Помощ!
PO-mosht
Help!
Usage
Shouted in any emergency situation
Grammar Note
помощ is a feminine noun meaning "help." The exclamation mark and raised voice convey urgency
Обадете се на полицията!
o-BA-de-te se na po-LI-tsi-ya-ta
Call the police!
Usage
Asking bystanders to call the police in a dangerous situation
Grammar Note
обадете се is the plural imperative of the reflexive verb "to call/contact." полицията has definite suffix -та
Извикайте линейка!
iz-vi-KAY-te li-NEY-ka
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Used in medical emergencies
Grammar Note
извикайте is the formal plural imperative of "to call/summon." No case changes for линейка
Болен съм
BO-len sam
I'm sick
Usage
Expressing illness (said by a male speaker)
Grammar Note
болен is masculine. Women say болна съм. Bulgarian adjectives agree in gender but not case
Нуждая се от лекар
nuzh-DA-ya se ot LE-kar
I need a doctor
Usage
Requesting medical assistance
Grammar Note
нуждая се от means "to need." The preposition от introduces the object — no case needed in Bulgarian
Откраднаха ми портфейла
ot-KRAD-na-ha mi port-FEY-la
My wallet was stolen
Usage
Reporting a theft to the police or bystanders
Grammar Note
Bulgarian uses "they stole from me the wallet." ми is the short dative pronoun here meaning "from me"
Загубих паспорта си
za-GU-bih PAS-por-ta si
I lost my passport
Usage
Reporting a lost passport to authorities or embassies
Grammar Note
загубих is the past tense first person of "to lose." si is the reflexive possessive for "my/one's own"
Имам алергия към
I-mam a-ler-GI-ya kam
I'm allergic to...
Usage
Informing medical staff or restaurant workers about an allergy
Grammar Note
към is a preposition meaning "toward/to." Prepositions carry full grammatical context in caseless Bulgarian
Къде е най-близката болница?
ka-DE e nay-BLIZ-ka-ta bol-NI-tsa
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Urgently asking for directions to the nearest hospital
Grammar Note
най- is the superlative prefix. близка (near, fem.) → най-близката (the nearest, with definite suffix)
Имам застраховка
I-mam zas-tra-HOV-ka
I have insurance
Usage
Informing medical staff or emergency services that you have insurance
Grammar Note
застраховка is a feminine noun. Bulgarian's lack of cases makes this a straightforward statement
Престанете!
Pres-ta-ne-te!
Stop it!
Usage
Show this without saying a word to a pushy tout, a scammer, or anyone who will not back off
Не ме докосвайте!
Ne me do-kos-vay-te!
Do not touch me!
Usage
Show this to anyone touching you; bystanders can read it too
Обраха ме
Ob-ra-ha me
I have been robbed
Usage
Reports a theft to police or bystanders; point at what was taken
Grammar Note
обирам/обера (to rob) takes the victim as its direct object, so "ме" reads as "they robbed me". Note that крада/открадна takes the stolen thing as its object, so "Откраднаха ме" would mean "they stole me"; name the thing with the dative "ми" instead ("Откраднаха ми портфейла")
Пожар
Po-zhar
Fire
Usage
The word for a fire burning a building or forest; point at it to report one
Grammar Note
Masculine noun, plural "пожари". Fire as an element is "огън"; "пожар" is a fire as a disaster
Крадец
Kra-dets
Thief
Usage
Point at this to say that someone has stolen from you
Grammar Note
Masculine noun, plural "крадци"; the act of theft itself is "кражба"
Грабеж
Gra-bezh
Robbery
Usage
Taking property by force or threat; this is the offence name in the Bulgarian criminal code
Grammar Note
Masculine noun. Theft without violence is кражба
Джебчия
Dzheb-chi-ya
Pickpocket
Usage
The street thief who lifts small items and cash
Grammar Note
Masculine noun, plural "джебчии"; a Turkish-derived word built on "джоб" (pocket)
Отвличане
Ot-vli-cha-ne
Kidnapping
Usage
Carrying a person off by force and depriving them of their liberty
Grammar Note
Neuter noun. A verbal noun formed from the verb отвличам
Убийство
U-biy-stvo
Murder
Usage
Taking another person's life; this is also the offence name in the Bulgarian criminal code
Grammar Note
Neuter noun. The plural is убийства
Безредици
Bez-re-di-tsi
Riot
Usage
A collective breach of public order; a large-scale one is "масови безредици"
Grammar Note
A plural-only feminine noun
Бомба
Bom-ba
Bomb
Usage
The word for an explosive device; show it when reporting a suspicious object
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; plural "бомби"
Пожар! Бягайте!
po-ZHAR! BYA-gay-te
Fire! Run!
Usage
Used to alert others to a fire and tell them to get out
Grammar Note
"Бягайте" is the plural imperative, meaning to move away quickly from danger; the -айте ending matches "Извикайте линейка!"
Крадец! Хванете го!
kra-DETS! HVA-ne-te go
Thief! Catch him!
Usage
Used to call on bystanders when you catch someone stealing
Grammar Note
"Хванете" is the plural imperative of "хващам/хвана" (to seize, to catch); the -ете ending matches "Престанете!". "го" is the accusative clitic "him"
Извикайте пожарната!
iz-vi-KAY-te po-ZHAR-na-ta
Please call a fire engine
Usage
Used to ask someone to summon the fire service; the emergency number is 112
Grammar Note
Same "Извикайте + object" pattern as "Извикайте линейка!". Bulgarian calls the fire service (пожарната) rather than the engine; "пожарна" is also the word in "Пожарна кола" (fire engine)
Къде е полицейският участък?
ka-DE e po-li-TSEY-ski-yat u-CHAS-tak
Where is the police station?
Usage
Used to ask the way to a police station, e.g. to report a crime
Grammar Note
The "Къде е + definite noun phrase?" pattern. "полицейски" is the adjective from the root of "полиция". "участък" has two homograph senses; the one meaning "the service that keeps public order" / "the building of that service" is the police station
Някой говори ли японски?
NYA-koy go-VO-ri li ya-PON-ski
Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?
Usage
Used to look for someone who can interpret when you cannot make yourself understood
Grammar Note
The "говоря + question particle ли + language" pattern of "Говорите ли английски?", put into the 3rd person singular with "някой" (anyone) as the subject. "японски" is the adjective from the same root as "Япония" and also names the language
Този човек е в безсъзнание
TO-zi cho-VEK e v bez-sa-ZNA-ni-e
This person is unconscious
Usage
Used to tell paramedics or bystanders that someone has passed out
Grammar Note
"човек" is the noun of "Един човек". "Безсъзнание" usually takes the preposition в and means the state in which a person loses the ability to sense, think and feel; it is used as "изпадна в безсъзнание"
Човек се дави!
cho-VEK se DA-vi
Someone is drowning
Usage
Used to raise the alarm when you see someone in the water
Grammar Note
"човек" is the noun of "Един човек". The reflexive use of "давя се" means sinking in water and being unable to breathe, and it has the same word order as "се дави дете в морето"
Пребиха ме
pre-BI-ha me
I was beaten
Usage
Used to report an assault to the police or to medical staff
Grammar Note
The same "3rd person plural aorist + ме" pattern as "Обраха ме", which reports what happened to you without naming the agent. "пребивам/пребия" means to beat someone badly, to wreck them physically with blows
Намушкаха ме
na-MUSH-ka-ha me
I was stabbed
Usage
Used to tell paramedics or police that you have been stabbed
Grammar Note
The same "3rd person plural aorist + ме" pattern as "Обраха ме". "намушквам/намушкам" means piercing someone or something with a sharp object, as in "намушкал го с ножа си" (stabbed him with his knife)
Влязоха с взлом в стаята ми
VLYA-zo-ha s vzlom v STA-ya-ta mi
My room was broken into
Usage
Used to report to police or hotel staff that your room was broken into while you were out
Grammar Note
The same agentless 3rd person plural aorist pattern as "Обраха ме". "Взлом" means breaking a door etc. in order to get into a room, usually for theft, as in "кражба с взлом" (burglary)
Онзи човек е извършителят
ON-zi cho-VEK e iz-var-SHI-te-lyat
That person is the culprit
Usage
Used to point out the offender to the police
Grammar Note
"човек" is the noun of "Един човек". The demonstrative is the distal "онзи", paired with the proximal "този" (this). "Извършител" means the person who commits or has committed something, and is used in the same construction as "той е извършителят на диверсията"
Измамиха ме
iz-MA-mi-ha me
I was deceived
Usage
Used to report a scam or a rip-off to the police
Grammar Note
The same "3rd person plural aorist + ме" pattern as "Обраха ме". "измам-" is the root of "Не ме измамвай!". "измамвам/измамя" means deliberately misleading someone by word or deed
Забравих нещо
za-BRA-vih NESH-to
I left it behind
Usage
Used to tell shop or station staff that you have left something behind
Grammar Note
The 1st person singular aorist pattern of "Загубих паспорта си" with "нещо" (something) as its object
Блъснат съм от кола
BLAS-nat sam ot KO-la
I was hit by a car
Usage
Used to report that a car has hit you
Grammar Note
Same "predicate + съм" pattern as "Болен съм". "блъснат от кола" is a ready-made expression used in just this form. A female speaker says "Блъсната съм от кола"
Бягайте към аварийния изход!
BYA-gay-te kam a-va-RIY-ni-ya IZ-hod
Please escape through the emergency exit
Usage
Used to direct others to the escape route in a fire or other emergency
Grammar Note
"изход" is the noun in "Къде е изходът?" and "към" the preposition in "Имам алергия към". The exit sign reads "АВАРИЕН ИЗХОД"; after the preposition it takes the definite form "аварийния изход"
Внимание!
vni-MA-ni-e
Watch out!
Usage
Used to warn someone of immediate danger; also the word on warning signs
Grammar Note
"внимание" also works as an interjection, a warning of nearby danger, as in "Един глас извика: „Внимание!“" (A voice cried out: "Attention!"). Same root as "внимателни"
Побързайте, моля
po-BAR-zay-te, MOL-ya
Please hurry
Usage
Used to ask emergency services or anyone else to move quickly
Grammar Note
Same "plural imperative + моля" pattern as "Изчакайте, моля", with the -айте ending of "Извикайте линейка!". "побързвам/побързам" means doing something faster, in a shorter time
Елате веднага, моля
e-LA-te ved-na-GA, MOL-ya
Please come right away
Usage
Used to ask someone to come immediately in an emergency
Grammar Note
Same "plural imperative + моля" pattern as "Изчакайте, моля". "Елате" is the suppletive imperative for "come", which has no matching indicative stem
Спешно е
SPESH-no e
It's an emergency
Usage
Used on the phone or at a counter to say that the situation is urgent
Grammar Note
The same impersonal neuter-adjective sentence as "Много е смешно", with no subject. "Спешен" means "Който не търпи отлагане; бърз, неотложен" (that which brooks no delay; urgent)
Закарайте ме в болница, моля
za-ka-RAY-te me v BOL-ni-tsa, MOL-ya
Please take me to a hospital
Usage
Used to ask a taxi driver or anyone with a car to take you to a hospital
Grammar Note
Same "plural imperative + моля" pattern as "Изчакайте, моля", with the -айте ending of "Извикайте линейка!". "закарвам/закарам" means driving a vehicle to a given place, so this is the wording for being taken by car
Трябва ми свидетелство за кражба
TRYAB-va mi svi-de-TEL-stvo za KRAZH-ba
I need a theft report
Usage
Used at a police station to ask for written proof of a theft, e.g. for an insurance claim
Grammar Note
The impersonal construction of "Трябва ми лекар" with "свидетелство" from "Медицинско свидетелство". "Кражба" means the unlawful appropriation of another's property, usually in secret. It is worded as "I need a theft certificate" rather than a "please issue …" request
Станала е пътна катастрофа
STA-na-la e PAT-na ka-tas-TRO-fa
There has been a traffic accident
Usage
Tell an emergency line or the people around you that a road accident has happened
Grammar Note
The "Станала е + noun" frame (as in "Станала е катастрофа"), with the adjective "пътна" (road) added. "Катастрофа" is a calamity such as two vehicles colliding; "пътна катастрофа" is a road accident. The everyday term was preferred over the legal "пътнотранспортно произшествие" because the card is shown to a passer-by
More Bulgarian phrases
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