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Bulgarian phrasebook

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Bulgarian is a South Slavic language, thus closer to Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian than to Russian or Polish but still retaining similarities to all. Spoken by over 9.5 million people, it is the national language of Republic of Bulgaria. It is also spoken by Bulgarian minorities in Yugoslavia and the Western Balkans, and Moldova, and language still in use by many immigrants of Bulgarian origin in Argentina, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and U.S.A. Linguists do not agree as to whether Macedonian is a dialect of Bulgarian. Generally Yugoslavs disagree, while Bulgarians say that it is. The spoken languages are mutually intelligible for the most part, although their Cyrillic alphabets have diverged somewhat, with Macedonian's writing system resembling that of Serbo-Croatian.

Most Bulgarian verbs carry inflection suffixes while some modal verbs use different words (typical example, the verb "съм" / "to be"). There are fewer verb tenses than in English with present, past, past continuous and future being the most commonly used, but the Slavic imperfective and perfective 'aspects' are present. Nouns have three genders, and pronouns have genders. Adjectives must agree with the noun they modify and the first adjective takes the definite article if present. Those familiar with other Balto-Slavic languages will be surprised to discover that the noun cases are missing (except for vocative to a slight degree) and replaced by prepositions and definite articles as post-positions like Romanian and Turkish. Unlike other Slavic languages, there is no infinitive in either Bulgarian or Macedonian; for that, most dictionaries put the first-person singular of the verb.

There are separate pronouns for "you": singular '"ти'" ("tee") and the plural "'вие'" (vee-eh). The formal 'you' is the plural form with first letter capitalized ("Вие"). Like all other Slavic languages (as well as the Romance ones), the pronoun is usually ommitted due to context.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet, and the language is famous for introducing this writing system which Russian, the other East Slavic languages and Serbo-Croatian (and other non-Slavic languages as well) would adopt later, the latter with considerable differences. In general the language is phonetic though there are few sounds denoted by digraphs and few combinations denoted by a single letter.

Alphabet:
А Б В Г Д Е Ж З И Й К Л М Н О П Р С Т У Ф Х Ц Ч Ш Щ Ъ Ь Ю Я
а б в г д е ж з и й к л м н о п р с т у ф х ц ч ш щ ъ ь ю я

Stress is generally unpredictable. Fortunately, most Bulgarian dictionaries and language-books put the accent on the stressed syllable.

[edit] Vowels

Unstressed "а" and "ъ", "о" and "у", "е" and "и" tend to be shorter and weaker compared to their stressed counterparts, approaching each other, though without merging completely.

a ah: like in father or car
e eh: like in pen or attend; it is shorter than in most other Slavic languages, especially Russian. Also pronounced like a ye after another vowel to ease pronunciation.
и ee: like in machine or to be
o oh: like in more or score; the unstressed "o" is less reduced than it is in Russian.
у ooh: like in moon or fool
ъ uh: like in about (unstressed) or bulk (when stressed). Sounds just like the unstressed 'o' in Russian.

[edit] Semivowels

й y (i-kratko/short i): like in yes or play

Before a vowel (after another vowel or at the beginning of a word) denotes a diphthong like in "crayon" or "yes". After a vowel at the end of the word similar to English 'y' as in "play" or "fly". Can be used only next to vowels and not before or after a consonant.

[edit] Consonants

Voiced consonants at the end of a word are pronounced as voiceless.

б bə: like in boy or rubbish, on the end of a word pronounced "p"
в və: like in ever or vineyard, on the end of a word pronounced "f"
г gə: like in gull or legacy, on the end of a word pronounced "k"
д də: like in deal or madness, on the end of a word pronounced "t"
ж zhə: like in pleasure or conclusion, on the end of a word pronounced "sh"
з zə: like in zoo or freezing, on the end of a word pronounced "s"
к kə: like in kite or rock
л lə: like in leak or look. Becoming (younger generations in some areas) closer to weak "w" as in saw (cf. Polish ł).
м mə: like in mine or ham
н nə: like in note or monkey
п pə: like in pork or comply
р rə: slightly to moderately rolled "r" as in Spanish, etc. Like in Spanish pero or otro
с sə: like in spit or cast
т tə: like in time or lightning
ф fə: like in feed or left
х hə: like in hotel or coherent (not as 'rough' as in Russian)
ц tsə: like in tsunami
ч chə: like in cheap or kitchen
ш shə: like in sheep or mishap
щ shtə: "Sht", as in German "Still" or "Stettin" NOT shch like in Russian.
ь [']: not a sound itself, denotes softening (palatization) of preceding consonant; unlike Russian and other Slavic languages, this is very rarely used and the softening is less dramatic in Bulgarian than in other Slavic languages;
дж dzhə: like in join or edge

[edit] Common diphthongs

я yah: like in yacht or German Ja
йе yeh: like in yes or yellow
йо/ьo yoh: like in yogurt or coyote. The latter is usually stressed
ю yoo: like in you or cute

Note that 'ю' and 'я' denote diphthongs [yoo] and [yah] after a vowel and at the beginning of a word, and tend to be pronounced 'ia' in the middle of the world. The soft sign will not be included here as it has been very rarely used since 1945.

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Hello.: Здравейте. (zdrah-VAY-teh)
Hello. (informal): Здравей. (zdrah-VAY)
Hello. (informal, to close friend): Здрасти. (ZDRAHS-tee)
How are you?: Как сте? (KAHK steh?)
How are you? (informal): Как си? (KAHK see?)
Fine, thank you.: Добре, благодаря. (dob-REH, blah-goh-dah-RYUH)
How do they call you? (informal): Как се казваш? (KAHK seh KAHZ-vahsh?)
My name is ______ .: Казвам се ______ . (KAHZ-vahm seh _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: Приятно ми е да се запознаем. (pree-YAHT-noh mee eh dah seh zah-pohz-NAH-ehm)
Please.: Моля. (MOH-lyuh)
Thank you.: Благодаря. (blah-goh-dah-RYUH)
You're welcome.: Моля. (MOH-lyuh)
Yes.: Да. (dah)
No.: Не. (neh)
Excuse me. (getting attention): Извинете. (eez-vee-NEH-teh)
Excuse me. (begging pardon or formal): Моля да ме извините. (moh-lyuh dah meh eez-vee-NEE-teh)
I'm sorry.: Съжалявам. (suh-zhahl-YAH-vahm)
Goodbye: Довиждане. (doh-VEEZH-dah-neh)
Goodbye (informal): Чао / Ciao (Italian). (chow)
I can't speak Bulgarian [well].: Аз не говоря български [добре]. (ahs neh goh-VOHR-yuh BUHL-gahr-skee [doh-BREH])
Do you speak English? (polite): Говорите ли английски? (goh-VOH-ree-teh lee ahn-GLEEY-skee?)
Do you speak English? (informal): Говориш ли английски? (goh-VOH-reesh lee ahn-GLEEY-skee?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Има ли някой, който говори английски? (EE-ma lee NYAH-koy KOY-toh goh-VOH-ree ahn-GLEEY-skee?)
Help!: Помощ! (POH-mohsht!)
Look out!: Внимавай! (vnee-MAH-vigh!)
Watch out!: Пази се! (pah-ZEE seh!)
Good morning.: Добро утро. (doh-BROH OO-troh or doh-BROO-troh)
Good evening.: Добър вечер. (DOH-buhr VEH-chehr)
Good night (to sleep): Лека нощ. (LEH-kah nohsht)
I don't understand.: Не разбирам. (neh rahz-BEE-rahm)
Where is the toilet?: Къде е тоалетната? (kuh-DEH eh toh-ah-LEHT-nah-tah?)

[edit] Problems

Go away!: Махай се! (MAH-khigh seh!). Remember the 'kh' in Bulgarian is not rough, more like English 'h' as in 'hotel'.
Don't touch me!: Не ме пипай! (neh MEH PEE-pigh) [last syllable pronounced like the word 'pie']
I'll call the police.: Ще извикам полиция. (shteh eez-VEE-kahm poh-LEE-tsee-yah)
Police!: Полиция! (poh-LEE-tsee-yah!)
Stop! Thief!: Спри! Крадец! (SPREE! krah-DEHTS!)
I need your help.: Имам нужда от помощ. (EE-mahm NOOZH-dah oht POH-mohsht)
It's an emergency!: Спешен случай! (SPEH-shehn SLOO-chigh!)
I'm lost.: Загубих се. (zah-GOO-beekh seh)
I lost my bag.: Изгубих си чантата. (eez-GOO-beekh see CHAHN-tah-tah)
I lost my wallet.: Изгубих си портафела. (eez-GOO-beekh see pohr-tah-FEH-luh)
I'm sick.: Аз съм болен/болна. (AHS suhm BOH-lehn/BOHL-nah) [male/female speaker]
I've been injured. [bleeding or other externally visible]: Ранен/а съм. (rah-NEHN/ah suhm) [male/female]
I've been injured. [broken bone or less visible, internal]: Контузен/а съм (kohn-TOO-zehn/ah suhm) [male/female]
I need a doctor.: Имам нужда от лекар. (EE-mahm NOOZH-dah oht LEH-kahr)
Can I use your phone, please?: Извинете, мога ли да ползвам телефона? (eez-vee-NEH-teh, MOH-guh lee dah POHLZ-vahm teh-leh-FOH-nuh?)

[edit] Numbers

There are longer 'formal' versions of the numbers after 10, but they are not normally used in spoken Bulgarian, even on television or by highly educated people such as university professors and literary people. Interestingly, 'thousand' is imported from Greek 'hilyades', not the Slavic 'tisic'.

The 'people' versions of numbers are used for instance in a restaurant. How many people? Three. Колко души ще бъде? Трима. (KOHL-koh DOO-shee shteh BUH-de? TREE-mah)

0: нула (NOO-lah)
1: един (eh-DEEN) [m.] една/едно [fem./neut.] (ehd-NAH/ehd-NOH)
2: два (dvah) [m.] две (dveh) [fem. & neut.]. Referring to people: двама (DVAH-mah)
3: три (“tree”) (but remember to roll the "r"!) [m./f./n. all same]. Referring to people: трима (TREE-mah)
4: четири (CHEH-tee-ree) Referring to people: четирима (cheh-TEE-ree-mah)
5: пет (peht)
6: шест (shehss) (barely audible "t")
7: седем (SEH-dehm)
8: осем (OH-sehm)
9: девет (DEH-veht)
10: десет (DEH-seht)
11: единайсет (formal 'единадесет') (eh-dee-NIGH-seht)
12: дванайсет (formal 'дванадесет') (dvah-NIGH-seht or dvah-NIGH-seh)
13: тринайсет (etc.) (tree-NIGH-seh(t)) etc.
14: четиринайсет (che-tee-ree-NIGH-seh)
15: петнайсет (peht-NIGH-seh)
16: шестнайсет (shehss-NIGH-seh)
17: seventeen (seh-dehm-NIGH-seh)
18: eighteen (oh-sehm-NIGH-seh)
19: nineteen (deh-veht-NIGH-seh)
20: двайсет (DVIGH-seh(t))
21: двайсет и едно (DVIGH-s(eh) ee ehd-NOH)
22: двайсет и два (DVIGHS ee DVAH)
23: двайсет и три (DVIGHS ee TREE)
30: трийсет (TREE-seh(t))
40: четирийсет (cheh-TEE-ree-seh)
50: петдесет (peh-deh-SEH(Y))
60: шестдесет (shehss-SEH(Y))
70: седемдесет (seh-dehm-deh-SEH(Y))
80: осемдесет (oh-sehm-deh-SEH(Y))
90: деветдесет (deh-veh-deh-SEH(Y))
100: сто (stoh)
157: сто петдесет и седем (STOH PEH-deh-seh i SEH-dehm)
200: двеста (DVEH-stah)
231: двеста трийсет и едно (DVEH-stah TREEY-seh i ehd-NOH)
300: триста (TREE-stah)
400: четиристотин (CHEH-tee-ree STOH-teen)
500: петстотин (PEHT-stoh-tin)
600: шестстотин (SHEST-stoh-tin)
700: седемстотин (SEH-dehm-stoh-tin)
800: осемстотин (OH-sehm-stoh-tin)
900: деветстотин (DEH-veht-stoh-tin)
1000: хиляда (heel-YAH-dah)
2000: две хиляди (DVEH HEEL-yah-dee)
1,000,000: един милион (eh-DEEN mee-lee-OHN)
1,000,000,000: един милиард (eh-DEEN mee-lee-AHRD) [one billion (USA)]
1,000,000,000,000: един билион (eh-DEEN bee-lee-OHN) [one trillion (USA)]
number _____ (of train, bus, etc.): номер _____ (за влакът, аутобусат, и т.н.) (NOH-mehr) (almost sounds like “nowhere”)
the number _____: номерът _____ (NOH-mehr-uht)
half: половин (poh-loh-VEEN)
less: помалко (POH-mahl-koh) secondary stress on 'mal'
more: повече (POH-veh-cheh) other syllables unstressed

[edit] Time

[edit] Clock time

What time is it?: Кoлкo e чacът? (KOHL-koh eh chah-SUH?)
It's....in the morning/afternoon.: .... чаcът сутрин/cлeд oбeд. (...chah-SUH SOO-treen/sled-OH-beht)

[edit] Days

Monday: понеделник (puh-nyeh-DEHL-nyeek)
Tuesday: втopник (FTOHR-nyeek)
Wednesday: cpядa (SRYAH-dah)
Thurday: чeтвъpтък (cheht-VUHR-tuhk)
Friday: пeтък (PEH-tuhk)
Saturday: cъбoтa (SUH-boh-tah)
Sunday: неделя (neh-DEHL-yuh)

Today: днес (dness)
Tomorrow: утре (OO-tre)
Yesterday: вчера (FCHEH-rah)

[edit] Months

January: янyapи (yah-noo-AH-ree)
February: фeвpyapи (feh-vroo-AH-ree)
March: мapт (mahrt)
April: aпpил (ah-PREEL)
May: мaй (migh)
June: юни (YOO-nee)
July: юли (YOO-lee)
August: aвгycт (AHV-goost)
September: ceптeмвpи (sehp-TEHM-vree)
October: oктoмвpи (ohk-TOHM-vree)
November: нoeмвpи (noh-EHM-vree)
December: дeкeмвpи (deh-KEHM-vree)

Month/s: месец/и (meh-sehts/ee)

[edit] Writing time and date

Bulgarian uses 'military' time, as is standard in European countries, often with a period instead of colon and with 'ч.' [for 'chahSUH', 'hour'] following (i.e. 1:00 p.m. is 13.00 ч., 9:47 a.m. is 09.47 ч.) In writing or when speaking of official times, such as concerts, plays or transportation, the 24-hour clock is always used, in speech the 12-hour clock is sometimes used when there is little possibility for misunderstanding.

Clock time is a bit beyond the scope of a phrasebook in complexity for most languages, but in Bulgarian, the minutes can be referred to in half-hours or specific minutes. In addition, constructions such as "a quarter to six" are used (literally "6 minus 15").

The 'T' in 'chah-SUHT' (o'clock часът) may only be pronounced if it is the beginning of the sentence, and usually not then unless the speaker is trying to be especially official. The 'V' meaning 'in [time]' or 'at [o'clock]' is usually pronounced 'F' before vowels and if there is difficulty or confusion is pronounced with an extra syllable like 'vuhf' or 'vuv' (depending on the following letter). This is displayed in the examples below.

time: време (VREH-meh) [n.b. also means 'weather']
morning: сутрин (SOO-treen)
a.m./in the morning: сутринта (soo-treen-TAH)
mid-day/noon: обед (OH-beht) more vague than in English; approximately 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
afternoon: следобед (slehd-O-beht) after 2:00 p.m.
evening: вечер (VEH-chehr) starting around 5:00 p.m.
p.m./in the evening: вечерта (veh-chehr-TAH)
night: нощ (nohsht) after 10:00 p.m. but going until around 2:00 a.m. (literally 2 in the morning is expressed '2 in the night')
at night: през нощта (prehz nohsht-TAH)

What time is it?: Кoлко e чacът? (KOHL-koh eh chah-SUH?)
The time is ...: Часът е ... (chah-SUH eh ...)
[It's] ... in the morning/afternoon.: ... чacът сутринта/следобед. (... cha-SUH soo-treen-TAH/slehd-O-beht)
At 8: 00 a.m. [in the morning] : В 08.00 ч. [сутринта] (FOH-sehm chah-SUH [soo-treen-TAH])
At 5: 45 p.m. [in the afternoon] : В 17.45 ч./В 05:45 следобед (vuhf seh-dem-NIGH-seh ee cheh-tee-rees ee peht chah-SUH or vuhf PEHT/FPEHT ee cheh-TEE-rees ee peht sled-OH-beht)
At a quarter to 8 p.m.: В осем без петнайсет вечерта(FOH-sehm behz peht-NIGH-seht veh-chehr-TAH)
At a 7: 45 p.m. : В седем и четирисет и пет без четвърт вечерта (vuf SEH-dehm ee cheh-tee-rees ee peht veh-chehr-TAH)
At a quarter past 09: 00 [a.m.] : В 09.15 ч./В девет и четвърт (vuhv DEH-veht ee cheht-VUHRT)
At 13: 30 [1:30 p.m.] : В 13.30/В тринайсет и половина (ftree-NIGH-seht ee poh-loh-VEE-nah)
The train departs at 11: 17 [a.m.] : Влакът заминава в 11.17 [единайсет и седемнайсет (минути)] (VLAH-kuht zah-mee-NAH-vah feh-dee-NIGH-seht ee seh-dehm-NIGH-set [mee-NOO-tee])

second/s: секунда/и (seh-KOOND-ah/ee)
minute/s: минута/минути (mee-NOO-tah/mee-NOO-tee)
hour/s: час/часа (chahss/CHAH-suh)
o'clock: часът (chah-SUH[T])
day/s: ден/дена (dehn/deh-nuh)
week/s: седмица/седмици (SEHD-mee-tsah/SEHD-mee-tsee)
month/s: месец/а (MEH-sets/ah)
year/s: година/години (goh-DEE-nah/goh-DEE-nee)

[edit] Dates

Dates are spoken using ordinal numbers, i.e. January first, 2008 is literally 'First January, 2008'. The order is European: Day, Month, Year. The month is sometimes expressed in Roman numerals. Names of days and months are not capitalized (unless at the beginning of a sentence).

date: дата (DAH-tah)
day [of the week]: ден (dehn)
Monday, January 1, 2008: Понеделник, 1. януари, 2008/1.I.2008 (poh-neh-DEHL-neek PUHR-vee yah-noo-AH-ree dvah HEEL-yah-dee ee OH-sehm)
What date is it today?: Кoя дaта e днec? (koh-YAH DAH-tah eh dnehss?)
What day is today?: Кой ден е днес? (koy DEHN eh dnehss?)

[edit] Seasons

season/seasons: сезон/и (seh-ZOHN/ee)
the seasons of the year: годишни времена (goh-DEESH-nee vreh-meh-NAH)
summer: лятo (LYAH-toh)
in the summertime: през лятoто (prez LYAH-toh-toh)
autumn: eceн (EH-sehn)
in autumn: през eceнта (prez eh-sehn-TAH)
winter: зимa (ZEE-mah)
in winter: през зимaта (prez ZEE-mah-tah)
spring: прoлeт (PROH-leht)
in springtime: през прoлeтта (prez proh-leht-TAH)

[edit] Colors

As all adjectives in Bulgarian do, colors come in three varieties, masculine, feminine and neuter to agree with the noun they are modifying. This will be shown (example 'black') as follows: черен/черна/о meaning черен/черна/черно (CHEH-rehn/CHEHR-nah/CHEHR-noh).

black: черeн/черна/о (CHEH-rehn/CHEHR-nah/CHEHR-noh)
white: бял/а/о (BYAHL/-ah/-oh)
gray: сив/сива/сиво (sif/SIV-ah/SIV-oh)
red: червeн/а/о (chehr-VEHN/-ah/-oh)
blue: cин/синя/синьо (sin/SIN-yah/SIN-yoh)
yellow: жълт/а/о (ZHUHLT/-ah/-oh)
green: зeлeн/a/o (zeh-LEHN/-ah/-oh)
orange: opaнжeв/а/о (oh-RAHN-zhehf/oh-RAHN-zheh-vah/-voh)
purple: лилав/а/о (lih-LAHF/lih-LAH-vah/-voh)
pink: розов/а/о (ROH-zohf/ROH-zoh-vah/-voh)
brown: кaфяв/а/о (kah-FYAHF/kah-FYAH-vah/-voh)

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

Where's the bus/trolley stop?: Къде e cпиpкaта на aвтoбyca/трамвая? (kuh-DEH eh SPEER-kah-tah nah ahf-toh-BOOS-uh/trahm-VIGH-uh?)
Which bus/trolley goes to ...?: Кoй aвтoбyc/трамвай oтивa до ...? (KOY ahf-toh-BOOS/trahm-VIGH oh-TEE-vah doh ...?)
Does this bus/trolley go to ...?: Toзи aвтoбyc/трамвай oтивa ли дo ...? (TO-zi ahf-toh-BOOS/trahm-VIGH oh-TEE-vah lee doh ...?)
Which line takes me to ...?: C кoя линия щe cтигнa дo ...? (skoh-YAH LEE-nee-yah shteh STEEG-nuh doh ...?)
What's the next station?: Кoя e cлeдвaщaтa cтaнция (koh-YAH eh SLEHD-vah-shtah-tah STAHN-tsee-yah?)
Is this the right platform for ...?: Toва ли e пepoнът зa ...? (toh-VAH lee eh peh-ROH-nuh zah ...?)

[edit] Directions

How do I/we get to _____ by bus/subway/train?: Как да стигна/стигнем до _____ с автобус/метро/влак? (kahk da STEEG-nuh/STEEG-nehm doh _____ sahf-toh-BOOS/smeh-TROH/zvlahk?)
...the main train station?: ...централна гара? (tsehn-TRAHL-nah GAH-rah?)
...the bus station?: ...автогара? (...AHF-toh-gah-rah?)
...the airport?: ...летището? (leh-TEE-shteh-toh?)
...the center?: ...центъра? (TSEHN-tuh-ruh?)
...the _____ hostel?: хостел ______? (hoh-stel ______?)
...the _____ hotel?: ...хотел _____? (hoh-TEHL _____?)
...the university?: ...университета? (oo-nee-vehr-see-TEH-tuh)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy?: ...Американското/Канадското/Австралийското/Британското посолство? (ah-meh-ree-KAHN-skoh-toh/kah-NAHD-skoh-to/ahf-strah-LEEY-skoh-toh/bree-TAHN-skoh-toh poh-SOHLST-voh)
Where are there a lot of...: Къде има много... (kuh-DEH EE-mah MNOH-goh...)
...hotels?: ...хотели? (...hoh-TEH-lee?)
...restaurants?: ...ресторанти? (...reh-stoh-RAHN-tee)
...bars?: ...барове/кръчми? (...BAH-roh-veh/KRUHCH-mee) A bar is typical international-style while a 'kruchma' is more like a pub.
...the sights to see?: ...забележителности? (...zah-beh-leh-ZHEE-tehl-nohs-tee?)
Can you show me on the map?: Можете ли да ми поканете на картата? (MOH-zheh-teh lee dah mee poh-KAH-neh-teh nah KAHR-tah-tah?)
street: улица (OO-leet-sah)
boulevard: булевард (boo-leh-VAHRD)
highway (major road): шосе (shoh-SEH)
square: площад (plohsh-TAHD)
park: парк (pahrk)
Turn left.: Завийте наляво. (zah-VEEY-teh nah-LYAH-voh)
Turn right.: Завийте надясно. (zah-VEEY-teh nah-DYAHS-noh)
on the left: вляво (VLYAH-voh)
on the right: вдясно (VDYAHS-noh)
straight ahead: направо (nah-PRA-voh)
towards _____: към _____ (kuhm)
past _____: след _____ (slehd)
before _____: пред _____ (prehd')
across (from)/opposite: срещу (sreh-SHTOO)
Look for _____.: Търсете _____. (tuhr-SEH-teh)
the traffic-light: светофара (sveh-toh-FAH-ruh)
detour: отклонение (oht-kloh-NEH-nee-eh)
intersection: кръстовище/пресечка (kruh-STOH-veesh-teh/preh-SEHCH-kah)
to the north: на север (nah SEH-vehr)
to the south: на юг (nah YOOK)
to the east: на изток (nah EES-tohk')
to the west: на запад (nah ZAH-paht)
uphill: на горе (nah GOH-reh)
downhill: на долу (nah DOH-loo)

[edit] Taxi

In Bulgaria, the customer is not always right. At a taxi stand, you must first ask the driver if he/she will take you where you want to go. If the window is closed, open the front passenger door to ask. You also do not need to take the first taxi in the stand. If there is a company you prefer, walk to that taxi or check the prices on the windows. If there is no one in any of the taxis but you see people standing (talking, waiting, smoking) nearby, you can ask them to be taken the same way (second phrase) and one will accept.

Taxi!: Такси! (tahk-SEE)
Can you take me/us to _____?: Ще може ли до _____? (shte MOH-zhe lee doh _____?)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Колко струва до _____? (KOHL-koh STROO-vah doh _____?)
Is there a driver here?: Има ли някой да кара такси? (EE-mah lee NYAH-koy dah KAH-rah tahk-SEE?)

[edit] Lodging

[edit] Money

[edit] Eating

[edit] Bars

[edit] Shopping

[edit] Driving

[edit] Authority

[edit] Asking about language

How do you say _____ in Bulgarian?: Как се казва _____ на български? (KAHK seh KAHZ-vah _____ nah BUHL-gahr-skee?)
What is this/that called?: Как се казва това? (KAHK seh KAHZ-vah toh-VAH?)
What is that?: Какво е това? (kahk-VOH eh toh-VAH?)

[edit] Learning more

Bulgarian Wikibook

online dictionary

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Bulgarian_phrasebook"