💡 How to use this vocabulary revision
For each section: (1) cover the English column, (2) say the Bulgarian meaning aloud, (3) tick words you know confidently. (4) mark uncertain ones with a star — come back to them. The 8-question quiz at the end tests random words from across all sections.
🎯 Why this revision matters
Vocabulary revision is where fluency becomes practical. These are the words that help with shops, doctors, offices, landlords, transport, family life, and everyday opinion-sharing in Bulgaria.
This page should not feel like a dead glossary. It should help learners recognise the high-value words fast and hear them often enough to use them confidently.
Section 1
Essential A1–A2 words — the 100 most important
Words that appear in every conversation.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| да / не | yes / no | моля | please |
| благодаря | thank you | извинете | excuse me / sorry |
| добре | good / OK / well | лошо | bad |
| много | very / a lot | малко | a little / few |
| сега | now | после / след това | later / afterwards |
| тук / там | here / there | вляво / вдясно | left / right |
| голям / малък | big / small | нов / стар | new / old |
| хубав / лош | nice / bad | скъп / евтин | expensive / cheap |
| бърз / бавен | fast / slow | лесен / труден | easy / difficult |
| отворен / затворен | open / closed | свободен / зает | free / busy |
| имам / нямам | I have / I don't have | мога / не мога | I can / I cannot |
| искам / не искам | I want / I don't want | трябва / не трябва | must / must not |
| обичам / не харесвам | I love / I don't like | знам / не знам | I know / I don't know |
| разбирам / не разбирам | I understand / I don't | говоря / не говоря | I speak / I don't speak |
Section 2
People and relationships
Family, friends, descriptions.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| майка / баща | mother / father | брат / сестра | brother / sister |
| дядо / баба | grandfather / grandmother | чичо / леля | uncle / aunt |
| братовчед/ка | cousin | племенник/ца | nephew / niece |
| кум / кума | wedding sponsor | зет / снаха | son-in-law / daughter-in-law |
| приятел/ка | friend / boyfriend / girlfriend | партньор/ка | partner |
| съсед/ка | neighbour | колега | colleague |
| млад / стар | young / old | висок / нисък | tall / short |
| мъж / жена | man / woman | момче / момиче | boy / girl |
Section 3
Places and directions
Getting around.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| наляво / надясно | left / right | направо / назад | straight / back |
| близо / далеч | near / far | срещу / до | opposite / next to |
| пред / зад | in front / behind | между | between |
| гара / летище | station / airport | хотел / болница | hotel / hospital |
| банка / пощата | bank / post office | аптека / супермаркет | pharmacy / supermarket |
| площад / парк | square / park | улица / булевард | street / boulevard |
Section 4
Time expressions
When things happen.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| сега / веднага | now / immediately | скоро / след малко | soon / in a moment |
| вчера / днес / утре | yesterday / today / tomorrow | вдругиден | the day after tomorrow |
| преди / след | before / after | рано / късно | early / late |
| винаги / никога | always / never | понякога / рядко | sometimes / rarely |
| миналата седмица | last week | следващата седмица | next week |
| от... до... | from... to... | около / приблизително | around / approximately |
Section 5
Health, body and wellbeing
Essential health vocabulary.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Боли ме главата | My head hurts | Болят ме зъбите | My teeth hurt |
| треска / температура | fever / temperature | кашлица / хрема | cough / runny nose |
| лекар / лекарство | doctor / medicine | рецепта / аптека | prescription / pharmacy |
| болница / линейка | hospital / ambulance | 112 | emergency number |
| уморен / болен | tired / ill | здрав / добре | healthy / well |
Section 6
Food, shopping and money
Daily practical vocabulary.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| хляб / мляко | bread / milk | месо / риба | meat / fish |
| плодове / зеленчуци | fruit / vegetables | кафе / чай | coffee / tea |
| сметката, моля | the bill please | Търся... | I'm looking for... |
| Колко струва? | How much is it? | Скъпо / евтино е | It's expensive / cheap |
| евро / цент | euro / cent | карта / в брой | card / cash |
| намаление | discount / sale | Имате ли...? | Do you have...? |
✅ Currency update
This revision page now uses евро and цент, because Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Older material may still mention лев and стотинка as if they were current.
Section 7
Work, education and formal life
Professional and official vocabulary.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| работа / заплата | work / salary | шеф / колега | boss / colleague |
| Работя като... | I work as... | на свободна практика | freelance |
| студент / учител | student / teacher | изпит / оценка | exam / grade |
| диплома / степен | diploma / degree | бакалавър / магистър | bachelor's / master's |
| молба / заявление | request / application | договор / наем | contract / rent |
| паспорт / лична карта | passport / ID card | разрешение за пребиваване | residence permit |
Section 8
Opinion and discussion
The language of thought and debate.
| Bulgarian | English | Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Мисля, че... | I think that... | Според мен... | In my opinion... |
| Съгласен/а съм | I agree | Не съм съгласен/а | I disagree |
| Имаш право | You're right | Не е точно така | That's not quite right |
| Разбирам те, но... | I understand, but... | От друга страна... | On the other hand... |
| Въпреки това... | Nevertheless... | Освен това... | Moreover... |
| В заключение... | In conclusion... | Накратко казано... | In short... |
Section 9
Key idioms and expressions
For natural, fluent Bulgarian.
| Bulgarian | English |
|---|---|
| Яде ми акъла | It's driving me crazy |
| Пада ми камъкът от сърцето | A weight lifts / what a relief |
| Стискам ти палците | Fingers crossed for you |
| Хич не ми пука | I couldn't care less |
| Недей! | No way! / You're kidding! |
| Слава богу! | Thank God! / Phew! |
| Без труд няма плод | No pain, no gain |
| По дрехите посрещат, по ума изпращат | First impressions by looks, lasting by brains |
| Горе-долу | More or less |
| Ами... | Well... / Um... |
Section 10
Writing task — vocabulary self-test
✏️ Writing task — Day 54
- Go through sections 1–4 and write one original sentence for each word group (8 sentences total).
- Choose 10 words from today that you found difficult and write them in sentences.
- Translate without looking: (a) I'm looking for a two-room flat to rent. (b) I have a bachelor's degree in economics. (c) According to me, it's getting more and more expensive.
- Write 5 sentences using idioms from Section 9.
Show answers
1. Free answer.
2. Free answer — personal selection.
3. (a) Търся двустаен апартамент под наем. (b) Имам бакалавърска степен по икономика. (c) Според мен става все по-скъпо.
4. Free answer — use Яде ми акъла · Стискам ти палците · Горе-долу · Слава богу · Хич не ми пука etc.
Day 54 Quiz
8 questions · score 6+ to mark day complete
Question 1 of 8
"I don't understand" in Bulgarian:
Question 2 of 8
"The bill, please" in Bulgarian:
Question 3 of 8
"Residence permit" in Bulgarian:
Question 4 of 8
"In my opinion" in Bulgarian:
Question 5 of 8
"Fingers crossed" in Bulgarian:
Question 6 of 8
"More or less" in Bulgarian:
Question 7 of 8
"Discount / sale" in Bulgarian:
Question 8 of 8
"No pain, no gain" — Bulgarian proverb:
Day 54 Recap
Review before Day 55. Every point builds on the last.
| Topic | Key point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Essential words | да/не · моля · благодаря · добре · имам/нямам · мога/не мога · искам · знам · разбирам | First 50 words = most of daily conversation |
| People | семейство vocabulary + кум/кума + relationship status terms | Day 33 |
| Places | наляво/надясно/направо + landmarks + question Как да стигна до...? | Day 32 |
| Time | вчера/днес/утре + frequency adverbs + от...до... | Days 9, 20 |
| Opinion | Според мен · Съгласен/а съм · Разбирам те, но · Въпреки това | Day 34 |
| Idioms | Яде ми акъла · Стискам ти палците · Горе-долу · Без труд няма плод | Day 42 |
| 🌎 Culture | Active vocabulary of ~2,500 words covers daily life in Bulgaria; many words are shared with other Slavic and Balkan languages | Context-based learning beats word lists every time |