Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LANGUAGE
The biggest challenge for new visitors is that you're not just dealing with a new language
but a new alphabet—when trying to find your way around the cities make sure you have
a good map. If you're a thin-skinned traveler, you'll want to seek advice or directions
from the youngest, hippest person on the street; older citizens tend to speak no English
and asking if they do usually affronts. You will find yourself a little more lost outside of
the main centers where English speakers are rare. However, this is more than made up
with sincere friendliness, and rural folk will usually make a real effort to assist in any way
they can. Speaking even just a few phrases can thaw a strained atmosphere or—outside
the city—have you seated and trying out a bowl of homemade cabbage soup with your
delighted host. Here are a few phrases to help you on your way. (Words, when written
with Latin alphabet, are done so phonetically to aid pronunciation, but make for varia-
tions in spelling, even in place names (for example, Triavna = Tryavna).
USEFUL WORDS & PHRASES
Bulgarian
English
Pronunciation
Molya
Please
Mall
-ya
Blagodarya
Thank you
Blago
-darya
Mersi
Thanks (informal)
Mer
-see
Dobur-den
Good day
Do
-bar-den
Zdravei!
Hi! (informal)
Zdra
-vay!
Kak si?
How are you?
Kuck
-see?
Az sum dobre
I am fine
Az sum-
Dob
-reh
Dobre
Okay
Dob
-reh
Kude . . . ?
Where is . . .
?
Ku
-deh
Kolko struve?
How much?
Kol
-koh
struh
-vah
Prodavate li . . . ?
Do you sell . . . ?
Prodava
-te li
Mozhe li . . . ?/
Can I have . . . /
Moh
-zhe li/
Ima
-teh li
Imate li . . . ?
Do you have . . . ?
As obicham . . .
I like/love . . .
As
obi
-cham
Proshtavaite
Sorry
Proshta
-va-ee-teh
Az iskam . . .
I want . . .
Az
is
-kam
Bankata/Bankomata
Bank/ATM
Bunk
-ata/
Banko
-ma-tah
Menu/Smetkata
Menu/The Bill
Men
-u/
Smet
-katah
Café
Coffee
Cah
-feh
Mlyako
Milk
Mlya
-ko
Voda (led)
Water (ice)
Vo -
da
(
led
)
Vino(cherveno/byalo)
Wine (red/white)
Vie
-noh(
cherve
-no/
bya
-loh)
Bira
Beer
Bee
-ra
Garnitura
Side orders
Garnee
-too-rah
Hlyab
Bread
Hlya
-b
Apteka
Pharmacy
Ap-
tech
-ah
Lekar/Zubolekar
Doctor/dentist
Le
-kar/Za-bo-
le
-kar
Bolen sum
I am ill
Bo
-len
sum
