In this first lesson (in Bulgarian: урок (urok)), we will look at how to greet people and introduce yourself in Bulgarian. We will also mention the most important grammar rules. But let’s start with a text:

Text

First, let’s see how to introduce yourself in Bulgarian.

The situation: Ivan (I) and Maria (M) do not know each other yet and are meeting for the first time.

I: Zdravei. Az se kazvam Ivan. A ti kak se kazvash? (Здравей. Аз се казвам Иван. А ти как се казваш?)

M: Zdravei, az sam Maria.  (Здравей, аз съм Мария.)

It was in Bulgarian. Here is the text again in English:

I: Hello. My name is Mark. What is your name?

M: Hello, I am Maria.

Vocabulary

Before you start learning your first words, here is something important:

Vocabulary is always given in its base form; verbs are in 1.Person singular.

The pronunciation is given in square brackets, but not in phonetic script – just in a simplified readable form.

Here is an overview of the vocabulary that appeared in the text above (first the Bulgarian word, then the English translation).

Vocabulary	Pronunciation	Translation
здравей	[zdravei]	hello
аз	[az]	I
се казвам	[se kazvam]	My name is (verb)
а	[a]	and
ти	[ti]	you
как	[kak]	how /meaning: what/
се казваш	[se kazvash]	Your name is (verb)
аз съм	[sam]	I am

Since the two now know each other, a short conversation develops:

I: Kak si? (Как си?)
M: Blagodaria, dobre! A ti? (Благодаря, добре! А ти?)
I: I az sam dobre! Ot kade si? (И аз съм добре. От къде си?)
M: Az sam ot Sofia, Balgaria, a ti? (Аз съмот София, България, а ти?)
M: Az sam ot London, Anglia. (Аз съм от Лондон, Англия.)

So, this should be enough as a greeting and introduction between the two. Of course, the conversation could continue further, but more on that later. For now, they say goodbye:

I: Beshe mi priatno. Dovizhdane!
M: Chao!

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Now the short conversation in English:

J: How are you?
M: I’m fine, thank you! And how are you?
J: I’m fine, too! And where are you from?
M: I’m from Sofia, Bulgaria, and you?
J: I’m from London, England.
J: It was nice to meet you. Goodbye!
M: Bye!

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Let’s now take a look at the individual words:

Vocabulary	Pronunciation	Translation
как	[kak]	how
си	[si]	are (2. Person, Sg “to be”)
благодаря	[blagodaria]	Thank you
добре	[dobre]	good
Как си?	[Kak si]	How are you?
А ти?	[A ti]	And you?
и	[i]	and
аз	[az]	I
съм	[sam]	Am (1.P.Sg.)
От къде	[ot kade]	Where…from
от	[ot]	from
София	[Sofia]	Sofia, capital city of Bulgaria
Англия	[Anglia]	England
Беше	[beshe]	was
ми	[mi]	me
приятно	[priatno]	nice
Довиждане!	[dovijdane]	Buy!
Чао!	[chao]	Buy!