Doctor Visit

Здравейте, докторе!

Zdraveyte, doktore!

Hello, doctor!

Sitting down in the consulting room — the polite way to open with the doctor.

Не се чувствам добре.

Ne se chuvstvam dobre.

I don't feel well.

The first thing you say when the doctor asks what brings you in.

Боли ме главата.

Boli me glavata.

My head hurts.

Naming the ache — 'боли ме...' works for any body part you point to.

Имам температура.

Imam temperatura.

I have a fever.

Telling the doctor you've been running hot — the standard way Bulgarians say it.

Имам кашлица.

Imam kashlitsa.

I have a cough.

Adding the cough to the picture as you list what's wrong.

От два дни съм болен.

Ot dva dni sam bolen.

I've been ill for two days.

Answering the doctor's 'how long has this been going on?' — swap the number of days.

Тук ме боли.

Tuk me boli.

It hurts here.

Pointing to the spot while the doctor examines you.

Какво да правя?

Kakvo da pravya?

What should I do?

Handing the decision to the doctor once you've described everything.

Може ли да ми предпишете нещо?

Mozhe li da mi predpishete neshto?

Can you prescribe me something?

Asking for a prescription so you can pick the medicine up at the pharmacy after.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

The moment a medical term loses you — this resets the conversation.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

The doctor rattles off instructions fast — this slows them down.

Говорите ли английски?

Govorite li angliyski?

Do you speak English?

When the details really matter and you'd rather switch language than guess.

Благодаря, докторе!

Blagodarya, doktore!

Thank you, doctor!

Standing up to leave with your prescription in hand.

Искам да запиша час при личния си лекар.

Iskam da zapisha chas pri lichniya si lekar.

I'd like to book an appointment with my GP.

Phoning the surgery. Your личен лекар is the GP you are registered with, and in the Bulgarian system almost everything else starts with them.

Може ли да ме приемете днес?

Mozhe li da me priemete dnes?

Can you see me today?

You woke up ill and want a same-day slot — practices keep a few back. Вие, because you are talking to a receptionist you do not know.

Кога ви е удобно да дойдете?

Koga vi e udobno da doydete?

When would it suit you to come?

Something you hear once the receptionist has found your file — she wants a day and a time back, not your symptoms.

Утре в десет и половина имаме свободен час.

Utre v deset i polovina imame svoboden chas.

We have a free slot tomorrow at half past ten.

Something you hear as the offer of a slot — свободен час is the appointment itself, and 'да, добре' takes it.

Имам записан час за десет часа.

Imam zapisan chas za deset chasa.

I have an appointment booked for ten o'clock.

Your opening line at the desk — swap the hour. Записан agrees with час, not with you, so one recording fits any learner.

За пръв път идвам при вас.

Za prav pat idvam pri vas.

This is my first time here.

Telling reception there is no file on you yet so they know to open one. Вие because they are staff you have not met.

Носите ли документ за самоличност?

Nosite li dokument za samolichnost?

Have you brought an identity document?

Something you hear the second you reach the desk — for an expat that means the residence card, not a photocopy of a passport.

Седнете отвън, ще ви извикаме.

Sednete otvan, shte vi izvikame.

Take a seat outside, we'll call you.

Something you hear after checking in — there is rarely a screen or a ticket number, someone simply opens the door and says a name.

Имате ли здравни осигуровки?

Imate li zdravni osigurovki?

Do you have health insurance?

Something you hear before anyone examines you — it asks whether your contributions to the national health fund are paid up. This phrasing sidesteps the gendered здравноосигурен/здравноосигурена.

Ще платя прегледа частно.

Shte platya pregleda chastno.

I'll pay for the appointment privately.

The shortcut a lot of expats take — paying for a private consultation skips the health-fund paperwork and the referral chain entirely.

Ще ви продиктувам личния си номер на чужденец.

Shte vi prodiktuvam lichniya si nomer na chuzhdenets.

I'll read out my foreigner's personal number.

Reception needs a number for the system. On your residence card it is printed as the letters Л, Н и Ч — say it in full so nobody hears it as the Bulgarian citizen's number.

Прегледът не се поема от касата.

Pregledat ne se poema ot kasata.

The appointment isn't covered by the health fund.

Something you hear if you are outside the state system or seeing someone privately. Касата is the national health fund; insured patients otherwise pay only a small потребителска такса at the desk.

Кажете, какво ви притеснява?

Kazhete, kakvo vi pritesnyava?

Tell me, what's bothering you?

Something you hear as the door closes and the doctor sits down — it is the invitation to start, not small talk.

Идвам на профилактичен преглед.

Idvam na profilaktichen pregled.

I've come for a check-up.

When nothing hurts and you just want the routine once-over your GP is meant to do each year.

От вчера ми е по-зле.

Ot vchera mi e po-zle.

I've been worse since yesterday.

The sentence that makes a doctor take you seriously — it says the thing is moving in the wrong direction. No gendered ending in it.

Къде ви боли?

Kade vi boli?

Where does it hurt?

Something you hear almost first — answer by pointing and naming the part in the same breath.

Каква е болката — остра или тъпа?

Kakva e bolkata — ostra ili tapa?

What kind of pain is it — sharp or dull?

Something you hear once the doctor knows where it is. Остра is the stabbing kind, тъпа the heavy background ache.

Болката е остра.

Bolkata e ostra.

The pain is sharp.

Answering that question when the pain stabs — learn it as a pair with the dull version.

Болката е тъпа и не спира.

Bolkata e tapa i ne spira.

The pain is dull and doesn't stop.

The other half of the pair — constant background pain, which points a doctor somewhere completely different.

Боли ме кръстът.

Boli me krastat.

My lower back hurts.

Кръст is the lower back specifically, and it is the complaint Bulgarians bring to the GP more than any other.

Болката тръгва от рамото и стига до ръката.

Bolkata tragva ot ramoto i stiga do rakata.

The pain starts in my shoulder and goes down my arm.

Describing pain that travels. Say it precisely — where it spreads to is exactly what the doctor is listening for.

От колко време е така?

Ot kolko vreme e taka?

How long has it been like this?

Something you hear right after you name the problem — have a number of days ready before you go in.

Всеки ден ли се случва?

Vseki den li se sluchva?

Does it happen every day?

Something you hear while the doctor sorts a one-off from a pattern — да or не, then how many times a week.

От една седмица е така.

Ot edna sedmitsa e taka.

It's been like this for a week.

The direct answer to that question — swap in дни, седмици or месеци; nothing in it changes with your gender.

Нощем ми е по-зле.

Noshtem mi e po-zle.

It's worse for me at night.

Timing detail doctors ask about specifically. Нощем means at night as a habit, not last night in particular.

Мерихте ли си температурата?

Merihte li si temperaturata?

Have you taken your temperature?

Something you hear the moment you say you feel hot — an actual number is worth far more here than 'a bit of a fever'.

Температурата ми беше трийсет и осем и пет.

Temperaturata mi beshe triyset i osem i pet.

My temperature was thirty-eight point five.

The number said out loud the way Bulgarians say it — written 38,5, and 'и пет' is the decimal, not five of anything.

Не мога да преглъщам.

Ne moga da preglashtam.

I can't swallow.

Stronger than saying your throat hurts — this is the line that gets your throat actually looked at.

Нямам апетит и нямам сили.

Nyamam apetit i nyamam sili.

I have no appetite and no energy.

The 'I'm wiped out' line, built to avoid the gendered отпаднал/отпаднала so one recording fits every learner.

Повръщахте ли?

Povrashtahte li?

Have you been sick?

Something you hear as soon as you mention your stomach. Повръщам is to vomit, and вие gives it the -хте ending.

Стомахът ме боли след ядене.

Stomahat me boli sled yadene.

My stomach hurts after eating.

Стомах is the organ, корем the belly as a whole — after meals it is the стомах you mean, and the doctor hears the difference.

От два дни имам диария.

Ot dva dni imam diariya.

I've had diarrhoea for two days.

Unembarrassed and clinical — this is exactly how it is said in the consulting room, no euphemism needed.

Как стана?

Kak stana?

How did it happen?

Something you hear about any injury — a short factual answer is what is wanted: I fell, I hit it, it twisted.

Паднах и си навехнах глезена.

Padnah i si navehnah glezena.

I fell and twisted my ankle.

Past tense that does not change with your gender — паднах works for anyone saying it.

Не мога да стъпя на крака.

Ne moga da stapya na kraka.

I can't put any weight on my foot.

The detail that decides whether you are sent for an X-ray — offer it before they think to ask.

На колко години е детето?

Na kolko godini e deteto?

How old is the child?

Something you hear first at the paediatrician, because every dose depends on it — have the age and roughly the weight ready.

Детето има температура от два дни.

Deteto ima temperatura ot dva dni.

The child has had a fever for two days.

Opening the consultation on your child's behalf — детето takes the article because it is your specific child.

Детето не яде и не спи.

Deteto ne yade i ne spi.

The child isn't eating or sleeping.

The two things a Bulgarian paediatrician asks about every single time — offering them unprompted saves a round of questions.

Редовни ли са ваксините на детето?

Redovni li sa vaksinite na deteto?

Are the child's vaccinations up to date?

Something you hear at any first visit — редовни means on schedule. Bring the immunisation record from your old country if you have one.

Към нещо алергични ли сте?

Kam neshto alergichni li ste?

Are you allergic to anything?

Something you hear before any injection or prescription. The polite plural алергични keeps it genderless — and this is the one question you must never guess your way through.

Имам алергия към антибиотици.

Imam alergiya kam antibiotitsi.

I'm allergic to antibiotics.

Built on имам алергия rather than алергичен/алергична, so one sentence serves any learner — swap in the substance.

Какви лекарства приемате в момента?

Kakvi lekarstva priemate v momenta?

What medication are you taking at the moment?

Something you hear before anything new is prescribed — bring the boxes with you if you cannot name them in Bulgarian.

Всеки ден пия лекарство за кръвно.

Vseki den piya lekarstvo za kravno.

I take blood-pressure medication every day.

Кръвно on its own is how everyone here says blood pressure, and пия лекарство is to take medication, not to drink it.

Имате ли хронични заболявания?

Imate li hronichni zabolyavaniya?

Do you have any chronic conditions?

Something you hear when a new GP is opening your file — diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid and asthma all belong in the answer.

Имам високо кръвно налягане.

Imam visoko kravno nalyagane.

I have high blood pressure.

The full form of the condition, the way you would declare it in a history rather than in passing.

В семейството ми има диабет.

V semeystvoto mi ima diabet.

There's diabetes in my family.

Family history matters to a Bulgarian GP as much as anywhere — offer this when they ask about роднини.

Съблечете се до кръста.

Sablechete se do krasta.

Undress to the waist.

Something you hear before the stethoscope comes out — there is usually no gown, just a screen or the couch.

Легнете на кушетката.

Legnete na kushetkata.

Lie down on the couch.

Something you hear when the doctor wants to press on your abdomen — кушетка is the examination couch in every Bulgarian surgery.

Дишайте дълбоко.

Dishayte dalboko.

Breathe deeply.

Something you hear with the stethoscope on your back. Задръжте дъха — hold your breath — usually follows a moment later.

Отворете устата широко.

Otvorete ustata shiroko.

Open your mouth wide.

Something you hear before your throat is looked at with a light and a wooden spatula.

Да, точно там боли.

Da, tochno tam boli.

Yes, that's exactly where it hurts.

What you say while the doctor presses around and watches your face — confirm the spot out loud rather than wincing.

Ще ви дам направление за кръвни изследвания.

Shte vi dam napravlenie za kravni izsledvaniya.

I'll give you a referral for blood tests.

Something you hear at the end of the consultation. Направление is the referral — now usually electronic — that makes the test free under the health fund.

Елате сутрин на гладно.

Elate sutrin na gladno.

Come in the morning on an empty stomach.

Something you hear with any blood test — на гладно means nothing but water since the night before.

Къде да направя изследванията?

Kade da napravya izsledvaniyata?

Where do I get the tests done?

The referral rarely names a lab — ask which ones will accept it before you walk out of the room.

Кога ще са готови резултатите?

Koga shte sa gotovi rezultatite?

When will the results be ready?

Most labs post results online the next day — asking tells you whether to come back or just log in.

Какво ми е?

Kakvo mi e?

What's wrong with me?

Three words, and the most natural way to ask for the diagnosis once the examination is over.

Няма нищо страшно.

Nyama nishto strashno.

It's nothing serious.

Something you hear as the reassurance line — recognise it and you can stop bracing yourself for the rest.

Вирусно е, антибиотик не ви трябва.

Virusno e, antibiotik ne vi tryabva.

It's viral, you don't need an antibiotic.

Something you hear often — Bulgarian GPs are pushed hard for antibiotics, and this is the standard refusal.

Вземете го три пъти дневно.

Vzemete go tri pati dnevno.

Take it three times a day.

Something you hear about the medicine you are being given — дневно is per day, so count doses rather than hours.

Пийте много течности.

Piyte mnogo technosti.

Drink plenty of fluids.

Something you hear with almost any infection — standard enough that it makes easy listening practice.

Останете вкъщи няколко дни.

Ostanete vkashti nyakolko dni.

Stay at home for a few days.

Something you hear when the doctor wants you resting — if you are employed, ask about a болничен in the same breath.

Ако не мине до три дни, елате пак.

Ako ne mine do tri dni, elate pak.

If it doesn't pass within three days, come back.

Something you hear as the safety net at the end. Мине here is the illness passing, and it is the sentence that tells you when to worry.

Значи по едно хапче сутрин и вечер, така ли?

Znachi po edno hapche sutrin i vecher, taka li?

So that's one tablet morning and evening, is that right?

Repeating the instruction back before you leave — the single most useful habit in a Bulgarian consultation, and nobody finds it rude.

Ще ви дам направление за специалист.

Shte vi dam napravlenie za spetsialist.

I'll give you a referral to a specialist.

Something you hear when your GP is passing you up the chain — without this the specialist visit is not covered.

Направлението важи трийсет дни.

Napravlenieto vazhi triyset dni.

The referral is valid for thirty days.

Something you hear as the referral is handed over — book inside the window or you start again at the GP.

Трябва ли ми направление за специалист?

Tryabva li mi napravlenie za spetsialist?

Do I need a referral to see a specialist?

The question that explains the whole system to you — the личен лекар is the gatekeeper and направление is the ticket through.

Може ли да отида частно, без направление?

Mozhe li da otida chastno, bez napravlenie?

Can I go privately, without a referral?

What a great many expats end up doing — pay the specialist yourself and skip the referral queue. Asking it out loud offends nobody.

Ще ви издам болничен лист.

Shte vi izdam bolnichen list.

I'll issue you a sick note.

Something you hear when you are being signed off — the болничен лист goes to your employer, and only a GP or a hospital can issue it.

Трябва ми болничен за работата.

Tryabva mi bolnichen za rabotata.

I need a sick note for work.

Ask before the consultation ends — it is paperwork the doctor has to do while you are still in the room.

Елате на контролен преглед след една седмица.

Elate na kontrolen pregled sled edna sedmitsa.

Come back for a follow-up in a week.

Something you hear at the door. Контролен преглед is the follow-up, and with your own GP it usually costs nothing extra.

Може ли да запиша контролния преглед сега?

Mozhe li da zapisha kontrolniya pregled sega?

Can I book the follow-up now?

Booking on the way out saves you a phone call you would otherwise have to make in Bulgarian later.

Извикайте линейка!

Izvikayte lineyka!

Call an ambulance!

Shouted to whoever is nearest when someone collapses — вие because you are addressing strangers, and it carries better than моля.

Спешният телефон е сто и дванайсет.

Speshniyat telefon e sto i dvanayset.

The emergency number is one-one-two.

Written 112 on every sign here and said out loud as the number one hundred and twelve. One number covers ambulance, fire and police, and the operators handle English.

Спешна помощ, кажете адреса.

Speshna pomosht, kazhete adresa.

Emergency services, give me the address.

Something you hear the second the call connects. Спешна помощ is the ambulance service — have the street, number and block ready before you dial.

Линейката тръгва веднага.

Lineykata tragva vednaga.

The ambulance is leaving right now.

Something you hear as the operator dispatches — stay on the line until they hang up, not the other way round.

Извинете, може ли пак да го кажете?

Izvinete, mozhe li pak da go kazhete?

Sorry, could you say that again?

A consultation is the worst possible place to nod along — this asks for the whole sentence again and costs you nothing.

Може ли да напишете името на лекарството?

Mozhe li da napishete imeto na lekarstvoto?

Could you write down the name of the medicine?

Drug names are the hardest thing to catch by ear — written down, the pharmacy can read it even when you cannot.

Не разбрах какво трябва да правя.

Ne razbrah kakvo tryabva da pravya.

I didn't catch what I'm supposed to do.

Precise about what you missed — the instructions, not the diagnosis — so the doctor repeats the part that actually matters.