Martial Arts

1. Може ли да дойда само за една тренировка?

   Mozhe li da doyda samo za edna trenirovka?

   Can I come for just one training session?

   Usage

   Bulgarian combat-sports clubs mainly sell a monthly "mesechna karta", but most also allow a single visit, roughly 5-10 euro in Sofia or Plovdiv. Bulgaria switched to the euro in 2026, so quote and check prices in euro

   Grammar Note

   Bulgarian has no infinitive; the "da + conjugated verb" construction fills that role. "Da doyda" is first-person singular, so it means "that I come"

2. Може ли първо да погледам тренировката?

   Mozhe li parvo da pogledam trenirovkata?

   May I watch the training session first?

   Usage

   Use this when you want to judge the atmosphere and the coach before paying. Bulgarian clubs are relaxed about spectators and usually let you watch for free. Adult classes run on weekday evenings, 18:00-21:00. During children's sessions non-parents may be turned away, and you should always ask before filming

   Grammar Note

   The Bulgarian definite article is a suffix: "trenirovka" (a session) becomes "trenirovkata" (the session). Feminine nouns take "-ta", masculine "-ŭt"/"-a", neuter "-to"

3. Има ли ръкавици и бинтове под наем?

   Ima li rakavitsi i bintove pod naem?

   Are there gloves and hand wraps for hire?

   Usage

   Many gyms keep loaner gloves ("rŭkavitsi"), but wraps ("bintove") and a mouthguard ("protektor za zŭbi") are normally bought yourself for hygiene reasons. A judo gi is "kimono" and wrestling shoes are "borki", both available at Decathlon or local sports shops

   Grammar Note

   "Ima" is an impersonal verb meaning "there is/are" and never changes for number. The question particle "li" always follows the verb directly

4. Начинаещ съм, не съм тренирал досега.

   na-chi-NA-esht sam, ne sam tre-ni-RAL do-SE-ga.

   I am a beginner, I have not trained before.

   Usage

   Most clubs run a separate "grupa za nachinaeshti" (beginners' group) and will move you there if you say so; stay quiet and you may end up in the experienced class. The participle agrees with your gender: men say "treniral", women "trenirala"

   Grammar Note

   "Sŭm + past participle" conveys experience much like the English present perfect. The participle agrees with the subject: "-la" for a woman, "-li" for a plural subject

5. Моля, малко по-леко.

   Molya, malko po-leko.

   Please go a bit easier.

   Usage

   The standard way to ask for lower intensity in pad work or sparring; partners take it as normal, so do not hesitate. To ask for the opposite, say "po-silno" (harder)

   Grammar Note

   Bulgarian comparatives are formed simply by prefixing "po-" with a hyphen: "leko" (lightly) → "po-leko" (more lightly). The superlative uses "nay-", giving "nay-leko"

6. Имам травма на коляното, може ли без хвърляния?

   Imam travma na kolyanoto, mozhe li bez hvarlyaniya?

   I have a knee injury, could we skip the throws?

   Usage

   Wrestling ("borba") is Bulgaria's strongest combat sport and throws ("khvŭrlyaniya") dominate the session, so flag any knee or shoulder problem before you start. Swap "kolyanoto" for "ramoto" (shoulder), "gŭrba" (back) or "glezena" (ankle)

   Grammar Note

   Unlike other Slavic languages, Bulgarian has lost noun cases and marks possession with the preposition "na": "travma na kolyanoto" (an injury of the knee). This "na" does the work of the genitive elsewhere in Slavic

7. Колко струва месечната карта?

   Kolko struva mesechnata karta?

   How much is the monthly pass?

   Usage

   A "mesechna karta" costs about 30-50 euro at a typical Sofia club and less in regional cities. Plans are usually split by frequency (twice a week or unlimited), and multi-session passes exist too. Cards are increasingly accepted, though small clubs may still be cash-only

   Grammar Note

   When an adjective precedes a noun, the definite article attaches to the adjective, not the noun: "mesechnata karta". You do not also mark the noun as "kartata"

8. Колко струва една тренировка?

   Kolko struva edna trenirovka?

   How much is a single session?

   Usage

   For a short stay, paying per session is cheaper. A group class runs roughly 5-10 euro, while one-on-one coaching ("individualna trenirovka") is billed separately at 20-40. If you plan several visits, ask about a multi-session pass

   Grammar Note

   The numeral "edin" agrees with the noun's gender: "edin" (masc.), "edna" (fem.), "edno" (neut.). "Trenirovka" is feminine, hence "edna" — which in context can also work like an indefinite article

9. Имате ли група само за жени?

   Imate li grupa samo za zheni?

   Do you have a women-only group?

   Usage

   Women-only groups are common at fitness-oriented clubs in Sofia and other cities, listed as "zhenski boks" or "samozashtita za zheni" (self-defence for women). Traditional wrestling clubs usually train mixed

   Grammar Note

   "Imate" is the second-person plural, also used as the polite form with strangers and staff. Since Bulgarian nouns do not decline, "za zheni" is simply the preposition plus the plain plural noun

10. Къде мога да видя графика на тренировките?

    ka-DE moga da vidya grafika na trenirovkite?

    Where can I see the training schedule?

    Usage

    The "grafik" is posted on the board by the entrance or on the club's Facebook page. Facebook is still the main channel in Bulgaria and same-day changes are announced there. In summer sessions are sometimes moved outdoors, so check on the day

    Grammar Note

    Masculine nouns take "-ŭt" as a subject and the short form "-a" as an object: "grafikŭt" versus "grafika". Here it is the object of the verb, hence "grafika". Plural nouns take "-te"

11. Може ли да ми покажете този захват още веднъж?

    Mozhe li da mi pokazhete tozi zahvat oshte vednazh?

    Could you show me this technique once more?

    Usage

    "Zakhvat" refers to a grip or grappling hold; for techniques in general, including strikes, "tekhnika" also works. Bulgarian coaches tend to demonstrate rather than explain, and this line will get it repeated as often as you need

    Grammar Note

    "Mi" is the short dative pronoun "to me" and sits immediately before the verb. Bulgarian lost noun cases, but pronouns still keep a case distinction

12. Кога ще мога да участвам в спаринг?

    Koga shte moga da uchastvam v sparing?

    When will I be able to take part in sparring?

    Usage

    In striking gyms (boxing, kickboxing, MMA) sparring is gated by the coach and often starts only after two or three months, once your stance and defence hold up. A mouthguard and shin guards are almost always your own. In wrestling and judo you get into live work much sooner

    Grammar Note

    The future is formed simply by putting the invariable particle "shte" before the present tense: "moga" (I can) → "shte moga" (I will be able). The negative future uses "nyama da" instead

13. Има ли душ и съблекалня?

    Ima li dush i sablekalnya?

    Is there a shower and a changing room?

    Usage

    Many clubs rent space in a municipal "sportna zala", where the showers can be old and hot water limited. Bring your own towel. Nearly all venues expect you to change into indoor training shoes, and stepping onto the mat in street shoes will get you stopped

    Grammar Note

    "Sŭblekalnya" derives from "sŭblicham se" (to undress). The suffixes "-alnya"/"-ilnya" form place nouns, as in "spalnya" (bedroom) and "peralnya" (laundry)

14. Къде мога да гледам състезание по борба?

    ka-DE moga da gledam sastezanie po borba?

    Where can I watch a wrestling competition?

    Usage

    Wrestling ("borba") is Bulgaria's national sport and by far its most successful Olympic discipline. Competitions are held at the "sportna zala" in each city and regional events are often free to enter. Swap "borba" for "sambo", "boks" or "kikboks"

    Grammar Note

    A discipline is attached with "po + name of the sport": "sŭstezanie po borba", "shampionat po boks". The noun keeps its base form since Bulgarian has no cases

15. Вдигни ръцете, гледай противника в очите!

    Vdigni ratsete, gleday protivnika v ochite!

    Hands up, look your opponent in the eyes!

    Usage

    Said by the coach — one of the most frequent calls during pad work and sparring, often shortened to just "Vdigni rŭtsete!". Coaches use short commands and the familiar "ti"; this is not rudeness but the normal register of instruction

    Grammar Note

    Bulgarian normally marks body parts with the definite article rather than a possessive: "rŭtsete", "ochite". The imperative endings "-i" and "-ay" address someone as "ti"

16. Удряй с пълна сила, не се щади!

    Udryay s palna sila, ne se shtadi!

    Hit at full power, do not hold back!

    Usage

    Said by the coach. The set call when the pad holder wants a genuine strike — pulling the punch actually risks hurting your own wrist. It also signals permission to go at full force. For kicks the coach will say "Ritay" (kick)

    Grammar Note

    The reflexive particle "se" follows the verb in a positive command ("shtadi se") but sits between "ne" and the verb in a negative one ("ne se shtadi") — the position shifts

17. Пет минути почивка, пийте вода.

    Pet minuti pochivka, piyte voda.

    Five minutes' break, drink some water.

    Usage

    Said by the coach between rounds, addressed to the whole class in the plural imperative. Many halls have no water fountain, so bring your own bottle. In summer the gyms have no air conditioning and get seriously hot

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative adds "-te" to the singular form: "piy" → "piyte", "gleday" → "gledayte". Nouns after numerals go into the plural, though masculine nouns use a special counting form such as "dva chasa"

18. За днес приключваме. Браво на всички!

    Za dnes priklyuchvame. Bravo na vsichki!

    That is it for today. Well done, everyone!

    Usage

    The coach's closing line. Bulgarian clubs typically finish by lining up, greeting the coach and shaking hands all round. In judo and karate you also bow on and off the mat. "Blagodarya" (thank you) is all you need in reply

    Grammar Note

    Using the first-person plural "priklyuchvame" softens the ending by including the coach in the action. "Bravo na + person" is the set way to direct praise at someone

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