Greetings and politeness in Bulgarian
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Bulgarian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Bulgarian phrases in this lesson
- Здравейтеzdra-VEY-teh
- Hello
- Добро утроdo-BRO OO-tro
- Good morning
- Добър вечерDO-bur VEH-cher
- Good evening
- Довижданеdo-VIZH-da-neh
- Goodbye
- Ще се видимshteh seh VEE-deem
- See you
- МоляMO-lya
- Please
- Благодаряbla-go-da-RYA
- Thank you
- Няма защоNYA-ma zash-TO
- You're welcome
- Съжалявамsuh-zha-LYA-vam
- Sorry
- Извинетеiz-vi-NEH-teh
- Excuse me
- Приятно ми еpri-YAT-no mi eh
- Nice to meet you
The polite plural form. This is what you say entering a shop, to a waiter, to anyone you do not know. When in doubt, use this one. It is never wrong.
Used until about 10 or 11 in the morning. After that switch to "добър ден" (DO-buhr den), good day, which works until early evening.
Said arriving anywhere after dark. Note it is добър, masculine, while good morning is добро.
The standard neutral goodbye, fine everywhere. Casually almost everyone says "чао" (CHA-o), which despite the Italian origin is fully Bulgarian at this point and fine even in shops.
Literally "we will see each other". Friends also just say чао (chow). Довиждане (do-VEEZH-da-neh) is the polite goodbye.
Yes, the same word as "you're welcome". Моля is the Swiss army knife of Bulgarian politeness: please, you're welcome, and said with rising intonation it also means "pardon? can you repeat that?"
The standard thank you. In casual everyday life many Bulgarians simply say "мерси" (mer-SEE), borrowed from French. Мерси is completely normal at the bakery or with friends, благодаря is the safer bet in formal settings.
Literally "there is no reason", the warm reply to thanks. Моля (MO-lya) works too, but it is already please.
Literally "I regret", the real apology. For a small bump, "извинете" (iz-vi-NEH-teh) is enough.
The polite form, for getting a stranger's attention or asking to pass. Casual: "извинявай" (iz-vi-NYA-vai).
Literally "it is pleasant to me", said with a handshake.