🏆 Citizenship exam relevance
The STBFL written exam (Day 60 reference) tests formal writing at B1 level. Candidates are asked to write a formal letter or short report. The vocabulary and structures from today appear directly in the exam.
Section 1
Formal vs informal — the key differences
Understanding register in Bulgarian.
| Feature | Informal | Formal |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Здравей, Петър / Ало | Уважаеми господин Петров / До когото се отнася |
| Sign-off | Поздрави / Целувки / Чао | С уважение / Поздравления |
| You (singular) | ти — ти си, твоят | Вие — Вие сте, Вашият (capitalised) |
| Contractions | Common in speech | Avoided in writing |
| Verb mood | Direct, imperative | Subjunctive/conditional — Бихте ли...? |
| Vocabulary | Everyday words | Latinised / elevated register |
| Sentence structure | Short, simple | Longer, subordinate clauses |
💡 Capitalised Вие — the mark of formal writing
In formal Bulgarian letters and emails, the second person singular and plural pronouns are capitalised: Вие, Вас, Ви, Вашият, Вашата. This is the written convention equivalent to using vous in French. It signals respect. Failing to capitalise these in a formal letter is considered impolite and unprofessional.
Section 2
Formal greetings and sign-offs
Opening and closing a formal letter correctly.
| Situation | Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| To a named man | Уважаеми господин [Фамилия], | Uvazhaemi gospodin [Familiya], | Dear Mr [Surname], |
| To a named woman | Уважаема госпожо [Фамилия], | Uvazhaema gospozho [Familiya], | Dear Mrs/Ms [Surname], |
| To a title (unknown name) | Уважаеми господин директор, | Uvazhaemi gospodin direktor, | Dear Director, |
| To unknown recipient | До когото се отнася, | Do kogoto se otnasya, | To Whom It May Concern, |
| Formal but friendly | Скъпи/Скъпа [Първо Име], | Skapi/Skapa [Parvo Ime], | Dear [First Name], |
| Standard sign-off | С уважение, | S uvazhenie, | Yours sincerely / Respectfully, |
| Alternative sign-off | С почит, | S pochit, | With respect / Yours truly, |
| Friendly formal | Поздравления, | Pozdravleniya, | With regards, |
| Official ending | Остavam с уважение, | Ostavam s uvazhenie, | I remain, yours sincerely, |
Section 3
Formal letter and email vocabulary
The words that elevate your register.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Пиша Ви относно... | Pisha Vi otnosno... | I am writing to you regarding... | Opening |
| Позволявам си да се обърна към Вас... | Pozvolyavam si da se obarna kam Vas... | I take the liberty of approaching you... | Polite opening |
| Имам честта да Ви уведомя, че... | Imam chestta da Vi uvedomya, che... | I have the honour to inform you that... | Formal notification |
| Моля да имате предвид, че... | Molya da imate predvid, che... | Please bear in mind that... | Drawing attention |
| Бих искал/а да... | Bih iskal/a da... | I would like to... | Request |
| Молба за... | Molba za... | Request for... / Application for... | Heading |
| В отговор на Вашето писмо от... | V otgovor na Vasheto pismo ot... | In response to your letter of... | Reply opening |
| Приложено изпращам... | Prilozheno izprashtam... | Please find enclosed... | Attachments |
| При нужда от допълнителна информация... | Pri nuzhda ot dopolnitelna informatsiya... | Should you require further information... | Closing offer |
| Оставам на Ваше разположение. | Ostavam na Vashe razpolozhenie. | I remain at your disposal. | Closing |
Section 4
Model formal letter — job application
A complete letter you can adapt.
Уважаеми господин Директор, Пиша Ви относно обявената позиция за счетоводител във Вашата компания, публикувана на уебсайта Ви на 5 март 2025 г. Имам честта да представя своята кандидатура за споменатата позиция. Завърших висше образование по икономика в Софийския университет и притежавам петгодишен опит в областта на счетоводството в международни компании. Бих искал да подчертая, че владея английски и немски език на работно ниво и съм добре запознат с актуалното Bulgarian счетоводно законодателство. Приложено изпращам автобиография и препоръчително писмо от настоящия ми работодател. При нужда от допълнителна информация или интервю, моля да се свържете с мен. Оставам на Ваше разположение. С уважение, Иван Петров ivan.petrov@email.com | 0888 123 456
Uvazhaemi gospodin Direktor, Pisha Vi otnosno obYavenata pozitsiya za schetovoditel vav Vashata kompaniya, publikuvana na uebsayta Vi na 5 mart 2025 g. Imam chestta da predstavya svoyata kandidatura za spomenatata pozitsiya. Zavurshih vishe obrazovanie po ikonomika v Sofiyskiya universitet i pritezhavam petgodishen opit v oblastta na schetovodstvoto v mezhdunarodni kompanii. Bih iskal da podcherтaya, che vladeya angliyski i nemski ezik na rabotno nivo i sam dobre zapoznat s aktualnoto bulgarsko schetovodna zakonodatelstvo. Prilozheno izprashtam avtobiografiya i preporachitelno pismo ot nastoyashtiya mi rabotodatel. Pri nuzhda ot dopolnitelna informatsiya ili intervyu, molya da se svarzhe te s men. Ostavam na Vashe razpolozhenie. S uvazhenie, Ivan Petrov
Dear Director, I am writing regarding the advertised position of accountant at your company, published on your website on 5 March 2025. I have the honour to present my application for the mentioned position. I completed higher education in economics at Sofia University and have five years of experience in accounting at international companies. I would like to emphasise that I speak English and German at working level and am well acquainted with current Bulgarian accounting legislation. Please find enclosed a CV and letter of recommendation from my current employer. Should you require further information or an interview, please do not hesitate to contact me. I remain at your disposal. Yours sincerely, Ivan Petrov
Section 5
Official documents — key vocabulary
The words you encounter in Bulgarian bureaucracy.
| Bulgarian | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| молба | molba | application / petition / request |
| заявление | zayavlenie | declaration / formal application |
| декларация | deklaratsiya | declaration (official statement) |
| удостоверение | udostoverenie | certificate / attestation |
| свидетелство | svidetelstvo | certificate (e.g. birth, marriage) |
| нотариален акт | notarialen akt | notarised document |
| пълномощно | palnomoshcno | power of attorney |
| подпис | potpis | signature |
| печат | pechat | stamp / seal |
| входящ номер | vhodyasht nomer | reference number (incoming) |
| изходящ номер | izkhodyasht nomer | reference number (outgoing) |
| служебна бележка | sluzhebna belezhka | official note / work certificate |
| разрешително | razreshitelno | permit / licence |
| разрешение за пребиваване | razreshenie za prebivavane | residence permit |
Section 6
Writing task
✏️ Writing task — Day 43
- Write a formal email to a Bulgarian language school asking for information about their courses, prices and schedule.
- What are the key differences between informal and formal Bulgarian writing? Give three examples of informal phrases and their formal equivalents.
- Translate these formal phrases: (a) Пиша Ви относно... (b) Приложено изпращам... (c) Оставам на Ваше разположение.
- What is the significance of capitalising Вие in formal Bulgarian writing?
Show answers
1. Free answer — use Уважаеми/а... · Пиша Ви относно... · Бих искал/а да... · С уважение.
2. E.g. informal Здравей → formal Уважаеми; ти → Вие; Искам → Бих искал/а.
3. (a) I am writing to you regarding... (b) Please find enclosed... (c) I remain at your disposal.
4. Capitalised Вие signals formal respect — equivalent to vous in French. Failing to capitalise is considered impolite in official correspondence.
Day 43 Quiz
8 questions · score 6+ to mark day complete
Question 1 of 8
"Dear Mr Petrov" in formal Bulgarian:
Question 2 of 8
"Yours sincerely" in Bulgarian:
Question 3 of 8
"I am writing to you regarding..." in Bulgarian:
Question 4 of 8
Why is "Вие" capitalised in formal letters?
Question 5 of 8
"Please find enclosed" in Bulgarian:
Question 6 of 8
"To Whom It May Concern" in Bulgarian:
Question 7 of 8
"Residence permit" in Bulgarian:
Question 8 of 8
"I remain at your disposal" in Bulgarian:
Day 43 Recap
Review before Day 44. Every point builds on the last.
| Topic | Key point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formal greetings | Уважаеми господин / Уважаема госпожо / До когото се отнася | Always use surname, not first name |
| Capitalised Вие | Вие, Вас, Ви, Вашият — always capitalised in formal writing | Key marker of formal register |
| Opening phrases | Пиша Ви относно... · Имам честта да Ви уведомя · Позволявам си... | |
| Closing phrases | Приложено изпращам · Оставам на Ваше разположение · При нужда... | |
| Sign-offs | С уважение · С почит · Поздравления · Остavam с уважение | |
| Documents | молба · заявление · удостоверение · нотариален акт · разрешение за пребиваване | Essential for citizenship application process |