Are you struggling to understand Bulgarian verbs? In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about them, like “learn” – ucha (уча), “listen” – slusham (слушам), or “write down” – zapisvam (записвам). You’ll get insider tips about verb forms and tenses straight from a native speaker!
Get ready because, by the end, you’ll feel confident using verbs in your Bulgarian conversations. Plus, I’ll mention some useful resources to further enhance your learning journey.
Table Of Contents
Introduction To Bulgarian Verbs
Bulgarian verbs are the backbone of Bulgarian grammar and the basis of the syntax. Obviously, they express actions, states, and events. However, unlike English, Bulgarian verbs can also contain information about person and number.
For now, let’s get started with the basics: the infinitive form, person, number, and tenses of verbs in Bulgarian.
The Infinitive Form
The Bulgarian language has no infinitive form. Instead, we use the first person singular form to form verbs: *I* read – *аz* cheta (*аз* чета), *I* work – *az* rabotya (*аз* работя), *I* say – *az* kazvam (*аз* казвам).
Therefore, and as we can see, the infinitive form of Bulgarian verbs usually ends in “-m” (-м), “-ya” (-я), or “-a” (-а).
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| write | пиша | pisha |
| learn | уча | ucha |
| sleep | спя | spya |
| sing | пея | peya |
| run | бягам | byagam |
| watch | гледам | gledam |
Grammatical Signs
As I mentioned earlier, Bulgarian verbs can contain person, number, and tense information. This happens thanks to the verb endings. It means that verbs can change according to:
1. Person
When verbs are formed, they take the appropriate ending depending on the gender of the noun. For example:
- First-person: The person who speaks – “I like to read.” – Azobicham da cheta. (Аз обичам да чета.) ― ends in “-m” (-м)
- Second person: The person being spoken to – “Do you like to read?” – Ti obichash li knigi? (Ти обичаш ли книги?) ― ends in “-sh” (-ш)
- Third person: The person being talked about – “He likes to read.” – Toĭ obicha da chete. (Той обича да чете.) ― ends in “-a” (-а).
2. Number
Just like with the gender of the noun, when verbs are formed, they coordinate with its number. The verb takes the appropriate ending. For example:
- Singular (one person): “I love music.” – Az obicham muzika. (Аз обичам музика.) ― ends in “-m” (-м)
- Plural (many persons: “We love music.” – Nie obichame muzika. (Ние обичаме музика.) ― ends in “-me” (-мe);
Believe me, it’s not that complex; you just have to know the personal pronouns well. It’s best to try to practice, and the Ling app is a great tool for gaining practical experience.
3. Tense
There are nine verb tenses in Bulgarian, so you can imagine how many variations they can have, right? But don’t panic; the good news is that verb forms have similar endings, so you’ll be able to navigate them with ease. Let’s see!
Present Simple Tense
The present tense is used to describe an action that is happening at the moment of speaking, to talk about things that are always true, or to talk about habits or things that happen on a regular basis.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I speak | Аз говоря | Az govorya |
| You drink | Ти пиеш | Ti piesh |
| They are going | Те отиват | Te otivat |
Past Aorist (Past Tense)
The past aorist form (минало свършено време) is used to talk about something that happened at a specific point in the past.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I wrote | Аз писах | Az pisah |
| You listened | Ти слушаше | Ti slushashe |
| They ran away | Те избягаха | Te izbyagaha |
Past Imperfect
Imperfective verbs are used to talk about an action that started in the past but we don’t know when it stopped.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I was reading | Аз четях | Az chetyah |
| You were eating | Ти ядеше | Ti yadeshe |
| She was painting | Тя рисуваше | Tya risuvashe |
Present Perfect
The present perfect (минало неопределено време) is used to describe an action that happened in the past, but without specifying the exact time.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I’ve lost my keys. | Изгубил съм си ключовете. | Izgubil sum si klyuchovete. |
| You’ve got up earlier. | Станал си по-рано. | Stanal si po-rano. |
| They were late for work. | Те закъснели за работа. | Te zakusneli za rabota. |
Past Perfect
The past perfect tense (минало предварително време) is used to show that one action happened before another past action.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| He wrote three books in his lifetime | Той написал три книги през живота си | Toĭ napisal tri knigi prez zhivota si |
| Someone once said | Някой веднъж казал | Nyakoĭ vednuzh kazal |
| They had been painting the bedroom | Боядисваха стаята | Boyadisvaha spalnyata |
Future Tense
The future tense (бъдеще време) is used for future actions and intentions.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I will buy | Ще купя | Shte kupya |
| She will cook | Тя ще готви | Tya shte gotvi |
| They will try | Те ще опитат | Te shte opitat |
Future-In-The-Past
The past future tense or future in the past (бъдеще време в миналото) is used to describe an action that was meant to be completed in the past but was actually done in the future, in relation to another past action.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I was going to study medicine | Щях да уча медицина | Shtyakh da ucha meditsina |
| She was going to clean her room | Тя щаше да почисти стаята си | Tya shteshe da pochisti stayata si |
| They were going to build a house | Те щяха да строят къща | Te shtyaha da stroyat kushta |
Future Perfect (Futurum Secundum Exactum)
Future perfect (бъдеще предварително време) expresses an action that is to take place in the future before another future action.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Then I will have learned the rules | Тогава ще съм научил правилата | Togava shte sum nauchil pravilata |
| You will have earned enough | Ще си спечелил достатъчно | Shte si spechelil dostatuchno |
Future-In-The-Past Perfect
Past future perfect or future preliminary tense (бъдеще предварително време в миналото) expresses a past action that is before a past action, which itself is the future with respect to another past action.
| English word | Bulgarian word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I would have already made it to the top if I had started in the morning. | Вече щях да съм стигнал до върха, ако бях тръгнал сутринта. | Veche shtyah da sum stignal do vurha, ako byah trugnal sutrinta. |
| She wouldn’t have learned all of this if she hadn’t read that book. | Тя нямаше да e научила всичко това, ако не беше прочела тази книга. | Tya nyamashe da e nauchila vsichko tova, ako ne beshe prochela tazi kniga. |
| They would have won if they had practiced more. | Щяха да спечелят, ако бяха тренирали повече. | Shtyaha da spechelyat, ako byaha trenirali poveche. |
Quick note: Only the first seven tenses are typically taught in school, so don’t stress if you don’t recall all of them.
Bonus: Practical Tips & Resources For Learning Verbs
Learning verbs can be really challenging, I know! But with a few simple tips and tricks, you can make a lot of progress. Here are some practical tips & resources to help you out with Bulgarian verbs:
- Practice Regularly: This is crucial for your language skills! You can use language apps like the Ling app and engage in daily practice.
- Mastering Verbs in Context: Watching movies, TV, or listening to music is a great way to learn Bulgarian verbs. Try this one: “Stolen Life” (2016-2021).
- Practice with Native Speakers: Engaging in conversations with native Bulgarian speakers helps you apply what you’ve learned in real-life situations.
- Label Your Environment: Surround yourself with Bulgarian by labeling objects in your environment with their Bulgarian names and related verbs. This constant exposure helps reinforce your vocabulary and verb usage. You can find some vocabulary inspo here: Hygiene In Bulgarian, 10 Interesting And Unique Bulgarian Words, 10+ Easy Words For Bulgarian Days And Months.
Consistent practice and exposure to the language will help solidify your understanding and usage of Bulgarian verbs, so for more insights and detailed guides try checking out the Ling blog.
How Do You Say Verbs In Bulgarian?
In Bulgarian, the word for ‘verbs’ is glagol (глагол).
FAQ’s About Bulgarian Verbs
Are There Irregular Verbs In Bulgarian?
Yes, in Bulgarian grammar, verbs are split into two main groups: regular and irregular. Regular verbs follow specific patterns and rules during conjugation, while irregular verbs don’t.
Examples of irregular verbs are “to have” – imam (имам), “to know” – znam (знам), and “to go” – ida (ида).
What Is The Difference Between Imperfective And Perfective Verbs?
It can be tricky to tell the difference between imperfective and perfective verbs, even though they’re conjugated in the same way in the past aorist. Here are a few examples:
- With an imperfective verb: “I watched a movie yesterday but didn’t finish it.” – Vchera gledah edin film, no ne go dovurshih. (Вчера гледах един филм, но не го довърших.)
- With a perfective verb: “I watched the whole movie yesterday.” – Vchera izgledah tseliya film (Вчера изгледах целия филм.)
How Many Bulgarian Words Exist?
There are around 200,000 words in our language! Sounds crazy…
Wrapping Up
Mastering Bulgarian verbs is a journey that requires practice and patience. By understanding the different forms, tenses, and conjugation patterns, you will become more proficient in the Bulgarian language. Don’t forget to check out the resources for more interactive lessons and practice exercises. Happy learning!
