Language/Bulgarian/Vocabulary/Drinks
Hi Bulgarian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to talk about drinks in Bulgarian, from hot beverages to cold ones, and alcoholic to non-alcoholic ones. We will also look at some cultural background related to some popular drinks in Bulgaria.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Vegetables, Bulgarian Vocabulary → Celebrations and Festivities → Birthday ..., Common verbs & Feelings and Emotions.
Basic Beverages[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some of the most basic hot and cold beverages that most people drink on a daily basis. These words will also be useful when you want to order drinks at a cafe or a restaurant in Bulgaria.
| Bulgarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| чай (chai) | /ˈtʃaj/ | tea |
| кафе (kafe) | /kaˈfɛ/ | coffee |
| капучино (kapuchino) | /kaˈputʃino/ | cappuccino |
| горещ шоколад (goreshht shokolad) | /ˈɡɔrɛʃt ʃɔkoˈlat/ | hot chocolate |
| вода (voda) | /ˈvɔda/ | water |
| сок (sok) | /sɔk/ | juice |
| мляко (mlyako) | /ˈmlʲakɔ/ | milk |
Example:
- Person 1: Искам едно кафе, моля. (Iskam edno kafe, molya.) (I want a coffee, please.)
- Person 2: И какъв вид кафе? (I kakav vid kafe?) (And what kind of coffee?)
- Person 1: Може ли едно капучино? (Moje li edno kapuchino?) (Can I have a cappuccino?)
- Person 2: Разбира се, едно капучино идва към вас. (Razbira se, edno kapuchino idva kam vas.) (Of course, one cappuccino coming up for you.)
Popular Alcoholic Drinks[edit | edit source]
Bulgarians enjoy a variety of alcoholic drinks, especially with Rakia, which is considered by many to be the national drink of Bulgaria. Rakia is a fruit brandy that is typically made from plums, grapes, apricots, or other fruits. Let's learn some of the most popular alcoholic drinks in Bulgaria:
| Bulgarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ракия (rakia) | /ˈrakijɐ/ | rakia (fruit brandy) |
| бира (bira) | /biˈra/ | beer |
| вино (vino) | /ˈvino/ | wine |
| уиски (uiski) | /ˈuiski/ | whiskey |
| коняк (konyak) | /ˈkonjak/ | brandy |
Cultural Background: Rakia is considered to be such an important part of Bulgarian culture that it even has its own holiday. On the first Saturday of February, Bulgarians celebrate National Rakia Day (Национален Ден на Ракията), where they toast and celebrate their heritage with this beloved drink.
Example:
- Person 1: Имате ли ракия? (Imate li rakia?) (Do you have rakia?)
- Person 2: Да, имаме различни видове ракия. Коя предпочитате? (Da, imame razlichni vidove rakia. Koya predpochitate?) (Yes, we have different kinds of rakia. Which one do you prefer?)
- Person 1: Предпочитам сливова ракия, моля. (Predpochitam slivova rakia, molya.) (I prefer plum brandy, please.)
- Person 2: Окей, една сливова ракия идва към вас. (Okey, edna slivova rakia idva kam vas.) (Okay, one plum brandy coming up for you.)
Non-alcoholic Drinks[edit | edit source]
If you don't drink alcohol or want something to balance out the alcohol, non-alcoholic drinks are always a great option! Here are some of the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in Bulgaria:
| Bulgarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| лимонада (limonada) | /liˈmonadɐ/ | lemonade |
| кисело мляко (kiselo mlyako) | /ki'sɛlɔ ml'ʲakɔ/ | buttermilk |
| божурка (bozhurka) | /ˈboʒurka/ | soda pop |
| мате (mate) | /maˈtɛ/ | yerba mate |
| пъпеш (papes) | /'papɛʃ/ | watermelon juice |
Cultural Background: Yerba mate is not originally from Bulgaria, it is actually a traditional drink from South America, particularly popular in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Bulgarian interest in Yerba Mate started when several Bulgarian football players played for Argentinian football clubs, particularly AFA Boquense in Buenos Aires. Today, Yerba Mate can be found in many cafes and health food stores across Bulgaria.
Example:
- Person 1: Искам лично сготвената ви кисело мляко, моля. (Iskam lichno sgotvenata vi kiselo mlyako, molya.) (I want your homemade buttermilk, please.)
- Person 2: Разбира се, ще ви донеса чаша от нашето кисело мляко. (Razbira se, shte vi donesa chasha ot nasheto kiselo mlyako.) (Of course, I'll bring you a glass of our homemade buttermilk.)
- Person 1: Благодаря, много е вкусно. (Blagodarya, mnogo e vkusno.) (Thank you, it's very delicious.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
That's all for our lesson on Bulgarian Vocabulary for drinks! We hope you found it helpful and interesting. Remember, if you want to practice your Bulgarian with native speakers, you can always go to Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Bulgarian Vocabulary → At the Restaurant → Paying the Bill, Food, Ordering Food & Geography.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Bulgarian vs Serbian - Guess The Word Or Drink! - YouTube[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Common verbs
- Geometry
- Useful phrases
- Countries and Continents
- Numbers
- Medical terms
- Vegetables
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Months of the Year
Sources[edit | edit source]