Body Parts

1. Глава

   Gla-va

   Head

   Usage

   Show it at a clinic and point to your head. A headache is "Имам главоболие"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; the definite form is "главата"

2. Коса

   Ko-sa

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber, usually with "подстрижете" — cut

   Grammar Note

   Feminine, and the singular covers all the hair on your head

3. Лице

   Li-tse

   Face

   Usage

   Use it to mark the treatment area at a spa, or to show a skin problem to a doctor

   Grammar Note

   Neuter; the definite form is "лицето"

4. Око

   O-ko

   Eye

   Usage

   Point to it for pain or redness, or to ask for eye drops — "капки за очи"

   Grammar Note

   Neuter, with the irregular plural "очи"

5. Ухо

   U-ho

   Ear

   Usage

   Use it for ear trouble after a flight or a dive

   Grammar Note

   Neuter, with the irregular plural "уши"

6. Нос

   Nos

   Nose

   Usage

   Point to it at a pharmacy for a blocked nose — "запушен нос" — or a nosebleed

7. Уста

   Us-ta

   Mouth

   Usage

   Use it for an ulcer or any pain inside the mouth

   Grammar Note

   Feminine. A lip is a separate word, "устна" (plural "устни")

8. Зъб

   Zab

   Tooth

   Usage

   Show it at the dentist while pointing at the tooth. Toothache is "зъбобол" and the dentist "зъболекар"

   Grammar Note

   Masculine, plural "зъби"

9. Език

   E-zik

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a sore or a burn on the tongue. The same word means "language", so point at your tongue to make the meaning clear

10. Врат

    Vrat

    Neck

    Usage

    Bulgarian separates the outside of the neck ("врат") from the throat inside ("гърло"). Use this one for a stiff neck

11. Гърло

    Gar-lo

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat — "Боли ме гърлото" is all a pharmacy needs

12. Рамо

    Ra-mo

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point to it to ask a masseur to focus there

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, plural "рамене"

13. Ръка

    Ra-ka

    Arm / Hand

    Usage

    Bulgarian "ръка" covers everything from shoulder to fingertips — arm and hand are not separated, so point to the exact spot

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, with the plural "ръце"

14. Лакът

    La-kat

    Elbow

    Usage

    A common place for grazes — point to it after a bike spill

15. Китка

    Kit-ka

    Wrist

    Usage

    For a sprain: "навехнах китката" — I twisted my wrist

16. Длан

    Dlan

    Palm

    Usage

    Since "ръка" does not separate arm from hand, use this when you specifically mean the palm

17. Пръст

    Prast

    Finger / Toe

    Usage

    One word for fingers and toes alike; say "пръст на ръката" or "пръст на крака" to distinguish

18. Нокът

    No-kat

    Nail

    Usage

    Use it at a nail salon or to show an ingrown nail

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, plural "нокти"

19. Гръден кош

    Gra-den kosh

    Chest

    Usage

    Point to it for chest pain or tightness — urgent, so show it early

20. Корем

    Ko-rem

    Belly / Abdomen

    Usage

    The key word for food trouble: "Боли ме коремът" — my stomach hurts

21. Стомах

    Sto-mah

    Stomach (organ)

    Usage

    Bulgarian separates the belly you can touch ("корем") from the digestive organ ("стомах"). Ask a pharmacy for "нещо за стомаха"

22. Гръб

    Grab

    Back

    Usage

    Use it to direct a massage or to show where the pain is

23. Кръст

    Krast

    Lower back

    Usage

    The Bulgarian word for the lower back: "Боли ме кръстът". The same word also means "cross"

24. Ханш

    Hansh

    Hip

    Usage

    The joint at the side of the pelvis — point to it after a long bus ride

25. Крак

    Krak

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Bulgarian "крак" runs from thigh to toes and does not separate leg from foot; use "стъпало" for the foot proper

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, plural "крака"

26. Бедро

    Bed-ro

    Thigh

    Usage

    Point to it for sore muscles after a long descent or a hike

27. Коляно

    Ko-lya-no

    Knee

    Usage

    The classic complaint on the way down from Rila or Pirin, and for showing a fall injury

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, plural "колене"

28. Прасец

    Pra-sets

    Calf

    Usage

    Point to it for cramp or tightness

29. Стъпало

    Sta-pa-lo

    Foot

    Usage

    Because "крак" means the whole leg, use this word when you mean the foot alone — blisters, for instance

30. Глезен

    Gle-zen

    Ankle

    Usage

    Point to it for a sprain: "навехнах глезена" — I twisted my ankle

31. Кожа

    Ko-zha

    Skin

    Usage

    Use it at a pharmacy for bites, sunburn or a rash

32. Кост

    Kost

    Bone

    Usage

    Use it when you suspect a break — "счупена кост"; the loanword "фрактура" means the same

33. Кръв

    Krav

    Blood

    Usage

    For bleeding or a blood test; your blood group is "кръвна група"

34. Сърце

    Sar-tse

    Heart

    Usage

    For palpitations or a long-term condition; pair it with "Сърдечно заболяване" from the Health & Hospital category

35. Бял дроб

    Byal drob

    Lung

    Usage

    For a cough, breathlessness or asthma. It literally means "white offal", paired with the liver, the "black" one

36. Черен дроб

    Che-ren drob

    Liver

    Usage

    Use it with a doctor about a liver condition or your medication. It literally means "black offal", and on a menu it is the dish

37. Черва

    Cher-va

    Intestines

    Usage

    Use it with a doctor for lasting diarrhoea or abdominal trouble

    Grammar Note

    Normally used in the plural; the singular is "черво"

38. Бъбрек

    Bab-rek

    Kidney

    Usage

    For a kidney condition or pain in your side; a stone is "камък в бъбрека"

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