First Store Run

Здравейте!

Zdraveyte!

Hello!

Small Bulgarian shops expect a greeting at the door — walking in silent reads as cold.

Къде е хлябът?

Kade e hlyabat?

Where is the bread?

Lost in the aisles — swap in whatever you're hunting for.

Къде мога да намеря вода?

Kade moga da namerya voda?

Where can I find water?

The first-night essential — big bottles are usually near the back.

Имате ли паста за зъби?

Imate li pasta za zabi?

Do you have toothpaste?

For everything the airline lost or you forgot — swap in any item you need.

Къде има аптека наблизо?

Kade ima apteka nablizo?

Where is there a pharmacy nearby?

When the corner shop doesn't stock it — the cashier will point you to the green cross.

Това колко струва?

Tova kolko struva?

How much is this?

Hold the item up when there's no price tag — pointing does half the work.

До колко часа работите?

Do kolko chasa rabotite?

Until what time are you open?

Worth knowing on day one — your corner shop's hours shape your evenings.

Една торбичка, моля.

Edna torbichka, molya.

One bag, please.

Bags aren't automatic — the cashier will ask, or you ask first.

Това е всичко.

Tova e vsichko.

That's everything.

The answer when the cashier asks 'друго?' — anything else?

Може ли да ми покажете?

Mozhe li da mi pokazhete?

Can you show me?

When the spoken directions don't land — most shopkeepers will just walk you to the shelf.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

The cashier asks something unexpected — loyalty card, receipt, coins — and you're blank.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

Buys you a second, slower pass at whatever the cashier just asked.

Благодаря, лека работа!

Blagodarya, leka rabota!

Thanks, have an easy shift!

The very Bulgarian goodbye to someone still on shift — say it on your way out and watch them smile.

Има ли магазин наблизо?

Ima li magazin nablizo?

Is there a shop nearby?

Standing outside your new building on day one, asking a neighbour where the corner магазинче is.

От колко часа отваряте сутрин?

Ot kolko chasa otvaryate sutrin?

What time do you open in the morning?

You need bread and coffee before work — small shops open anywhere from six to nine.

Работите ли в неделя?

Rabotite li v nedelya?

Are you open on Sunday?

Planning the weekend when the little shop downstairs has no hours posted on the door.

Затваряме след малко.

Zatvaryame sled malko.

We're closing shortly.

Something you hear as you walk in near closing — pick what you need and go straight to the till.

Работим до десет вечерта.

Rabotim do deset vecherta.

We're open until ten in the evening.

Something you hear when you ask about hours — most neighbourhood shops answer with just the closing time.

Имате ли такова нещо?

Imate li takova neshto?

Do you have anything like this?

Holding up a photo on your phone when you don't yet know the Bulgarian word for the thing.

Търся нещо за чистене на баня.

Tarsya neshto za chistene na banya.

I'm looking for something to clean a bathroom with.

Describing the job instead of the product — the shopkeeper will hand you what everyone here uses.

Знаете ли откъде мога да го купя?

Znaete li otkade moga da go kupya?

Do you know where I could buy it?

They don't stock it — this turns a dead end into directions to the shop that does.

Няма такова нещо.

Nyama takova neshto.

We don't have anything like that.

Something you hear — it sounds blunt but it's just short. It means 'not here', not 'go away'.

Не работим с такива стоки.

Ne rabotim s takiva stoki.

We don't deal in that kind of goods.

Something you hear in a small food shop when you ask for hardware or electrics — wrong shop entirely.

Имате ли шампоан за суха коса?

Imate li shampoan za suha kosa?

Do you have shampoo for dry hair?

First shower in the new flat and the bathroom is empty — name the hair type so they can point.

Трябва ми сапун за ръце.

Tryabva mi sapun za ratse.

I need hand soap.

Day-one basics run — 'трябва ми' is how you open a request in a counter shop.

Един пакет тоалетна хартия, моля.

Edin paket toaletna hartiya, molya.

One pack of toilet paper, please.

Ordering across the counter in a small shop where the packs are stacked behind the till.

Търся дезодорант без аромат.

Tarsya dezodorant bez aromat.

I'm looking for an unscented deodorant.

Narrowing down a whole shelf of near-identical bottles to the one you actually want.

Голяма или малка опаковка?

Golyama ili malka opakovka?

Big pack or small one?

Something you hear the moment you name a product at a counter — answer 'малката' or 'голямата'.

Търся прах за пране.

Tarsya prah za prane.

I'm looking for washing powder.

First load of laundry in the new flat — powder is still the default here, not pods.

Кой е препаратът за миене на съдове?

Koy e preparatat za miene na sadove?

Which one is the washing-up liquid?

Half the bottles on the shelf look the same — ask which is for dishes, not floors.

Дайте ми гъби за съдове и една кърпа.

Dayte mi gabi za sadove i edna karpa.

Give me dish sponges and a cloth.

Two small things at once at a counter shop — 'дайте ми' strings them into one order.

За ръчно пране или за машина?

Za rachno prane ili za mashina?

For hand washing or for the machine?

Something you hear when you ask for detergent — the two are different products here.

Вземете този, по-силен е.

Vzemete tozi, po-silen e.

Take this one, it's stronger.

Something you hear when you describe a stubborn job — shopkeepers steer you without being asked.

Имате ли хавлиени кърпи за баня?

Imate li havlieni karpi za banya?

Do you have bath towels?

The landlord left one thin towel — a bigger shop or a household stall will have proper ones.

Трябват ми торби за смет.

Tryabvat mi torbi za smet.

I need bin bags.

The first thing you notice is missing once you start unpacking boxes.

Продавате ли закачалки за дрехи?

Prodavate li zakachalki za drehi?

Do you sell clothes hangers?

Suitcase unpacked, wardrobe empty — small shops often keep a few by the till.

Домакинските стоки са на горния етаж.

Domakinskite stoki sa na gorniya etazh.

The household goods are on the floor above.

Something you hear in a bigger shop — non-food lives on a separate level from the groceries.

Имате ли адаптер за контакт?

Imate li adapter za kontakt?

Do you have a plug adapter?

Bulgarian sockets take the round two-pin European plug — a British or American charger needs an adapter.

Имате ли малки батерии за дистанционно?

Imate li malki baterii za distantsionno?

Do you have small batteries for a remote control?

Describing the use rather than the size code — the shopkeeper reaches for the right pack.

Търся крушка за нощна лампа.

Tarsya krushka za noshtna lampa.

I'm looking for a bulb for a bedside lamp.

The one dead bulb in the rented flat — bring the old one if you can, it saves a lot of guessing.

Този щепсел не пасва на нашите контакти.

Tozi shtepsel ne pasva na nashite kontakti.

This plug doesn't fit our sockets.

Something you hear when you show your charger — they're telling you to buy the adapter, not the cable.

Крушките са зад щанда, кажете коя ви трябва.

Krushkite sa zad shtanda, kazhete koya vi tryabva.

The bulbs are behind the counter — tell me which one you need.

Something you hear in a small shop: fragile and pilferable stock sits behind the counter, not on the shelf.

Това само в аптека ли се продава?

Tova samo v apteka li se prodava?

Is this sold only at a pharmacy?

A дрогерия sells cosmetics and cleaning goods; anything medicinal is the аптека's job. This asks which you need.

Имате ли нещо за главоболие?

Imate li neshto za glavobolie?

Do you have something for a headache?

At the аптека counter — pharmacists here expect you to describe the problem, not name a brand.

Трябват ми лепенки за рани.

Tryabvat mi lepenki za rani.

I need plasters.

The blister from moving boxes on day two — every аптека has them by the counter.

Ние сме дрогерия, лекарства нямаме.

Nie sme drogeriya, lekarstva nyamame.

We're a drugstore — we don't carry medicines.

Something you hear when you ask for painkillers in the wrong kind of shop — the green cross is what you want.

Имате ли рецепта?

Imate li retsepta?

Do you have a prescription?

Something you hear at the аптека — plenty is sold over the counter, but some things aren't.

На кой ред са препаратите за чистене?

Na koy red sa preparatite za chistene?

Which aisle are the cleaning products in?

Circling a mid-size supermarket for the third time — ask a stocker rather than keep walking.

Не мога да го намеря никъде.

Ne moga da go namerya nikade.

I can't find it anywhere.

You followed the directions and still came back empty-handed — this restarts the help politely.

На втория рафт отдолу е.

Na vtoriya raft otdolu e.

It's on the second shelf from the bottom.

Something you hear — Bulgarian shelf directions count from the bottom up as often as the top down.

Ето там, вдясно до касата.

Eto tam, vdyasno do kasata.

Right there, to the right of the till.

Something you hear with a nod of the head — follow the direction word, вдясно or вляво, not the gesture.

Може ли онова зад вас?

Mozhe li onova zad vas?

Could I have that one behind you?

In a small shop half the stock is on the wall behind the assistant — you point and they fetch.

Второто отляво, моля.

Vtoroto otlyavo, molya.

The second one from the left, please.

They've reached for the wrong shelf — narrow it down by position instead of repeating the name.

Кое точно да ви дам?

Koe tochno da vi dam?

Which one exactly should I give you?

Something you hear when your pointing is ambiguous — answer with a position or a size.

Заповядайте, ето го.

Zapovyadayte, eto go.

Here you go, there it is.

Something you hear constantly — 'заповядайте' is the all-purpose 'here you are, go ahead, help yourself'.

Момент, сега ще го сваля.

Moment, sega shte go svalya.

One moment, I'll get it down now.

Something you hear while they fetch a ladder or reach the top shelf — just wait, nothing is wrong.

Имате ли по-малка опаковка?

Imate li po-malka opakovka?

Do you have a smaller pack?

You only need enough for the first week, not a family-size box.

Колко милилитра е шишето?

Kolko mililitra e shisheto?

How many millilitres is the bottle?

Checking a bottle will pass hand luggage, or just comparing two prices honestly.

Коя е най-голямата бутилка вода, която имате?

Koya e nay-golyamata butilka voda, koyato imate?

What's the biggest bottle of water you have?

First night with no kettle and no idea about the tap — the big carry-home bottles solve it.

Продава се на брой, не на пакет.

Prodava se na broy, ne na paket.

It's sold by the piece, not by the pack.

Something you hear when you ask for a pack of something the shop splits up — say how many you want.

Каква е разликата между тези двете?

Kakva e razlikata mezhdu tezi dvete?

What's the difference between these two?

Two bottles, two prices, labels you can't read yet — let the shopkeeper explain.

Кое е по-добро за начало?

Koe e po-dobro za nachalo?

Which is better to start with?

You're stocking a flat from zero and would rather not overthink the first purchase.

Кое е по-евтиното от двете?

Koe e po-evtinoto ot dvete?

Which of the two is the cheaper one?

Neither shelf tag is legible from where you're standing — ask instead of guessing.

Хората най-често взимат този.

Horata nay-chesto vzimat tozi.

This is the one people usually take.

Something you hear as a recommendation — it's how a small shop tells you what actually sells.

На етикета няма цена.

Na etiketa nyama tsena.

There's no price on the label.

Half the shelf tags in a small shop are missing or out of date — say it and they'll check.

Малко ми е скъпо.

Malko mi e skapo.

That's a bit expensive for me.

A soft, non-rude way to decline — it invites them to show you the cheaper shelf.

Имате ли нещо по-евтино?

Imate li neshto po-evtino?

Do you have anything cheaper?

Perfectly normal to ask here, especially for cleaning goods and toiletries.

Цената е отдолу на рафта.

Tsenata e otdolu na rafta.

The price is on the shelf underneath.

Something you hear when you hold an item up — the tag is on the shelf edge, not the product.

Може ли да го поръчате?

Mozhe li da go porachate?

Could you order it in?

A neighbourhood shop will genuinely add one item to its next order if you ask.

Може ли да ми го запазите за утре?

Mozhe li da mi go zapazite za utre?

Could you keep it for me until tomorrow?

You're short of cash or hands today — asking them to set it aside is normal in a small shop.

Свърши се, съжалявам.

Svarshi se, sazhalyavam.

We've run out, sorry.

Something you hear about the exact thing you came for — 'свърши се' is the everyday 'sold out'.

В четвъртък имаме доставка.

V chetvartak imame dostavka.

We get a delivery on Thursday.

Something you hear after 'свърши се' — the day, not a promise, so come back then.

Колко струва пликът?

Kolko struva plikat?

How much is the bag?

Plastic bags are charged for by law — a few cents, but it's always added to the total.

Може ли по-голям плик? Тежко е.

Mozhe li po-golyam plik? Tezhko e.

Could I have a bigger bag? It's heavy.

Water bottles and detergent in one thin bag — ask before the handles give way on the stairs.

Имате ли празен кашон?

Imate li prazen kashon?

Do you have an empty box?

A big first shop with no car — shops unpacking stock often hand over a cardboard box for free.

Плик ще желаете ли?

Plik shte zhelaete li?

Would you like a bag?

Something you hear at almost every till — often clipped to just 'плик?' at speed.

Ще платя с карта.

Shte platya s karta.

I'll pay by card.

Said as you reach the till so the cashier turns the terminal towards you.

Нямам по-дребни, съжалявам.

Nyamam po-drebni, sazhalyavam.

I don't have anything smaller, sorry.

Straight out of the airport machine with only big euro notes and a small shop with a thin till.

Имате ли дребни?

Imate li drebni?

Do you have any small change?

Something you hear at every cash till in the country — they want coins so the change comes out round.

Нямате ли по-дребни?

Nyamate li po-drebni?

Don't you have anything smaller?

Something you hear when you hand over a big note — a nudge, not a refusal. Check your pockets, then say no.

С карта или в брой?

S karta ili v broy?

Card or cash?

Something you hear before the total is even finished — answer 'с карта' or 'в брой'.

Ще ми трябва бележката.

Shte mi tryabva belezhkata.

I'll need the receipt.

For anything you might return — adapters and kitchen bits are the usual regrets.

Може ли да го върна, ако не стане?

Mozhe li da go varna, ako ne stane?

Can I bring it back if it doesn't work out?

Buying an adapter or a bulb you're not sure fits — settle the return policy before you pay.

Може ли да го сменя с друг размер?

Mozhe li da go smenya s drug razmer?

Can I exchange it for another size?

Towels, slippers, a mop head — an exchange is usually easier here than a refund.

Пазете бележката.

Pazete belezhkata.

Keep the receipt.

Something you hear as they hand it over — without it no shop will take anything back.

Може ли да повторите?

Mozhe li da povtorite?

Could you repeat that?

The cashier fired off a question about bags or change and you caught none of it.

Може ли да ми го напишете на листче?

Mozhe li da mi go napishete na listche?

Could you write it down on a slip of paper for me?

You keep missing the total by ear — written numbers you can read fine.

Как се казва това на български?

Kak se kazva tova na balgarski?

What is this called in Bulgarian?

You're holding the thing but have no word for it — this repairs the gap in Bulgarian and teaches you the word.

Извинявайте, тепърва уча български. Говорите ли английски?

Izvinyavayte, teparva ucha balgarski. Govorite li angliyski?

Sorry, I'm only just learning Bulgarian. Do you speak English?

Last resort, only after you've visibly tried in Bulgarian — the apology first is what keeps it friendly.

Благодаря ви за помощта!

Blagodarya vi za pomoshtta!

Thank you for your help!

They walked you to the shelf and explained the difference — say so before you leave.

До скоро, приятен ден!

Do skoro, priyaten den!

See you soon, have a good day!

Your corner shop is a place you'll be in three times a week — 'до скоро' says exactly that.

Нещо друго?

Neshto drugo?

Anything else?

Something you hear after every item you name at a counter — answer with the next item or 'това е всичко'.