Language/Bulgarian/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Bulgarian Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions

Hi Bulgarian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Bulgarian idiomatic expressions. These are expressions that may not make sense when translated word-for-word, but they are commonly used in conversations. Knowing idiomatic expressions will improve your understanding of Bulgarian and also help you speak more like a native.

Animals

Animals play an important role in Bulgarian idiomatic expressions. These expressions use animals to describe human behavior or situations.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
като крава на ново място	kato krava na novo mяsto	like a cow in a new place
подслон на мухи	podslon na muhi	a shelter for flies
кучешки живот	kucheshki zhivot	a dog's life
заяц на слънце	zayats na slance	a rabbit in the sunshine

• Person 1: Ще тръгвам за работа преди решението на задачите. (I will leave for work before finishing the tasks.)
• Person 2: Не мога да живея с такъв колега. Той работи като крава на ново място. (I cannot work with such a colleague. He works like a cow in a new place.)

In the above conversation, Person 1 uses a normal sentence, but Person 2 uses an idiomatic expression "като крава на ново място" to describe the colleague's work behavior. The expression means that the colleague is slow and unproductive.

Food and drink

Food and drink are part of Bulgarian culture, so no wonder they also appear in idiomatic expressions!

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
имаш българско масло	imash balgarsko maslo	you have Bulgarian butter
не е за горчиво мляко	ne e za gorchivo mlyako	it's not for bitter milk
не е мляко от неговата крава	ne e mlyako ot negovata krava	it's not milk from his cow
бяга като кокошка без глава	byaga kato kokoshka bez glava	he runs like a headless chicken

• Person 1: Мисля да готвя пилешко. (I am thinking of cooking chicken.)
• Person 2: Не мога да ям такова ястие. Не е за горчиво мляко. (I cannot eat such dish. It's not for bitter milk.)

In the above conversation, Person 1 uses a normal sentence about cooking, but Person 2 uses an idiomatic expression "не е за горчиво мляко" to mean that the food is not his taste.

Time

Time is money, but in Bulgaria, there are idiomatic expressions involving time and not related to money.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
намигване на око	nami gvane na oko	a blink of an eye
заедно с маслото на слънцето	zaedno s masloto na slantseto	together with the sun's butter
три пъти на ден надясно	tri pati na den nadyasno	three times a day to the right
за две минути до дванадесет	za dve minuti do dvanadeset	two minutes until twelve

• Person 1: Колко време ти е нужно за подготовка? (How much time do you need for preparation?)
• Person 2: Е, за две минути до дванадесет. (Well, two minutes until twelve.)

In the above conversation, Person 2 answers using the idiomatic expression "за две минути до дванадесет" which means that they need very little time for preparation.

Colors

Colors can also be used in Bulgarian idiomatic expressions.

Bulgarian	Pronunciation	English
червено слънце	cher veno slantse	a red sun
бела като мляко	bela kato mlyako	white as milk
зелен на завист	zelen na zavist	green of envy
синьо птиче	sinio ptiche	a blue bird

• Person 1: Какво споделяш с приятелите си постоянно? (What do you share constantly with your friends?)
• Person 2: Никога не говоря за лични проблеми. Всичко е червено слънце за мен. (I never talk about personal problems. Everything is a red sun for me.)

In the above conversation, Person 2 uses the idiomatic expression "червено слънце" which means that everything is good, pleasant or easy.

To improve your Bulgarian Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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