Package Delivery

Здравейте!

Zdraveyte!

Hello!

When the courier calls or knocks — the opening word before anything else.

Чакам пратка.

Chakam pratka.

I'm expecting a package.

Say it when the courier phones to check you're the right person — 'пратка' is the parcel.

Това за мен ли е?

Tova za men li e?

Is this for me?

Checking the parcel is actually yours before you take it and sign.

Кога ще дойдете?

Koga shte doydete?

When will you arrive?

The key question on the phone so you know when to be home for the drop-off.

Може ли да я оставите пред вратата?

Mozhe li da ya ostavite pred vratata?

Can you leave it at the door?

When you can't answer the door — 'я' stands for the parcel (пратка).

Оставете я при съседа, моля.

Ostavete ya pri saseda, molya.

Leave it with the neighbor, please.

The common Bulgarian fallback — a neighbor takes the parcel when you're out.

Няма да съм вкъщи.

Nyama da sam vkashti.

I won't be home.

The reason behind the instruction — tells the courier why you need another plan.

Това не е моят адрес.

Tova ne e moyat adres.

This isn't my address.

When the courier reads out an address that isn't yours and you head off a wrong drop.

Къде да подпиша?

Kade da podpisha?

Where do I sign?

The 'sign here' moment — you're handed a device or a slip to sign for the parcel.

Може ли пак?

Mozhe li pak?

Can you say it again?

Couriers are in a hurry and mumble — this makes them repeat the address or instruction.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

For when the rapid phone Bulgarian loses you entirely.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

Slows a fast courier down enough for you to catch the time or the door code.

Благодаря, приятен ден!

Blagodarya, priyaten den!

Thank you, have a good day!

Parcel in hand — a quick warm sign-off as the courier moves on.

Ало, обаждам се от куриерската фирма.

Alo, obazhdam se ot kurierskata firma.

Hello, I'm calling from the courier company.

Something you hear — the opening line of almost every courier call, said fast and usually from a moving van.

Имате пратка, вкъщи ли сте?

Imate pratka, vkashti li ste?

You have a parcel, are you at home?

Something you hear as the second sentence of the call — your answer decides everything that follows.

Пред блока съм, слизате ли?

Pred bloka sam, slizate li?

I'm in front of the block, are you coming down?

Something you hear — the courier has already parked and expects you downstairs within a minute.

Слизате ли, или да се кача?

Slizate li, ili da se kacha?

Are you coming down, or shall I come up?

Something you hear — most couriers won't climb the stairs unless you say so. Younger couriers often drop straight into ти ('слизаш ли?'); answer with вие anyway.

В момента съм на път, до двайсет минути съм при вас.

V momenta sam na pat, do dvayset minuti sam pri vas.

I'm on the road right now, I'll be with you within twenty minutes.

Something you hear when the courier calls ahead from traffic — the window he gives you is the one you have to plan around.

Да, вкъщи съм. Качете се, ще ви отворя.

Da, vkashti sam. Kachete se, shte vi otvorya.

Yes, I'm home. Come up, I'll let you in.

The answer that stops the courier driving off — get it out in the first two seconds of the call.

От коя куриерска фирма се обаждате?

Ot koya kurierska firma se obazhdate?

Which courier company are you calling from?

When two parcels are in the air at once and you need to know whose call this is.

В момента не съм си вкъщи.

V momenta ne sam si vkashti.

I'm not at home right now.

The immediate answer when the courier is already downstairs and you are across town.

А кога ще сте вкъщи?

A koga shte ste vkashti?

So when will you be home?

Something you hear the second you say you're out — he wants a time, not an explanation.

На работа съм до шест часа.

Na rabota sam do shest chasa.

I'm at work until six.

Gives the courier the single fact he needs — the hour your door will actually open.

Ще се прибера след около час. Може ли да минете тогава?

Shte se pribera sled okolo chas. Mozhe li da minete togava?

I'll be back in about an hour. Could you come by then?

Buys you the hour you need instead of losing the parcel to a second delivery attempt.

Вкъщи има човек, той ще вземе пратката.

Vkashti ima chovek, toy shte vzeme pratkata.

There's someone at home, he'll take the parcel.

When you're out but a partner or flatmate can open the door and sign for it.

Може ли да дойдете по-късно, към пет?

Mozhe li da doydete po-kasno, kam pet?

Could you come later, around five?

The most useful request on the whole call — 'към пет' means roughly five, which is how times are given here.

Приблизително в колко часа ще минете?

Priblizitelno v kolko chasa shte minete?

Roughly what time will you come by?

Asked when the courier calls the day before and you have to plan an afternoon around him.

Ще мина между два и пет следобед.

Shte mina mezhdu dva i pet sledobed.

I'll come by between two and five in the afternoon.

Something you hear — the classic three-hour Bulgarian delivery window, and it is as precise as it gets.

Обадете ми се двайсет минути преди да дойдете.

Obadete mi se dvayset minuti predi da doydete.

Call me twenty minutes before you come.

The arrangement that lets you sit in a café nearby and still catch the parcel.

Днес няма да успея, ще я донеса утре.

Dnes nyama da uspeya, shte ya donesa utre.

I won't make it today, I'll bring it tomorrow.

Something you hear late in the afternoon — the van is full and your parcel has slipped a day.

Оставете я при съседката от апартамент четири.

Ostavete ya pri sasedkata ot apartament chetiri.

Leave it with the neighbour in flat four.

More precise than just 'a neighbour' — naming the flat stops the courier ringing five doors.

Никой не отваря. При кого да я оставя?

Nikoy ne otvarya. Pri kogo da ya ostavya?

Nobody's answering. Who should I leave it with?

Something you hear when the courier is already inside the building and improvising.

Може ли да я оставите в магазина на партера?

Mozhe li da ya ostavite v magazina na partera?

Could you leave it at the shop on the ground floor?

Corner shops in Bulgarian blocks routinely hold parcels for the neighbours upstairs.

Ще предупредя съседите, че ще дойдете.

Shte predupredya sasedite, che shte doydete.

I'll let the neighbours know you're coming.

Said on the call so the neighbour isn't startled by a stranger at her door twenty minutes later.

Пратката е с наложен платеж, не мога да я оставя на никого.

Pratkata e s nalozhen platezh, ne moga da ya ostavya na nikogo.

The parcel is cash on delivery, I can't leave it with anyone.

Something you hear that kills the neighbour plan — cash-on-delivery parcels must reach you in person.

Слизам веднага, изчакайте ме една минута.

Slizam vednaga, izchakayte me edna minuta.

I'm coming down right now, wait one minute for me.

The sentence that buys the sixty seconds you need to get shoes on and reach the entrance.

Чакам ви в буса пред входа.

Chakam vi v busa pred vhoda.

I'm waiting for you in the van in front of the entrance.

Something you hear — 'бус' is the delivery van, and it's what you scan for when you step outside.

Не мога да сляза. Ще се качите ли до третия етаж?

Ne moga da slyaza. Shte se kachite li do tretiya etazh?

I can't come down. Would you come up to the third floor?

For when you're mid-shower or minding a small child — asked politely, it usually works.

Спрял съм на втора линия, побързайте, моля.

Spryal sam na vtora liniya, pobarzayte, molya.

I'm double-parked, please hurry.

Something you hear — 'на втора линия' means double-parked, and it means the courier has about a minute.

Аз съм със синьото яке, до входа.

Az sam sas sinyoto yake, do vhoda.

I'm the one in the blue jacket, by the entrance.

How you find each other outside a block where three people are already standing on the pavement.

Пратката е с наложен платеж.

Pratkata e s nalozhen platezh.

The parcel is cash on delivery.

Something you hear constantly — наложен платеж means you pay the courier at the door, and most Bulgarian online orders still work this way.

Колко трябва да платя?

Kolko tryabva da platya?

How much do I have to pay?

Asked at the door before you reach for your wallet — the courier reads the amount off the waybill.

Може ли да платя с карта?

Mozhe li da platya s karta?

Can I pay by card?

Most couriers now carry a terminal, but ask before he unpacks the parcel — some still don't.

Само в брой, нямам терминал.

Samo v broy, nyamam terminal.

Cash only, I don't have a terminal.

Something you hear at the worst possible moment — keep some euro notes at home for exactly this.

Нямам по-дребни. Ще имате ли ресто?

Nyamam po-drebni. Shte imate li resto?

I don't have anything smaller. Will you have change?

Couriers carry very little change — flag a big note before you push it through the door.

Плащате и такса за наложения платеж.

Plashtate i taksa za nalozheniya platezh.

You also pay a fee for the cash-on-delivery service.

Something you hear when the amount is higher than the shop's price — the courier's COD fee is added at the door.

Разпишете се тук, моля.

Razpishete se tuk, molya.

Sign here, please.

Something you hear with a handheld device or a paper waybill already pushed towards you.

Имате ли документ за самоличност?

Imate li dokument za samolichnost?

Do you have an identity document?

Something you hear for valuable or cash-on-delivery parcels — 'документ за самоличност' means ID card or passport.

Имам паспорт, а не лична карта. Става ли?

Imam pasport, a ne lichna karta. Stava li?

I have a passport, not an ID card. Is that all right?

The expat's answer — Bulgarians show a лична карта, you'll be holding a passport or a residence card.

На екрана ли да се подпиша?

Na ekrana li da se podpisha?

Should I sign on the screen?

Most couriers now capture the signature on a handheld — this checks whether it's the screen or the paper.

На чие име е пратката?

Na chie ime e pratkata?

Whose name is the parcel in?

Something you hear when the name on the waybill isn't obviously yours — spelled the Bulgarian way, or your partner's.

Може ли да отворя пратката, преди да платя?

Mozhe li da otvorya pratkata, predi da platya?

Can I open the parcel before I pay?

Bulgarian couriers sell an inspection option — if the sender paid for it, you may open the box at the door.

Пратката е без опция за преглед.

Pratkata e bez optsiya za pregled.

This parcel has no inspection option.

Something you hear when you ask to open it — the sender didn't pay for преглед, so it's pay first, open after.

Кутията е смачкана и нещо вътре тропа.

Kutiyata e smachkana i neshto vatre tropa.

The box is crushed and something is rattling inside.

Said before you sign, while the courier is still standing there and can see it too.

Няма да я приема, повредена е.

Nyama da ya priema, povredena e.

I won't accept it, it's damaged.

Refusing at the door is your strongest move — once you sign, the damage becomes your problem.

Може ли да отбележите в товарителницата, че пратката е повредена?

Mozhe li da otbelezhite v tovaritelnitsata, che pratkata e povredena?

Could you note on the waybill that the parcel is damaged?

Товарителницата is the waybill — a note on it is the first thing the shop will ask for when you claim.

Пратката ми още не е пристигнала. Къде е в момента?

Pratkata mi oshte ne e pristignala. Kade e v momenta?

My parcel still hasn't arrived. Where is it right now?

Your opening line when you phone the courier office about a parcel that's gone quiet.

Ще ви кажа номера на товарителницата.

Shte vi kazha nomera na tovaritelnitsata.

Let me give you the waybill number.

The first thing any Bulgarian courier office asks for — have the number on screen before you dial.

Пратката е при куриера за днес.

Pratkata e pri kuriera za dnes.

The parcel is with the courier for today.

Something you hear from the office — it means stay reachable, the call is coming.

Ще ви оставя бележка на вратата.

Shte vi ostavya belezhka na vratata.

I'll leave you a note on the door.

Something you hear when you can't get home in time — the note tells you which office to collect from.

Може ли да я донесете отново утре?

Mozhe li da ya donesete otnovo utre?

Could you bring it again tomorrow?

The redelivery ask — usually free the first time, and far better than a trip across town.

Идвам да си взема пратка.

Idvam da si vzema pratka.

I've come to collect a parcel.

Your opening line at the counter of a courier office.

Имате ли номер на товарителницата?

Imate li nomer na tovaritelnitsata?

Do you have the waybill number?

Something you hear at the counter before anything else — the number came in your text message or email.

Пратката е на моето име, ще ви дам телефона си.

Pratkata e na moeto ime, shte vi dam telefona si.

The parcel is in my name, I'll give you my phone number.

When you don't have the number — the phone number on the waybill finds the parcel just as well.

До кога ще пазите пратката тук?

Do koga shte pazite pratkata tuk?

How long will you keep the parcel here?

Offices hold a parcel only a few days before returning it to the sender — worth asking on the spot.

Заповядайте на гише две.

Zapovyadayte na gishe dve.

Please go to counter two.

Something you hear in a bigger office, where collecting and sending are handled at different windows.

Къде е най-близкият автомат за пратки?

Kade e nay-blizkiyat avtomat za pratki?

Where is the nearest parcel locker?

Automated lockers stand outside supermarkets and petrol stations — this finds the one nearest you.

Кодът за автомата е изпратен с есемес.

Kodat za avtomata e izpraten s esemes.

The code for the locker has been sent by text message.

Something you hear from the office — the code, not your name, is what opens the little door.

Кодът не работи и вратичката не се отваря.

Kodat ne raboti i vratichkata ne se otvarya.

The code doesn't work and the little door won't open.

Said on the phone to the courier's helpline while you're standing in front of the machine.

От коя вратичка да взема пратката?

Ot koya vratichka da vzema pratkata?

Which compartment do I take the parcel from?

The screen shows a number — this asks the helpline or a passer-by which box it means.

Колко дни стои пратката в автомата?

Kolko dni stoi pratkata v avtomata?

How many days does the parcel stay in the locker?

Lockers hold a parcel briefly and then send it back — ask before you leave it over a weekend away.

Искам да изпратя пратка до Пловдив.

Iskam da izpratya pratka do Plovdiv.

I want to send a parcel to Plovdiv.

Your first sentence at the counter — swap in whichever town you're sending to.

Колко тежи пратката?

Kolko tezhi pratkata?

How heavy is the parcel?

Something you hear at the counter — the price goes by weight, so the box hits the scale first.

Вътре има чупливи неща, отбележете го, моля.

Vatre ima chuplivi neshta, otbelezhete go, molya.

There are fragile things inside, please mark it.

Ask for the fragile marking before the box goes onto the belt, not after.

Кой плаща, вие или получателят?

Koy plashta, vie ili poluchatelyat?

Who's paying, you or the recipient?

Something you hear every time you send something here — Bulgarian shipping is routinely paid by the person receiving it.

Може ли да обявя стойност на пратката?

Mozhe li da obyavya stoynost na pratkata?

Can I declare a value for the parcel?

Declaring a value insures it — worth doing for a laptop, pointless for a jumper.

Ще ми помогнете ли да попълня товарителницата?

Shte mi pomognete li da popalnya tovaritelnitsata?

Would you help me fill in the waybill?

The waybill is a dense Bulgarian form — counter staff will fill it in with you if you ask.

Здравейте, доставка! Долу пред входа съм.

Zdraveyte, dostavka! Dolu pred vhoda sam.

Hello, delivery! I'm downstairs at the entrance.

Something you hear from a food rider — they rarely come up, so the bag is waiting at the entrance. Riders are the group most likely to use ти with you.

Звънецът не работи. Обадете ми се и ще сляза.

Zvanetsat ne raboti. Obadete mi se i shte slyaza.

The doorbell doesn't work. Call me and I'll come down.

Half the entrances in a Bulgarian block have a dead bell — put this in the order notes.

Оставете поръчката на дръжката на вратата.

Ostavete porachkata na drazhkata na vratata.

Leave the order on the door handle.

For a contactless drop when you're on a call and can't open the door.

Задръжте рестото.

Zadrazhte restoto.

Keep the change.

The normal way to tip a delivery rider here — rounding up, not a percentage.

Поръчката ви е тук. Платена ли е онлайн?

Porachkata vi e tuk. Platena li e onlayn?

Your order is here. Has it been paid online?

Something you hear at the door — riders carry both paid and unpaid orders and check as they hand it over.

Храната е студена и липсва едно нещо от поръчката.

Hranata e studena i lipsva edno neshto ot porachkata.

The food is cold and one item is missing from the order.

Said to the rider at the door — he can log it, and the restaurant refunds far faster than the app does.

Не ви чувам, много е шумно.

Ne vi chuvam, mnogo e shumno.

I can't hear you, it's very noisy.

The courier is calling from a busy street with the van running — this explains why you're asking again.

Може ли да повторите името на фирмата?

Mozhe li da povtorite imeto na firmata?

Could you repeat the company name?

Courier company names go past in a blur — this pins down who is actually about to arrive.

Един момент, записвам.

Edin moment, zapisvam.

One moment, I'm writing it down.

Buys you three seconds mid-call and stops the courier racing on to the next sentence.

Може ли да ми пишете, вместо да се обаждате?

Mozhe li da mi pishete, vmesto da se obazhdate?

Could you message me instead of calling?

Reading Bulgarian is far easier than hearing it at speed, and many couriers will happily text.

Извинявайте, българският ми още не е добър. Може ли да ми го напишете?

Izvinyavayte, balgarskiyat mi oshte ne e dobar. Mozhe li da mi go napishete?

Sorry, my Bulgarian isn't good yet. Could you write it down for me?

The one apology to keep in reserve — use it after a visible attempt in Bulgarian, and ask for writing rather than for English.

Получих пратката, благодаря ви.

Poluchih pratkata, blagodarya vi.

I've got the parcel, thank you.

As the box changes hands — and the same line for the shop when they message to check.

Извинявайте, че ви забавих.

Izvinyavayte, che vi zabavih.

Sorry for keeping you waiting.

You took four minutes to get downstairs and he's double-parked — this smooths it over.

Всичко добро, приятен ден!

Vsichko dobro, priyaten den!

All the best, have a good day!

Something you hear as the courier turns for the stairs — answer in kind and the exchange is complete.