Directions

1. Как да стигна до центъра?

   kak da STIG-na do TSEN-ta-ra?

   How do I get to the city centre?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to the city centre in Sofia or Plovdiv

   Grammar Note

   Bulgarian definite articles attach to the end of nouns. "Център" → "центъра" (masculine definite suffix -а).

2. Завийте наляво

   za-VIY-te na-LYA-vo

   Turn left

   Usage

   Basic direction instruction to turn left

   Grammar Note

   Paired with "надясно" (to the right). "Вървете направо" means "go straight ahead."

3. Колко далеч е метростанцията?

   KOL-ko da-LECH e met-ro-stan-TSI-ya-ta?

   How far is the metro station?

   Usage

   Used in Sofia to ask how far the metro station is

   Grammar Note

   Sofia has a metro system. "Станция" (feminine) + definite suffix "-та" = "станцията" (the station).

4. Спрете тук, моля

   SPRE-te me tuk, MOL-ya

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Used to ask a taxi or bus driver to stop here

   Grammar Note

   "Спрете" is the polite/plural imperative of "спирам" (to stop). Bus/tram stop = спирка (SPIR-ka).

5. Покажете ми пътя до Рилския манастир

   po-ka-ZHE-te mi PA-tya do RIL-ski-ya ma-nas-TIR

   Show me the way to Rila Monastery

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria's most visited landmark

   Grammar Note

   "Рилски" is the adjective form of Rila (mountain). Masculine definite form: "Рилския."

6. Вървете направо до светофара

   var-VE-te nap-RA-vo do sve-to-FA-ra

   Go straight ahead to the traffic light

   Usage

   Standard directional phrase for guiding someone to a traffic light

   Grammar Note

   "Светофар" (masculine) + definite "-а" = "светофара." "До" is a preposition meaning "until/to."

7. Кой автобус отива до Стария град?

   koy av-TO-bus o-TI-va do STA-ri-ya GRAD?

   Which bus goes to the old town?

   Usage

   Used in Plovdiv or other Bulgarian cities to find the bus to the historic old town

   Grammar Note

   "Старият град" (the Old Town) is masculine with a definite article: full form "Старият" as subject, short form "Стария" after a preposition or as object.

8. Загубих се. Можете ли да ми помогнете?

   za-GU-bih se. mo-ZHE-te li da mi po-mog-NE-te?

   I am lost. Can you help me?

   Usage

   Used to ask a passer-by for help when you are lost

   Grammar Note

   "Се" is reflexive. "Загубих" is the aorist (past perfective) of "загубя." Aspect (perfective/imperfective) is key in Bulgarian.

9. До спирката ли е далеч?

   do SPIR-ka-ta li e da-LECH?

   Is the bus stop far from here?

   Usage

   Used to check if the bus or tram stop is far away

   Grammar Note

   "Спирка" (feminine) + "-та" = "спирката." Sofia has an extensive tram and trolleybus network.

10. Покажете ми на картата, моля

    po-ka-ZHE-te mi na kar-TA-ta, MOL-ya

    Please show me on the map

    Usage

    Useful when checking a location on a map with someone's help

    Grammar Note

    "Карта" (map, feminine) + "-та" = "картата." "На" is a preposition of location (on/at).

11. Надясно

    Na-dyas-no

    To the right

    Usage

    A one-word card for a taxi or for directions — readable at a glance while driving

12. Наляво

    Na-lya-vo

    To the left

    Usage

    A one-word card for a taxi or for directions

13. Направо

    Na-pra-vo

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Means straight on. Do not confuse it with Russian "направо", which means "to the right" — in Bulgarian right is "надясно"

14. Назад

    Na-zad

    Back / turn around

    Usage

    Show this when you have gone too far and need to go back

15. Спрете

    Spre-te

    Stop

    Usage

    Show this to be let out of a taxi or bus; it is the polite plural imperative

16. Север

    Se-ver

    North

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

17. Юг

    Yug

    South

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

18. Изток

    Iz-tok

    East

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

19. Запад

    Za-pad

    West

    Usage

    Use when checking a map or a compass direction

20. Хотел

    Ho-tel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show as your destination to a taxi driver or a passer-by

21. Летище

    Le-tish-te

    Airport

    Usage

    Show as your destination; Sofia's airport is signposted "ЛЕТИЩЕ СОФИЯ"

22. Автобусна спирка

    Av-to-bus-na spir-ka

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where the bus stop is

23. Метро

    Met-ro

    Metro / subway

    Usage

    Ask for the metro; Sofia is the only city in Bulgaria that has one

24. Посолство

    Po-sols-tvo

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show as a destination if you lose your passport

25. Банкомат

    Ban-ko-mat

    ATM

    Usage

    Point to this when asking where you can withdraw cash

26. Обмяна на валута

    Ob-mya-na na va-lu-ta

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Ask for a bureau de change; the shopfront sign reads this or simply "CHANGE"

27. Пералня на самообслужване

    Pe-ral-nya na sa-mo-ob-sluzh-va-ne

    Self-service laundry

    Usage

    Ask for a coin laundry; they are mostly limited to Sofia and other large cities

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