Имам главоболие
I-mam gla-vo-BO-li-e
I have a headache
Usage
Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Имам" (I have) requires no case changes, making it straightforward. "Болие" derives from "болка" (pain)
Повикайте линейка, моля
po-vi-KAY-te li-NEY-ka, MOL-ya
Please call an ambulance
Usage
Used in medical emergencies to request an ambulance
Grammar Note
Bulgaria's emergency number is 112. "Линейка" is the colloquial word for an ambulance; the official term is "Бърза помощ".
Има ли аптека наблизо?
I-ma li ap-TE-ka nab-LI-zo?
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
Usage
Used to locate a nearby pharmacy when medicine is needed
Grammar Note
"Има ли" is a standard Bulgarian question form. "Ли" acts as a question particle.
Алергичен съм към пеницилин
a-ler-GI-chen sam kam pe-ni-tsi-LIN
I am allergic to penicillin
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about a penicillin allergy
Grammar Note
Women say "Алергична съм" — Bulgarian adjectives agree with the subject's gender.
Трябва ми лекар
TRYAB-va mi LE-kar
I need a doctor
Usage
Used to inform hotel staff or others that you need medical attention
Grammar Note
"Трябва ми" is impersonal: "it is necessary to me." Dative clitic "ми" is still used in Bulgarian.
Имам висока температура
I-mam vi-SO-ka tem-pe-ra-TU-ra
I have a high fever
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or others that you have a high fever
Grammar Note
"Температура" is feminine, so the adjective "висока" uses the feminine form. Thermometer = термометър.
Чувствам се зле
CHUVST-vam se zle
I feel unwell / I feel sick
Usage
General expression for feeling sick or unwell
Grammar Note
"Се" is a reflexive particle. Opposite: "Чувствам се добре" (I feel well). "Зле" is the adverb form.
Има ли лекар, който говори английски?
I-ma li LE-kar, KOY-to go-VO-ri an-GLIY-ski?
Is there a doctor who speaks English?
Usage
Used by foreigners at Bulgarian hospitals to ask for an English-speaking doctor
Grammar Note
"Който" is the masculine relative pronoun. Bulgarian lacks cases but relative pronouns still agree in gender/number.
Имам разстроен стомах
I-mam raz-STRO-en STO-mah
I have an upset stomach
Usage
Used to describe gastrointestinal discomfort to a doctor
Grammar Note
"Разстроен" comes from a past passive participle used as adjective. For diarrhea specifically: диария.
Изпишете ми рецепта, моля
iz-PI-she-te mi re-TSEP-ta, MOL-ya
Please write me a prescription
Usage
Politely requests a prescription from a doctor after an examination
Grammar Note
"Ми" is a dative clitic pronoun. Many Bulgarian medicines are over-the-counter, but antibiotics require a prescription.
Бременна
BRE-men-na
Pregnant
Usage
Show this first at a clinic or pharmacy — it changes which medicines and X-rays are allowed
Астма
AST-ma
Asthma
Usage
Point to this to declare asthma as a pre-existing condition
Диабет
di-a-BET
Diabetes
Usage
Declares diabetes; also useful when discussing meals
Високо кръвно налягане
vi-SO-ko KRAV-no na-LYA-ga-ne
High blood pressure
Usage
Declares hypertension; everyday Bulgarian shortens it to "високо кръвно"
Сърдечно заболяване
sar-DECH-no za-bo-LYA-va-ne
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a heart condition — show it first in an emergency
Епилепсия
e-pi-LEP-si-ya
Epilepsy
Usage
Declares epilepsy, including to bystanders who may witness a seizure
Застраховка
zas-tra-HOV-ka
Insurance
Usage
Show at reception together with your policy; travel insurance is "пътна застраховка"
Фрактура
frak-TU-ra
Fracture
Usage
The clinical term used in hospitals; colloquially "счупена кост" (broken bone)
Затруднено дишане
Za-trud-ne-no di-sha-ne
Difficulty breathing
Usage
Point to this when you are too breathless to speak — a high-urgency symptom
Световъртеж
sve-to-var-TEZH
Dizziness
Usage
Reports dizziness or light-headedness
Кървене
kar-VE-ne
Bleeding
Usage
Reports bleeding; point at the site on your own body
Изгаряне
iz-GA-rya-ne
Burn
Usage
Reports a burn; sunburn is "слънчево изгаряне"
Рана
RA-na
Wound
Usage
An open wound such as a cut or graze
Ухо
u-HO
Ear
Usage
Points out the ear as the site of pain; the plural is "уши"
Врат
Vrat
Neck
Usage
The neck as a body part; the inside of the throat is a separate word, "гърло"
Рамо
RA-mo
Shoulder
Usage
Points out the shoulder; the plural is "рамене"
Коляно
ko-LYA-no
Knee
Usage
Points out the knee; the plural is "колене"
Пръст
Prast
Finger / toe
Usage
Covers both finger and toe — specify with "пръст на ръката" (hand) or "пръст на крака" (foot). The same spelling also means "soil", so always point at the body part
Кожа
KO-zha
Skin
Usage
Used when reporting a skin problem
Нос
Nos
Nose
Usage
Points out the nose when reporting a symptom there
Кашлица
KASH-li-tsa
Cough
Usage
The noun for a cough; also used at a pharmacy to ask for cough medicine
Сърбеж
sar-BEZH
Itching
Usage
The noun for itching; point at the affected area on your body
Обрив
OB-riv
Rash
Usage
The symptom a doctor checks first when an allergic reaction is suspected
Запек
ZA-pek
Constipation
Usage
Show this at a pharmacy when asking for a laxative; diarrhoea is a separate word, "диария"
Менструация
mens-tru-A-tsi-ya
Period (menstruation)
Usage
The clinical word doctors and pharmacists use; the everyday euphemism is "цикъл" (cycle), which is more usual at a pharmacy counter
Кръвна група
KRAV-na GRU-pa
Blood type
Usage
Show it when you need to give your blood group before a transfusion or surgery; "кръв" is blood
Медицинско свидетелство
me-di-TSIN-sko svi-DE-tel-stvo
Medical certificate
Usage
Show it when asking a doctor for a written statement, for example for an insurance claim; "свидетелство" is a document certifying something
Хоспитализация
Hos-pi-ta-li-za-tsi-ya
Hospital admission
Usage
Being taken into hospital for treatment; an emergency admission is "спешна хоспитализация" and a hospital is a "болница"
Втрисане
vtri-SA-ne
Chills
Usage
The shivering cold that comes before or with a fever; often described as a flu symptom
Настинка
nas-TIN-ka
Common cold
Usage
The ordinary cold, understood as-is at a pharmacy; a synonym is "простуда", while influenza is "грип", a different illness
Извикайте лекар!
iz-vi-KAY-te LE-kar
Please call a doctor
Usage
Used to ask someone present to fetch a doctor
Grammar Note
The "Извикайте + object" pattern (as in "Извикайте линейка!") with "лекар" (doctor) as the object
Чувствам се отпаднал
CHUVST-vam se ot-PAD-nal
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Used to tell a doctor that you feel weak and heavy-limbed
Grammar Note
The pattern of "Чувствам се зле" with the predicate swapped. "Отпаднал" expresses tiredness and weakness ("изнемощял, слаб"). A female speaker says "Чувствам се отпаднала"
Повърнах няколко пъти
po-VAR-nah NYA-kol-ko PA-ti
I have vomited several times
Usage
Used to tell a doctor how many times you have been sick
Grammar Note
The aorist ending -нах has the same stem shape as in "Откраднаха ми портфейла". "Повръщам/повърна" means to bring swallowed food or gastric juice out through the mouth, and "няколко" means not many, usually up to about ten
Трябва ли ми почивка?
TRYAB-va li mi po-CHIV-ka
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Used to ask a doctor whether you should stay at rest after being examined
Grammar Note
The impersonal construction of "Трябва ми лекар" with the question particle "ли" added. "Почивка" means a break or rest
Диария
di-A-ri-ya
Diarrhea
Usage
Show this to a doctor or pharmacist to say you have diarrhea; constipation is a separate word, "запек"
Голяма нужда
go-LYA-ma nuzh-DA
Poop (number two)
Usage
The standard mild euphemism for passing stool, the neutral everyday counterpart of "poop"; usable with a doctor or with a child. A childish verb "акам" also exists, but this phrase is the standard one
Малка нужда
MAL-ka nuzh-DA
Pee (number one)
Usage
The standard mild euphemism for urinating, the neutral everyday counterpart of "pee". The verb "пикая" is mildly vulgar, so avoid it
Имам диария
I-mam di-A-ri-ya
I have diarrhea
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The "Имам + symptom" pattern is the same as "Имам главоболие" (headache). "Диария" is a feminine noun meaning abnormally frequent bowel movements with watery stool
Имам запек
I-mam ZA-pek
I'm constipated
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
The "Имам + symptom" pattern. "Запек" is a masculine noun used only in the singular, meaning irregular and difficult emptying of the bowels. The opposite complaint of "Имам диария" (diarrhea)
Трябва да отида по малка нужда
TRYAB-va da o-ti-da po MAL-ka nuzh-DA
I need to pee
Usage
The ordinary way to tell a companion or child that you need to pee; neither overly polite nor crude
Grammar Note
"Трябва да + present" means "have to". "Ходя по нужда" (go to relieve oneself) is a set idiom; "малка нужда" is the small one (urine), "голяма нужда" the big one (stool)
Трябва да отида по голяма нужда
TRYAB-va da o-ti-da po go-LYA-ma nuzh-DA
I need to poop
Usage
The ordinary way to tell a companion or child that you need to poop; neither overly polite nor crude
Grammar Note
The same as the "по малка нужда" sentence with "голяма" (big) in place of "малка" (small). "Голяма нужда" means passing stool
More Bulgarian phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences