Greetings

1. Здравейте

   zdra-VEY-te

   Hello (formal)

   Usage

   Formal greeting used with strangers and elders

   Grammar Note

   Formal Bulgarian greeting. Informal: Здравей (Zdravey). Derived from "to be healthy"

2. Здравей

   zdra-VEY

   Hello (informal)

   Usage

   Casual greeting used with friends and acquaintances

   Grammar Note

   Bulgarian has no grammatical cases, making greetings simple. Formal: Здравейте

3. Добро утро

   DOB-ro UT-ro

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting used until around noon

   Grammar Note

   Добро agrees in gender with утро (neuter noun). Bulgarian has no cases but adjectives agree in gender

4. Добър ден

   DO-bar den

   Good day / Good afternoon

   Usage

   Formal daytime greeting, common in shops and offices

   Grammar Note

   Добър agrees with ден (masculine noun). Bulgarian attaches definite articles as noun suffixes

5. Добър вечер

   DO-bar VE-cher

   Good evening

   Usage

   Evening greeting used after sunset

   Grammar Note

   вечер is masculine, so Добър is used. Lack of cases is distinctive among Slavic languages

6. Благодаря

   bla-go-da-RYA

   Thank you

   Usage

   The most common way to say thank you in Bulgarian

   Grammar Note

   First-person singular of the verb "to thank." Subject pronouns are commonly omitted in Bulgarian

7. Моля

   MOL-ya

   Please / You're welcome

   Usage

   Used both as "please" and as a response to thank you

   Grammar Note

   From the verb "to request/beg." Context determines whether it means "please" or "you're welcome"

8. Как сте?

   kak ste

   How are you? (formal)

   Usage

   Polite inquiry used with strangers or elders

   Grammar Note

   сте is the plural/formal form of "to be." Bulgarian uses plural verb forms as a politeness strategy

9. Довиждане

   do-VIZH-da-ne

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Standard farewell used in most situations

   Grammar Note

   Literally "until seeing (again)." Informal alternative: Чао (Chao, borrowed from Italian)

10. Извинете

    iz-vi-NE-te

    Excuse me / I'm sorry (formal)

    Usage

    Used to get attention or to apologize politely

    Grammar Note

    Plural imperative of the verb "to excuse/forgive." Informal: Извини (Izvini). No cases in Bulgarian

11. Къде е тоалетната?

    ka-DE e toa-let-NA-ta

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Essential phrase for finding a toilet in any public place

    Grammar Note

    Bulgarian suffixes the definite article. "тоалетна" + feminine article "-та" = "тоалетната"

12. Не мога да говоря български

    ne MO-ga da go-VOR-ya BAL-gar-ski

    I can't speak Bulgarian

    Usage

    Used to let someone know you don't speak Bulgarian

    Grammar Note

    Bulgarian uses "да + present tense" instead of an infinitive. "да говоря" = "to speak"

13. Пак ще дойда.

    Pak shte doy-da.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop — a friendly way to signal you enjoyed it

14. Прекарах си много добре.

    Pre-ka-rah si mno-go do-bre.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting, to share how much you enjoyed it

15. Благодаря, до скоро!

    Bla-go-da-rya, do sko-ro!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual farewell for someone you've become friendly with

16. Лека нощ.

    LE-ka nosht.

    Good night

    Usage

    Said just before going to sleep — not a farewell, but a bedtime greeting

17. Излизам.

    iz-LI-zam.

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving your lodging for a while

18. Вкъщи съм.

    VKASH-ti sam.

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said upon returning to your lodging; literally "I'm at home"

19. Извинете, трябва да тръгвам.

    iz-vi-NE-te, TRYAB-va da TRAG-vam.

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    A polite phrase for excusing yourself when leaving before others

20. Няма защо.

    NYA-ma za-SHTO.

    You're welcome

    Usage

    An alternative to "Моля" for replying to thanks

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