In this article, we’ll take a look at the 15 most common Bulgarian prepositions. We’ll understand what they mean, and see some examples of their usage in different contexts.
I’ll also share with you some tips on how to avoid common mistakes and expand your Bulgarian vocabulary, so stay till the end!
Table Of Contents
Why Bulgarian Prepositions Are Important
We all know that prepositions are words with a big impact on any language.
Well, in Bulgarian, knowing prepositions is also essential, whether we want to engage in conversational Bulgarian or understand the ins and outs of Bulgarian grammar. These words help us form a relationship between different elements in a sentence, like subjects, verbs, and objects, and indicate dependence or independence between them. They connect nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words, providing essential context.
For example, in the sentence, “I live in Sofia” – Zhiveya v Sofiya (Живея в София), the preposition “in” – v (в) clarifies the relationship between the subject “I” and the location “Sofia.”
Once you get the hang of them, it will be much easier to create Bulgarian sentences with a good structure and understand the language better.
The Power Of Bulgarian Prepositions In Conversational Language
In conversational Bulgarian, using the right prepositions is really important for clear and effective communication. They help us specify details such as time, place, and direction, making our speech more detailed and easily understandable!
Imagine you want to meet up with your friend for coffee. You can say, “Ще се видим на кафе” (We will meet at a café) or “Ще се видим в кафе” (We will meet in a café). While these are both perfectly fine phrases, they might mean slightly different things, which could lead to confusion.
I guess you don’t want situations like this, so let’s see the most commonly used Bulgarian prepositions and learn how to use them correctly in different contexts.
Most Commonly Used Bulgarian Prepositions
1. On – Na (На)
The Bulgarian preposition “на” — on — is incredibly flexible and can be used in so many different ways! This preposition is used frequently in Bulgarian sentences to show where something is, who owns it, and which direction it’s facing. In English, we can translate it in lots of different ways! It can be “on,” “to,” “at,” or “of,” depending on what you’re trying to say in a different context.
For instance:
- On: Men’s clothes are on the second floor – Muzhkite drehi sa na vtoriya etazh. (Мъжките дрехи са на втория етаж.)
- To: My answer to your question is in this envelope. – Moyat otgovor na vuprosa vi e v tozi plik. (Моят отговор на въпроса ви е в този плик.)
- At: The car stands at the end of the street. – Kolata stoi na kraya na ulitsata. (Колата стои на края на улицата. )
- Of: The secret of this game is that you can’t ever win. – Таĭnata na tazi igra e, che nikoga ne mozhesh da spechelish. (Тайната на тази игра е, че никога не можеш да спечелиш.)
2. In – V/Vuv (В/Във)
“В” (or “във” before certain consonants) translates to “in” or “into.” It’s a really useful little word that we use to describe where we are and where we’re going.
For instance:
- In: We arrive in Madrid. – Pristignahme w Madrid. (Пристигнахме в Мадрид.)
- Into: She dived into the water. – Tya se gmurna vuv vodata. (Тя се гмурна във водата.)
Quick note: As we have said, and as you can see, this preposition changes form depending on the next word, according to whether it begins with a consonant or a vowel.
3. With – S/Sus (С/Със)
“С” (or “със” before certain consonants) means “with,” and we use it to describe some adjunct or to name someone’s presence.
For example:
- With: I ordered a sandwich with a drink. – Poruchah si sandvich s napitka. (Поръчах си сандвич с напитка.)
- With: He was with his friend when he saw me. – Toĭ beshe s priyatelya si, kogato me vidya. (Той беше с приятеля си, когато ме видя.)
4. From, Of, By – Ot (От)
“От” (Ot) can mean “from,” “of,” or “by,” depending on its use in sentences. It’s also often used to describe origin, material, or authorship.
For instance:
- From: We live three minutes from the restaurant. – Zhiveem na tri minuti ot restoranta. (Живеем на три минути от ресторанта.)
- Of: I got a discount of ten percent on the purchase. – Poluchih otstupka ot deset protseta pri pokupkata. (Получих отстъпка от десет процента при покупката.)
- By: The branch office was closed by the head office. – Klonut e zakrit ot tsentralniya ofis. (Клонът е закрит от централния офис.)
5. For, About – Za (За)
In the Bulgarian language, the preposition “за” translates to “for” or “about” and is commonly used when describing the purpose or topic in a conversation.
Usage and examples:
- For: She has been studying hard for the final exam. – Tya uchi usileno za finalniya izpit. (Тя учи усилено за финалния изпит.)
- About: Everybody was very concerned about the exam. – Vsichki byaha mnogo zagrizheni za izpita. (Всички бяха много загрижени за изпита.)
6. Under – Pod (Под)
“Под” is straightforward, meaning “under”. It’s used to describe something being beneath another object. Like:
- Under: The wreck of the Titanic still remains under the sea. – Ostankite na “Titanik” vse oshte sa pod vodata. (Останките на „Титаник“ все още са под водата.)
7. Above, Over – Nad (Над)
“Над” means “above” or “over,” and we use it to describe when something is positioned higher than something else. Like:
- Over: The plane passes over the city. – Samoletut minava nad grada (Самолетът минава над града.)
8. At, Near, To – Pri (При)
The word “при” can be translated as “at,” “near,” or “to,” and we use it to indicate proximity or presence.
For instance:
- At: I will be at your place at 5 o’clock. – Shte buda pri teb v 5 chasa. (Ще бъда при теб в 5 часа.)
- Near: She sat near the fireplace to keep warm. – Tya sedna pri kamiata, za da se stopli. (Тя седна при камината, за да се стопли.)
- To: Come to me. – Ela pri men. (Ела при мен.)
9. Next To, Until – Do (До)
“До” means “next to” or “until” and is useful for indicating adjacency or time limits.
Some examples are:
- Next to: We had a picnic next to the river. – Napravihme si piknik do rekata. (Направихме си пикник до реката.)
- Until: I will work out at the gym from 6 pm until 7.30 pm. – Shte treniram vuv fitnesa ot 18:00 do 19:30. (Ще тренирам във фитнеса от 18:00 ч. до 19:30 ч.)
10. In Front Of – Pred (Пред)
The preposition “Пред” means “in front of” and indicates the physical location of something according to something else.
We use it as:
- In Front of: The tree is in front of the house. – Durvoto e pred kushtata. (Дървото е пред къщата.)
11. After – Sled (След)
The preposition “след” means “after,” and we use it to indicate a sequence in time, i.e. when we want to say that something was or will happen after something else.
For example:
- After: After winning the prize she became famous. – Sled kato specheli nagradata, tya stana izwestna. (След като печели наградата, тя стана известна.)
12. Against, Opposite – Sreshtu (Срещу)
This preposition is used both to indicate physical position and metaphorical opposition. In other words, when you want to say that something is positioned in opposition to something else, or when you want to explain that someone disagrees with something, you use “Срещу.” It translates to “against” or “opposite.”
Usage and examples:
- Against: He is against the idea. – Toĭ e sreshtu ideyata. (Той е срещу идеята)
- Opposite: The coffee shop is opposite the subway. – Magazinut za kafe e sreshtu metroto. (Магазинът за кафе е срещу метрото.)
13. Between – Mezhdu (Между)
The preposition “Между” means “between” and describes a position between two objects.
For example:
- Between: The village is located between two cities. – Seloto e razpolozheno mezhdu dva grada. (Селото е разположено между два града.)
14. Without – Bez (Без)
“Без” means “without,” and we use it to express absence or lack.
For instance:
- Without: I can’t drink coffee without milk. – Ne moga da piya kafe bez mlyako. (Не мога да пия кафе без мляко.)
15. Through, By Means Of – Chrez (Чрез)
“Чрез” means “through” or “by means of,” and in the Bulgarian language it indicates the means by which something is achieved.
Usage and examples:
- Through: He succeeds through persistence. – Toĭ uspyava chrez uporitost. (Той успява чрез упоритост.)
Common Mistakes Related To Bulgarian Prepositions
- Incorrect Preposition Choice: Remember the example with the cafe? One of the most common mistakes is using the wrong preposition in a sentence. Using “в” instead of “на” can totally change the main idea of the sentence. That’s why it’s so important to practice and memorize the correct prepositions for different contexts!
- Translating Directly from English: This is often a problem for foreigners when they are learning Bulgarian because, as we have seen, Bulgarian prepositions can have several alternatives in English. This often leads to confusing situations. That’s why practicing and remembering the correct prepositions and their meanings is so important for forming grammatically correct Bulgarian sentences.
- Importance of Context: Learning Bulgarian is not just about knowing Bulgarian grammar well. As a native Bulgarian speaker, I should tell you that this is quite a colorful language, full of metaphorical expressions, proverbs, and idiomatic expressions, so paying attention to the different contexts is crucial.
Practice Makes Perfect: Engaging With Bulgarian Prepositions
When you want to improve your Bulgarian prepositions, it’s practice that counts. Get yourself some Bulgarian books, articles like this in the Ling blog, conversations, and exercises to really get a feel for how these prepositions work and see them in action. Make up your own sentences and don’t be afraid to ask native speakers or language experts for feedback. Also, you can try the Ling app if a gamified approach suits you best for this kind of practice.
How Do You Say ‘Preposition’ In The Bulgarian Language
In the Bulgarian language, the word ‘preposition’ translates as predlog (предлог).
FAQ’s About Bulgarian Prepositions
1. What Is The Sentence Structure In Bulgarian?
Bulgarian has a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, but it also allows for variations to show emphasis and style. It’s a pretty flexible language, which is amazing!
2. How Do Bulgarians Say “Hi”?
In Bulgarian, we say zdrasti (Здрасти) when we greet someone.
3. Is Bulgarian Easy To Learn?
With good practice, yes. At its core, Bulgarian grammar is quite straightforward. It doesn’t have many exceptions, so it’s enough to learn it once. Maybe the most difficult part for foreigners is pronunciation.
Unlocking The Full Potential Of Bulgarian Prepositions
Mastering Bulgarian prepositions is a gateway to fluency in the language. They play a key role in building correct and meaningful sentences, from basic statements to in-depth talks.
You’ll be surprised how much your Bulgarian vocabulary grows when you grasp and use prepositions the right way. Many words and expressions in Bulgarian are preposition-based, and once you master them, you can handle more complex sentences and texts.
You’ll get the hang of it in no time! Just be sure to practice often and you’ll be able to communicate in Bulgarian effectively and appreciate the nuances of this language. Happy learning!
