever let you pay! We will cover the taxi.
Петя
Не, не трябва! Ами... добре. Кога идва таксито?Ne, ne tryabva! Ami... dobre. Koga idva taksito?No, you mustn't! Well... okay. When is the taxi coming?
Section 6
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 13
Make these sentences negative: Говоря руски. Имам кола. Тя разбира. Има хляб. (Which one is the special case and why?)
Write three double-negative sentences using никой, нищо and никога — remember to include не before the verb each time.
Convert these statements into ли questions: Тя работи в София. Имате свободна маса. Скъпо е.
Translate: "Why are you learning Bulgarian? Because I love Bulgaria and I want to live there. I never want to go back to London."
Write a short dialogue (4–6 lines) using at least three different question words and two negations.
Show answers
1.Не говоря руски. · Нямам кола (special case — нямам not не имам!) · Тя не разбира. · Няма хляб. (няма not не има!)
2. E.g. Никой не знае. · Нищо не разбирам. · Никога не закъснявам.
3.Работи ли тя в София? · Имате ли свободна маса? · Скъпо ли е?
4.Защо учиш български? Защото обичам България и искам да живея там. Никога не искам да се върна в Лондон.
5. Free answer — model: — Откъде си? — От Ирландия. — Защо живееш в България? — Защото обичам храната тук. — Харесва ли ти езикът? — Да, но нищо не разбирам още!
💡 Tip: The double-negative rule trips up English speakers for months because it feels "wrong". Write five double-negative sentences about yourself right now — your brain needs production, not just recognition, to rewire this rule.
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