Bulgarian 60-by-60
Module 1 – Foundations
Module 1 – Foundations
This module adds fuller teaching notes, guided drills, short dialogues, and self-checks. Use the blue buttons to hear pronunciation. You can slow speech with the speed buttons.
Mastering a few key greetings is the fastest way to start interacting. A crucial distinction in Bulgarian is between **formal/plural** (Вие) and **informal/singular** (ти). When in doubt, always use the formal version to be polite.
| English | Bulgarian | Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Добро утро (Dóbro útro) | Used until about 10 AM. Perfect for starting your day at a bakery or café. |
| Good day | Добър ден (Dóbŭr den) | The most common greeting, used from mid-morning until sunset. Use it when entering shops, restaurants, or meeting anyone during the day. |
| Good evening | Добър вечер (Dóbŭr vécher) | Used after sunset. A polite way to greet someone for dinner or an evening event. |
These phrases are your best friends when navigating a new language.
| English | Bulgarian | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Please / You're welcome | Моля (Mólya) | Used for both "please" when asking for something and "you're welcome" after being thanked. |
| Thank you | Благодаря (Blagodaryá) | The standard, polite way to say thank you. Use it everywhere. |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Извинете (Izvinéte) | Perfect for getting someone's attention, apologizing for a small bump, or asking someone to move. |
| I don't understand | Не разбирам (Ne razbíram) | A simple, clear way to signal that you're lost. |
Numbers are essential for shopping, telling time, and giving information. Bulgarian numbers follow a clear pattern, but pay close attention to the gendered forms for 1 and 2.
The numbers from 11-19 are formed by adding "-надесет" (-teen) to the root number.
To form numbers like 21, you say the ten, add "и" (and), then the unit: двадесет и едно. This pattern is very consistent.
To ask for a price, you say: Колко струва? (Kólko strúva?) - "How much does it cost?"
The numbers "one" and "two" must agree with the gender of the noun they describe.
| Gender | "One" | Example | "Two" | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine ♂️ | един (edín) | един мъж (one man) | два (dva) | два стола (two chairs) |
| Feminine ♀️ | една (edná) | една жена (one woman) | две (dve) | две книги (two books) |
| Neuter neuter | едно (ednó) | едно дете (one child) | две (dve) | две легла (two beds) |
A basic introduction is a powerful tool. Let's build a simple script and learn the key questions to ask others.
Memorize these three lines and fill in your own details.
Example: "Казвам се Пол. Аз съм от Англия. Обичам музика." (My name is Paul. I am from England. I like music.)
After you introduce yourself, you need to be able to ask about the other person.
| English | Bulgarian (Informal / Formal) |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Как се казваш? / Как се казвате? |
| Where are you from? | Откъде си? / Откъде сте? |
| Pleased to meet you. | Приятно ми е. (Priyátno mi e.) |
Today we'll cover three fundamental grammar points: the verb 'to be' (съм), plurals, and the unique Bulgarian definite article ("the").
This is the most important verb in the language. It's irregular, so it must be memorized.
| Person | Bulgarian Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I am | Аз съм (Az sŭm) | Аз съм учител. (I am a teacher.) |
| You are (informal) | Ти си (Ti si) | Ти си тук. (You are here.) |
| He/She/It is | Той/Тя/То е (Toy/Tya/To e) | Тя е лекар. (She is a doctor.) |
| We are | Ние сме (Níe sme) | Ние сме готови. (We are ready.) |
| You are (formal/plural) | Вие сте (Víe ste) | Вие сте българи. (You are Bulgarians.) |
| They are | Те са (Te sa) | Те са там. (They are there.) |
This is a unique feature of Bulgarian. "The" is not a separate word; it's an ending that gets attached to the noun. This ending changes based on the noun's gender and number.
| A/An (Indefinite) | The (Definite Singular) | Some (Plural) | The (Definite Plural) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine ♂️ (e.g., chair) | стол | столът | столове | столовете |
| Feminine ♀️ (e.g., table) | маса | масата | маси | масите |
| Neuter neuter (e.g., child) | дете | детето | деца | децата |