Food & Drinks

1. Масата за двама, моля

   MA-sa-ta za DVA-ma, MOL-ya

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Used when requesting a table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   масата = маса + definite suffix -та. Bulgarian attaches definite articles as suffixes to nouns

2. Менюто, моля

   me-NYU-to, MOL-ya

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Requesting the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   меню is a neuter loanword; the definite suffix for neuter nouns is -то

3. Какво препоръчвате?

   KAK-vo pre-po-RACH-va-te

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Asking a waiter for their recommendation

   Grammar Note

   препоръчвате is the formal/plural second-person form of the verb "to recommend"

4. Искам шопска салата

   IS-kam SHOP-ska sa-LA-ta

   I'd like a shopska salad

   Usage

   Ordering Bulgaria's most famous salad — tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and white cheese

   Grammar Note

   Искам is the first-person singular of "to want." No case changes needed in Bulgarian

5. Без месо, моля

   bez ME-so, MOL-ya

   Without meat, please

   Usage

   Used by vegetarians or those with dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   Без is a preposition meaning "without." Prepositions carry heavy grammatical load since Bulgarian has no cases

6. Сметката, моля

   SMET-ka-ta, MOL-ya

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Requesting the check after a meal

   Grammar Note

   сметката = сметка + definite suffix -та. Postposed definite articles are a hallmark of Bulgarian

7. Много е вкусно

   MNO-go e VKUS-no

   It's very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting food at a restaurant or someone's home

   Grammar Note

   вкусно is the neuter form of the adjective. Bulgarian adjectives agree in gender but not in case

8. Имате ли вегетариански ястия?

   i-MA-te li ve-ge-ta-ri-AN-ski YAS-ti-ya

   Do you have vegetarian dishes?

   Usage

   Checking for vegetarian options on the menu

   Grammar Note

   Bulgarian yes/no questions use the particle "ли" after the verb rather than changing word order

9. Едно кафе, моля

   ED-no ka-FE, MOL-ya

   One coffee, please

   Usage

   Ordering coffee at a café or after a meal

   Grammar Note

   едно is the neuter form of "one," agreeing with кафе (neuter loanword). Numerals agree in gender

10. Наздраве!

    naz-DRA-ve

    Cheers! / To your health!

    Usage

    Toast used when raising glasses before drinking

    Grammar Note

    На (for) + здраве (health). Essential when toasting with rakiya, Bulgaria's traditional brandy

11. Варен ориз

    Va-ren o-riz

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    Cooked rice; "ориз" alone can mean raw grain, so keep "варен" (boiled)

12. Хляб

    Hlyab

    Bread

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for bread; it does not cover pastries or cake

13. Макарони

    Ma-ka-ro-ni

    Pasta / noodles

    Usage

    The most widely understood word for noodles/pasta in Bulgaria; Asian noodles are "нудли" and the traditional homemade noodle is "юфка". Avoid "паста" — in Bulgarian that means a slice of cream cake

14. Лютив

    Lyu-tiv

    Spicy (hot with chilli)

    Usage

    Chilli heat only; hot in temperature is a different word, "горещ"

15. Суров

    Su-rov

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Use when checking whether food has been cooked through; it is not used for "draught" beer or similar senses

Browse all TravelPhrases languages