Bulgarian is a South Slavonic language, related to
Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian. Within Bulgaria, there are about 30 different
dialects.
Before the 9th century, Bulgarians used the Greek alphabet
for written communication. Today they use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is named after
St. Cyril. He and his brother, St. Methodius, adapted the Greek alphabet in the 9th
century to provide a written language for Slavic people. |
|
The Cyrillic alphabet has 31 letters. Some Cyrillic letters
look like letters in the Roman alphabet, but they are pronounced differently.
For example, the sound R is written P, S is written C, and V is written B.
Before 1989, Bulgarians were required to learn Russian.
Today, however, many Bulgarian students study English as a second language. |
Did you know? |
|
In Bulgaria, shaking the head from side to side means yes
and nodding up and down means no. |
| |
There are many Bulgarian proverbs and folk sayings that
express Bulgarians' attitudes to life. For example, "Elijah changed his clothes,
but when he looked at himself he was the same" (you can change the outside, the
inside remains the same). "A hungry bear doesn't dance" (you need to eat to be
productive).
Did you know? |
|
Many Bulgarian names and place names are derived from Thracian words.
The Thracians were an indigenous people who lived in the area before the arrival of the Bulgars. |
| |
|
Yes |
Da |
No |
Ne |
Please |
Molya |
Thank you |
Blagodarya |
You're welcome |
Nyama zashto |
Excuse me |
Izvinete |
How are you? |
Kak ste? |
Good morning |
Dobro utro |
Good day/evening |
Dobar den/vecher |
Good night |
Leka nosht |
| |
|