When it comes to using slang in Bulgarian it is really important to talk about a specific city. Now I personally come from Sofia and my knowledge is mostly about how people living in the capital tend to speak, but this post will also try to cover more universal expressions. Knowing Bulgarian through a course is very different from knowing it in real life, don't get discouraged if you have learned for quite the long time and still have difficulties with everyday situations, it is not a question of knowing little but knowing the language at a different level of communication. I hope this post will be useful for you, enjoy!
1. "Как си?" (Kak si?) – "How are you?"
Usage: This is a standard informal greeting, often used in casual settings. It’s similar to “How’s it going?” in English.
Example: Как си, какво става? (Kak si, kakvo stava?) – “How are you, what’s up?”
To the question "Какво става" usually we would respond with "Нищо" (nothing).
2. "Браво!" (Bravo!) – "Well done!"
Usage: This expression is used to show approval or praise for something someone has done. It's similar to saying "Good job!" or "Nice!" in English.
Example: Браво! Добре се справи! (Bravo! Dobre se spravi!) – “Well done! You did great!”
3. "Ясно!" (Yasno!) – "Got it!" or "Clear!"
Usage: This expression means “understood” or “got it,” and it’s used to confirm that you’ve understood what someone said.
Example: Ясно, ще го направя! (Yasno, shte go napravya!) – “Got it, I’ll do it!”
You can also hear it as "Много ясно!" (Of course!)
4. "Айде!" (Ayde!) – "Come on!" or "Let’s go!", "Goodbye"
Usage: This is a common way to encourage someone to do something, or simply to express excitement or impatience. It's used in a variety of contexts.
Example: Айде, да тръгваме! (Ayde, da tragvame!) – “Come on, let’s go!”
Example 2: Айде, недей така! (Ayde, nedei taka!) – “Come on, don’t be like that!”
This expression can also be used to say goodbye - Айде, чао!
5. "Шеф" (Shef) – "Boss"
Usage: While “shef” literally means “boss,” it’s used informally to refer to a person in charge or someone who’s considered very skilled or important. It can be playful or even sarcastic depending on the context.
Example: Ти си истински шеф! (Ti si istinski shef!) – “You’re the real boss!”
6. "Малко е тегаво" (Malko e tegavo) – "It’s a bit tough"
Usage: This is a way of saying that something is difficult or overwhelming, but in a more laid-back way. It’s often used when talking about challenges or tasks that seem hard.
Example: Малко е тегаво, ама ще се справя. (Malko e tezhko, ama shte se spravya.) – “It’s a bit tough, but I’ll manage.”
7. "Да се скъсам" (Da se skasam) – "I’m going to crash" or "I’ll break down" or exert myself
Usage: Often used to describe feeling tired or worn out, especially after a long day or week of work.
Example: Вчера се скъсах от работа! - I overworked myself yesterday.
This expression can be used for possitive things as well to express how eager you are to do them or to say how much you did them.
Example: Ще се скъсам от плуване това лято! - I will swim so much this summer!
8. "Няма място за паника" (Nyama myasto za panika) – "No room for panic"
Usage: Used to reassure someone that there’s no need to worry or overreact. It’s akin to saying "Don’t freak out" or "Stay calm."
Example: Няма място за паника, всичко ще е наред. (Nyama myasto za panika, vsichko shte e nared.) – “No need to panic, everything will be fine.”
9. "Много съм на зор" (Mnogo sam na zor) – "I’m in a rush"
Usage: This is used when you are pressed for time or feeling rushed, similar to saying "I’m in a hurry" or "I’m struggling to get things done."
Example: Много съм на зор, не мога да говоря сега. (Mnogo sam na zor, ne moga da govorya sega.) – “I’m in a rush, I can’t talk right now.”
10. "Каквото и да става" (Kakvoto i da stava) – "Whatever happens"
Usage: Used to express that you're not worried about the outcome, or to indicate a carefree attitude toward a situation.
Example: Каквото и да става, ще се справим. (Kakvoto i da stava, shte se spravim.) – “Whatever happens, we’ll manage.”
11. "Да си жив и здрав" (Da si zhiv i zdrav) – "May you be healthy"
Usage: A typical expression used when wishing someone well, especially after they’ve done something or received praise.
Example: Благодаря ти, да си жив и здрав! (Blagodarya ti, da si zhiv i zdrav!) – “Thank you, may you be healthy!”
This expression has become somewhat comical, it can used often times to ridicule the old traditional way of thinking that can be viewed as naive and simplistic. People would tell about their troubles and then finish it off with "Абе важното е да сме здрави".
12. "Ще го обесня" (Shte go obesnya) – "I’ll explain it"
Usage: A common expression used to indicate that you’re going to explain something clearly. It's often used when someone doesn’t understand something right away.
Example: Ще го обесня, не се притеснявай. (Shte go obesnya, ne se pritesnyavay.) – “I’ll explain it, don’t worry.”
13. "Забавлявай се" (Zabavlyavay se) – "Have fun"
Usage: This phrase is often used to wish someone an enjoyable time, especially before they go out or do something fun.
Example: Забавлявай се на партито! (Zabavlyavay se na partito!) – “Have fun at the party!”
Additional Notes on Sofia's Colloquial Speech:
Influence of English: Sofia, being the capital and a modern urban area, has absorbed a lot of English-based expressions, especially in younger generations. You might hear phrases like "What’s up?" (instead of Какво става?), or even "Cool!" used instead of Bulgarian equivalents. Right now the word "Криндж" has become particularly popular among younger people.
Simplified Sentence Structure: In colloquial speech, Bulgarians often drop parts of the sentence (like subject pronouns) if the context makes it clear, which is very common in spoken language.
Abbreviations: Bulgarians often loose some of the sounds in more widely used words, here are some examples:
Какво - кво
този - тоя
защото - щото
където - дето
става - стаа
много - мноу
отидем - идем
Conclusion about slang in Bulgarian:
Remember that language is much more than just words, it also holds the key to the history and culture of a place. That's why it is always good to take interest in the typical expressions and words people use. You need only ask and people would be more than happy to tell you how they speak and why.
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