Home Basics: Water & Electricity

Здравейте!

Zdraveyte!

Hello!

Opening the call or the door when you need to report something to the landlord or repair service.

Нямам топла вода.

Nyamam topla voda.

I have no hot water.

The classic first-week emergency — the shower runs cold and you need it fixed.

Нямам ток.

Nyamam tok.

I have no electricity.

The lights are dead — 'ток' is the everyday word for power/electricity.

Имам проблем с бойлера.

Imam problem s boylera.

I have a problem with the water heater.

When the electric water heater on the wall is the culprit — swap in whatever's broken.

Имам проблем с отоплението.

Imam problem s otoplenieto.

I have a problem with the heating.

Cold flat in winter — same frame, a different thing that's gone wrong.

Къде е електромерът?

Kade e elektromerat?

Where is the electricity meter?

When the technician or meter reader needs it, or you're asked for a reading over the phone.

Къде е таблото?

Kade e tabloto?

Where is the fuse box?

A tripped breaker is often the whole problem — 'таблото' is the panel with the switches.

Кога ще се оправи?

Koga shte se opravi?

When will it be fixed?

The question that matters most once you've reported it — will you have water tonight?

Кога ще дойдете?

Koga shte doydete?

When will you come?

Pinning the technician to a time so you know when to be home.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

Technical talk comes fast — this keeps the exchange in Bulgarian and gives you a chance.

Не разбирам.

Ne razbiram.

I don't understand.

For when the explanation of what's wrong loses you completely.

Може ли да го напишете?

Mozhe li da go napishete?

Can you write it down?

Get the time, the cost, or the part name in writing so nothing's lost to a fast accent.

Благодаря за помощта!

Blagodarya za pomoshtta!

Thanks for the help!

As they pack up — a warm close after someone's rescued your evening.

Кой доставя тока на този адрес?

Koy dostavya toka na tozi adres?

Who supplies the electricity at this address?

First week in a new flat — the supplier differs by region and you need the name before you can register anything.

Този адрес е към друг доставчик.

Tozi adres e kam drug dostavchik.

This address belongs to a different supplier.

Something you hear when you walk into the wrong company's office — they will send you across town, so catch the word 'друг'.

Къде се плаща водата?

Kade se plashta vodata?

Where do you pay for the water?

Asking a neighbour or the block manager where the water bill actually gets settled.

Апартаментът на парно ли е?

Apartamentat na parno li e?

Is the flat on district heating?

Viewing or moving in — 'парно' means the flat is heated from the city network rather than by its own boiler or air conditioners.

Блокът е на топлофикация.

Blokat e na toplofikatsiya.

The block is on district heating.

Something you hear from the landlord or a neighbour — топлофикация is the city heating utility and it means a separate bill all winter.

Искам да прехвърля партидата на мое име.

Iskam da prehvarlya partidata na moe ime.

I want to transfer the account into my name.

The sentence that opens almost every visit to a utility office — 'партида' is the account tied to your flat.

Партидата е на предишния наемател.

Partidata e na predishniya naematel.

The account is in the previous tenant's name.

Something you hear at the counter the moment they pull up the address — it is why you are there and why you may need the owner.

Какво трябва за прехвърляне на партидата?

Kakvo tryabva za prehvarlyane na partidata?

What is needed to transfer the account?

Asking for the document list before you queue again — every company wants a slightly different set.

За колко време става прехвърлянето?

Za kolko vreme stava prehvarlyaneto?

How long does the transfer take?

You need to know whether the next bill still lands in someone else's name.

Трябва да дойде и собственикът.

Tryabva da doyde i sobstvenikat.

The owner has to come too.

Something you hear when a rental account cannot be moved on your signature alone — a call to the landlord follows.

Може ли да се направи онлайн?

Mozhe li da se napravi onlayn?

Can it be done online?

Before you take a morning off work — some companies now do the whole transfer through their website.

Носите ли нотариален акт?

Nosite li notarialen akt?

Do you have the title deed with you?

Something you hear at the counter — the нотариален акт is the ownership deed, and a renter will not have one.

Имам само договор за наем.

Imam samo dogovor za naem.

I only have a rental contract.

Your answer to the deed question — say it early so the clerk tells you what a tenant is allowed to do.

Дайте ми личната карта, моля.

Dayte mi lichnata karta, molya.

Give me your identity card, please.

Something you hear before anything else happens — 'лична карта' is the plastic identity card, and a residence card counts.

Кажете ми единния граждански номер.

Kazhete mi edinniya grazhdanski nomer.

Tell me your personal identification number.

Something you hear at every counter. Written on forms it is the three letters Е, Г и Н — the ten-digit number every resident has.

Нямам единен граждански номер, имам личен номер на чужденец.

Nyamam edinen grazhdanski nomer, imam lichen nomer na chuzhdenets.

I don't have a Bulgarian personal number, I have a foreigner's personal number.

The line that unblocks the form for most expats. On paper the foreigner's number is abbreviated to the letters Л, Н и Ч and sits on your residence card.

Къде е водомерът?

Kade e vodomerat?

Where is the water meter?

Hunting for the water meter on your first reading day — it usually hides in the bathroom shaft or under the sink.

Как се четат показанията?

Kak se chetat pokazaniyata?

How do you read the meter?

Standing in front of a dial with red digits and no idea which ones count.

Искам да подам показания.

Iskam da podam pokazaniya.

I want to submit my meter readings.

Opening the call or the website form in the few days each month when self-readings are accepted.

Кажете ми показанието на водомера.

Kazhete mi pokazanieto na vodomera.

Tell me the water meter reading.

Something you hear on the phone — have the number in front of you before you dial.

Показанията са осемстотин четирийсет и три.

Pokazaniyata sa osemstotin chetiriyset i tri.

The reading is eight hundred and forty-three.

Reading the figure out loud — swap in your own number, and expect them to read it back to you.

До кога трябва да подам показанията?

Do koga tryabva da podam pokazaniyata?

By when do I have to submit the readings?

Each utility has a short window in the month — miss it and they bill you an estimate instead.

Ще дойде отчетник.

Shte doyde otchetnik.

A meter reader will come.

Something you hear instead of an appointment — an 'отчетник' turns up to read the meter, often without warning.

Кога идва отчетникът?

Koga idva otchetnikat?

When does the meter reader come?

Asking a neighbour so you know which week to be home.

Нямаше кой да отвори.

Nyamashe koy da otvori.

There was nobody to open the door.

Something you hear as the reason your bill is an estimate — nobody was in when the reader called.

Електромерът е на площадката.

Elektromerat e na ploshtadkata.

The electricity meter is on the landing.

Telling the reader or technician where to look — in most blocks the meters sit in a cabinet on the stairwell landing.

Ще оставя показанията на вратата.

Shte ostavya pokazaniyata na vratata.

I'll leave the readings on the door.

You will be out when the reader passes — a note on the door is the normal workaround here.

Може ли да ми обясните сметката?

Mozhe li da mi obyasnite smetkata?

Can you explain the bill to me?

Handing the paper across the counter when the total makes no sense to you.

Сметката е за два месеца.

Smetkata e za dva mesetsa.

The bill is for two months.

Something you hear when the amount looks double — readings were taken late, so two periods are on one bill.

За какво е тази такса?

Za kakvo e tazi taksa?

What is this charge for?

Pointing at a line on the bill that is not the electricity or water you actually used.

Това е такса за достъп до мрежата.

Tova e taksa za dostap do mrezhata.

That is the network access fee.

Something you hear in answer — a fixed charge for being connected to the grid, billed even in a month you were away.

Къде е партидният номер в сметката?

Kade e partidniyat nomer v smetkata?

Where is the account number on the bill?

You are on the phone and they want the number, but the page is a wall of small print.

Партидният номер е горе вдясно.

Partidniyat nomer e gore vdyasno.

The account number is at the top right.

Something you hear as they walk you around the page — learn 'горе вдясно' and you can follow the rest.

До кога трябва да платя сметката?

Do koga tryabva da platya smetkata?

By when do I have to pay the bill?

The one question worth asking every time — due dates differ between electricity, water and heating.

Падежът е до края на месеца.

Padezhat e do kraya na mesetsa.

The due date is the end of the month.

Something you hear at the counter — 'падеж' is the due date, a word that only ever comes up around bills and loans.

Какво става, ако платя със закъснение?

Kakvo stava, ako platya sas zakasnenie?

What happens if I pay late?

Asking before you gamble on it — being cut off and being charged interest are different outcomes.

Начислява се лихва за забава.

Nachislyava se lihva za zabava.

Late interest is charged.

Something you hear in reply — the standard answer for a bill paid after its due date.

Не съм получил сметка този месец.

Ne sam poluchil smetka tozi mesets.

I haven't received a bill this month.

Nothing came to the postbox or the inbox and you would rather not discover it as a debt later.

Къде е касата за сметки?

Kade e kasata za smetki?

Where is the counter for paying bills?

Bills get paid at a 'каса' — a payment counter in a shop, post office or utility office.

Може ли да платя тока тук?

Mozhe li da platya toka tuk?

Can I pay the electricity here?

Many counters take several utilities but not all of them — ask before you queue.

Кажете ми партидния номер.

Kazhete mi partidniya nomer.

Tell me the account number.

Something you hear the second you reach the counter — without the партиден номер nothing can be paid.

Носите ли сметката?

Nosite li smetkata?

Do you have the bill with you?

Something you hear when the number alone is not enough — bring the paper or a photo of it on your phone.

Може ли бележка за плащането?

Mozhe li belezhka za plashtaneto?

Can I have a receipt for the payment?

Keep the slip — it is your only proof if the payment does not show up on the account.

Може ли да платя онлайн?

Mozhe li da platya onlayn?

Can I pay online?

Asking whether you can stop queueing altogether and pay from your bank app instead.

Искам да направя директен дебит.

Iskam da napravya direkten debit.

I want to set up a direct debit.

At the bank or the utility office — the bill is then pulled from your account automatically each month.

Може да се регистрирате в приложението.

Mozhe da se registrirate v prilozhenieto.

You can register in the app.

Something you hear as the shortcut — they will tell you to sign up with your account number and email.

Плащането се отразява до два работни дни.

Plashtaneto se otrazyava do dva rabotni dni.

The payment shows up within two working days.

Something you hear when you ask why the account still shows a balance right after you paid.

Искам да получавам сметките по имейл.

Iskam da poluchavam smetkite po imeyl.

I want to receive the bills by email.

Switching off the paper bill — useful when the postbox in the entrance is not really yours.

Как се изчислява сметката за парно?

Kak se izchislyava smetkata za parno?

How is the heating bill calculated?

The famously confusing bill — worth asking out loud rather than guessing all winter.

Сметката се изчислява по разпределители.

Smetkata se izchislyava po razpredeliteli.

The bill is calculated from the allocators.

Something you hear in reply — small devices clipped to each radiator measure your share of the block's heat.

Какво е изравнителната сметка?

Kakvo e izravnitelnata smetka?

What is the reconciliation bill?

The word turns up in every conversation about district heating and catches new arrivals out.

Изравнителната сметка идва веднъж годишно.

Izravnitelnata smetka idva vednazh godishno.

The reconciliation bill comes once a year.

Something you hear as the explanation — monthly amounts are estimates, and one bill a year settles the difference.

Може ли да спра парното в една стая?

Mozhe li da spra parnoto v edna staya?

Can I turn the heating off in one room?

Trying to cut the bill by closing off a room you never use.

Плаща се и за сградната инсталация.

Plashta se i za sgradnata instalatsiya.

You also pay for the building's installation.

Something you hear when you argue that your radiators were off — the pipes running through the block are charged to everyone.

Днес няма вода в блока.

Dnes nyama voda v bloka.

There's no water in the block today.

Reporting it to a neighbour or the block manager before you assume it is only your flat.

Има планово спиране на водата.

Ima planovo spirane na vodata.

There's a planned water shutoff.

Something you hear, or read on a sheet of paper taped by the entrance door — planned works, not a fault.

Кога ще пуснат водата?

Koga shte pusnat vodata?

When will the water be back on?

The only thing you really need to know once you have found out why the tap is dry.

Топлата вода от бойлер ли е, или от парното?

Toplata voda ot boyler li e, ili ot parnoto?

Does the hot water come from a boiler or from the district heating?

It decides which bill your showers land on, and who to call when they go cold.

Водомерите трябва да минат проверка.

Vodomerite tryabva da minat proverka.

The water meters have to be inspected.

Something you hear from the block manager — water meters are periodically re-certified, and someone has to be let in.

Искам да пусна интернет в апартамента.

Iskam da pusna internet v apartamenta.

I want to get internet set up in the flat.

Walking into the provider's shop to start a new subscription — not to report a fault.

На кой адрес да пуснем услугата?

Na koy adres da pusnem uslugata?

At which address should we set up the service?

Something you hear immediately — have the block, entrance, floor and flat number ready in one breath.

Блокът е покрит с оптика.

Blokat e pokrit s optika.

The block has fibre coverage.

Something you hear when they check your address — 'оптика' is the fibre network, and it decides what speeds you can order.

Кога може да дойде техник за монтажа?

Koga mozhe da doyde tehnik za montazha?

When can a technician come to install it?

Booking the installation visit — the part that decides when you actually get online.

Техникът ще дойде между десет и дванадесет.

Tehnikat shte doyde mezhdu deset i dvanadeset.

The technician will come between ten and twelve.

Something you hear instead of a fixed time — a two-hour window you have to stay home for.

Къде са контейнерите за боклук?

Kade sa konteynerite za bokluk?

Where are the rubbish bins?

Your first evening in a new block, holding a bag and looking for the containers.

Има ли контейнери за разделно събиране?

Ima li konteyneri za razdelno sabirane?

Are there recycling containers?

Looking for the coloured containers — 'разделно събиране' is the phrase on the bins themselves.

Таксата за смет се плаща от собственика.

Taksata za smet se plashta ot sobstvenika.

The waste charge is paid by the owner.

Something you hear when you ask about такса смет — the municipal waste charge normally sits with the property owner, not the tenant.

Каква е месечната такса за входа?

Kakva e mesechnata taksa za vhoda?

What is the monthly fee for the entrance?

Every block collects a small monthly sum for the stairwell — cleaning, lift and lighting.

Домоуправителят събира таксата в началото на месеца.

Domoupravitelyat sabira taksata v nachaloto na mesetsa.

The building manager collects the fee at the start of the month.

Something you hear from a neighbour — the домоуправител is a resident, and they will knock on your door.

Искам да закрия партидата.

Iskam da zakriya partidata.

I want to close the account.

At the counter on your way out of a flat, so the next tenant's bills are not yours.

Трябва да отчетем показанията за последно.

Tryabva da otchetem pokazaniyata za posledno.

We have to take a final meter reading.

Something you hear as the condition for closing — the last reading fixes what you still owe.

Къде ще получа последната сметка?

Kade shte polucha poslednata smetka?

Where will I get the final bill?

You are leaving the address the bill would normally be posted to — give them an email instead.

Има ли задължения по партидата?

Ima li zadalzheniya po partidata?

Are there any debts on the account?

Ask this before you move in as well as when you move out — unpaid balances follow the address.

Няма неплатени сметки по партидата.

Nyama neplateni smetki po partidata.

There are no unpaid bills on the account.

Something you hear as the all-clear — worth asking them to print it while you are standing there.

Може ли да повторите номера?

Mozhe li da povtorite nomera?

Can you repeat the number?

A ten-digit account number read at speed — ask for the whole thing again rather than guessing.

Кажете го по цифри, моля.

Kazhete go po tsifri, molya.

Say it digit by digit, please.

Bulgarian numbers get grouped into hundreds and thousands — this asks for one digit at a time.

Не чух последната цифра.

Ne chuh poslednata tsifra.

I didn't catch the last digit.

You have almost all of it — this asks for the missing end without restarting the whole exchange.

Извинявайте, още уча български — може ли по-просто?

Izvinyavayte, oshte ucha balgarski — mozhe li po-prosto?

Sorry, I'm still learning Bulgarian — could you say it more simply?

The clerk has used three bureaucratic words in a row — this keeps the conversation in Bulgarian instead of switching languages.

Благодаря за обяснението!

Blagodarya za obyasnenieto!

Thanks for explaining!

As you fold the bill away — the clerk has just walked you through something genuinely confusing.

Сега ми е ясно, благодаря!

Sega mi e yasno, blagodarya!

Now it's clear to me, thanks!

Signalling you actually followed the explanation, which usually earns you a smile and a slower repeat next time.