You can be forgiven for feeling totally isolated when first visiting Bulgaria. Although many people speak English the overwhelming feeling will be one of inability to communicate. This is, of course is the feeling one gets when visiting any country where English is not the first language.
It is made worse in Bulgaria however, when one looks at the signs on roads, shops and generally wherever public information is on display. This mainly due to the fact that the script makes it virtually impossible to gain any understanding of where one is or what is going on...
Do not be afraid of this, embrace it and recognize
it for what it is and you will find that with patience and a little
effort you will be able to make yourself understood and you will begin
to understand what is said to you at some level.
Besides most of the people you will deal with when buying your property will speak English or will be able to use the services of an interpreter to enable smooth communication.
In order to help in this respect you will find a list of some useful phrases, to be used in various situations, below. Study them and you will find that your attempts at communicating in Bulgarian will be rewarded by people who will appreciate your efforts.
After all you are in their country.
Don't adopt the Englishman's attitude that everyone should speak English and that anyone who doesn't is either stupid or deaf. This can be very destructive and will not serve you well in a situation where you are clearly the outsider.
Besides most of the people you will deal with when buying your property will speak English or will be able to use the services of an interpreter to enable smooth communication.
In order to help in this respect you will find a list of some useful phrases, to be used in various situations, below. Study them and you will find that your attempts at communicating in Bulgarian will be rewarded by people who will appreciate your efforts.
After all you are in their country.
Don't adopt the Englishman's attitude that everyone should speak English and that anyone who doesn't is either stupid or deaf. This can be very destructive and will not serve you well in a situation where you are clearly the outsider.
| Useful Phrases | |
| English | Bulgarian |
| Good day | Dobar den |
| Good evening | Dobar vecher |
| Hello | Zdra veite |
| Good morning | Do-bro Utro |
| Thank you | Blagoda rya |
| Good or Okay | Dobre |
| How are you? | Kak ste? |
| Shopping | |
| English | Bulgarian |
| How much does this cost? | Kolko struva to va? |
| Cigarettes | tsi gari |
| presents | po darats |
| shoes | o buvki |
| cheap | Evtino |
| food | hra na |
| Dining/drinking | |
| English | Bulgarian |
| Excuse me | Izvi nyavaite |
| What's your name? | Kak se kasvate? |
| I'm alright | Az sam do bre |
| Do you have a menu? | Imate li me nyu na ang liiski? |
| Vegeterian | vegeta rianski |
| fish | riba |
| main course | os novni yastia |
| pork | svinsko |
| beef | teleshko |
| tea | chai |
| coffee | ka fe |
| beer | bira |
| white wine | byalo vino |
| red wine | cher veno vino |
| water | voda |
| Strolling around | |
| English | Bulgarian |
| Where is? | Ka de se na'mira? |
| Street or Boulevard | ulitsa or bulevard |
| square | plosh tad |
| hotel | ho tel |
| station | garata |
| bus station | avto garata |
| left (on the) | a lyavo |
| right (on the) | na dyasno |
| ahead | na pravo |
| chemist | aptekata |
