Scheduling Appointments

Здравейте!

Zdraveyte!

Hello!

Your opener whether you're on the phone or at the reception desk.

Искам да си запазя час.

Iskam da si zapazya chas.

I'd like to book an appointment.

'Запазя час' is the exact phrase Bulgarians use for booking any slot — doctor, hairdresser, mechanic.

Имате ли свободен час утре?

Imate li svoboden chas utre?

Do you have a free slot tomorrow?

When you have a day in mind — swap утре for any day to check availability.

Кои часове са свободни?

Koi chasove sa svobodni?

What times are free?

When you're flexible and want them to offer the open slots.

Може ли в понеделник?

Mozhe li v ponedelnik?

Can we do Monday?

Propose a specific day once you've heard what's open.

Може ли да преместя часа си?

Mozhe li da premestya chasa si?

Can I move my appointment?

The polite way to reschedule when something comes up — asks rather than cancels.

Колко време ще отнеме?

Kolko vreme shte otneme?

How long will it take?

So you can plan the rest of your day around the visit.

В колко часа е срещата?

V kolko chasa e sreshtata?

What time is the appointment?

Confirm the exact time before you hang up so you don't turn up an hour off.

Може ли пак?

Mozhe li pak?

Can you say that again?

The quick 'once more?' when you miss a proposed time.

Говорите ли английски?

Govorite li angliyski?

Do you speak English?

A fair fallback when the scheduling gets too detailed to follow in Bulgarian.

По-бавно, моля.

Po-bavno, molya.

Slower, please.

When they list several slots fast — slow it down so you can pick one.

Добре, до понеделник!

Dobre, do ponedelnik!

Okay, see you Monday!

Confirms the booking and signs off warmly — swap the day to match what you agreed.

Обаждам се, за да си запазя час.

Obazhdam se, za da si zapazya chas.

I'm calling to book an appointment.

Your opening line on the phone to a hairdresser, garage, dentist or bank — it says why you rang before they have to ask. Вие throughout: any business you ring is вие.

Записвате ли часове по телефона?

Zapisvate li chasove po telefona?

Do you take bookings over the phone?

Small salons and workshops often book only in person or by message — ask this before you launch into days and times.

За какво да ви запиша?

Za kakvo da vi zapisha?

What shall I book you in for?

Something you hear the moment you say you want an appointment — they want the service, not the date, so answer with what you need first.

Искам час за подстригване.

Iskam chas za podstrigvane.

I'd like an appointment for a haircut.

The pattern is час за + the thing: час за подстригване, час за преглед, час за смяна на гумите. Swap the last word for whatever you're booking.

Става дума за кратка среща, около половин час.

Stava duma za kratka sreshta, okolo polovin chas.

It's a short meeting, about half an hour.

When you're asking a person rather than a service for time — an accountant, an agent, a teacher — telling them the length up front makes a yes easier.

Колко време ще ви трябва?

Kolko vreme shte vi tryabva?

How much time will you need?

Something you hear when they're sizing the slot. Answer with a number: половин час, един час, двайсет минути.

Кога имате свободен час тази седмица?

Koga imate svoboden chas tazi sedmitsa?

When do you have a free slot this week?

Better than naming a day blind — you let them offer, then you pick. Swap тази седмица for следващата седмица.

Кога ви е удобно?

Koga vi e udobno?

When would suit you?

Something you hear constantly — from receptionists, plumbers and friends alike. It hands the choice to you, so have a day and a time ready.

Кой е първият свободен час?

Koy e parviyat svoboden chas?

What's the first free slot?

When you don't care which day, only how soon. Note първият with the full definite article — it's the subject of the sentence.

Имам свободен час в четвъртък.

Imam svoboden chas v chetvartak.

I have a free slot on Thursday.

Something you hear as their first offer. They say имам, singular, speaking for the whole business — catch the day and then ask for the hour.

Може ли в четвъртък сутринта?

Mozhe li v chetvartak sutrinta?

Could we do Thursday morning?

can_i_x

Става ли към пет часа?

Stava li kam pet chasa?

Does around five work?

Към пет means around five, not at five sharp — the softest way to test a time. Става ли? is the everyday 'does that work?'

Мога да ви предложа вторник в единайсет.

Moga da vi predlozha vtornik v edinayset.

I can offer you Tuesday at eleven.

Something you hear as a concrete counter-offer. Единайсет is how eleven is actually said aloud; единадесет is the written form.

Може ли в понеделник или във вторник?

Mozhe li v ponedelnik ili vav vtornik?

Could we do Monday or Tuesday?

can_i_x

В сряда ми е удобно.

V sryada mi e udobno.

Wednesday suits me.

The plain yes to a proposed day. Ungendered, so it works for any learner.

Работите ли в събота?

Rabotite li v sabota?

Are you open on Saturday?

Bulgarians say работите ли, 'do you work', where English says 'are you open'. Many salons and garages do work Saturday mornings.

В неделя сме затворени.

V nedelya sme zatvoreni.

We're closed on Sunday.

Something you hear when you propose a weekend day. Затворени is plural — the business speaking about itself.

Имам предвид този вторник, не следващия.

Imam predvid tozi vtornik, ne sledvashtiya.

I mean this Tuesday, not next Tuesday.

The single most expensive misunderstanding in booking. Този вторник is the one in the current week; следващия вторник is the week after.

Може ли сутринта?

Mozhe li sutrinta?

Could we do the morning?

can_i_x

Следобед ще ми е по-лесно.

Sledobed shte mi e po-lesno.

The afternoon would be easier for me.

A soft steer rather than a refusal — it keeps their goodwill while moving you off a bad slot. Ungendered.

Работим до седем вечерта.

Rabotim do sedem vecherta.

We're open until seven in the evening.

Something you hear when you ask about late slots. Вечерта pins it down — седем on its own could be either end of the day.

Заповядайте в десет и половина.

Zapovyadayte v deset i polovina.

Come in at half past ten.

Something you hear as the slot is handed to you. И половина is 'and a half' — десет и половина is half past ten, never half to.

Може ли в девет без петнайсет?

Mozhe li v devet bez petnayset?

Could we do quarter to nine?

can_i_x

Часът ви е в осем и десет.

Chasat vi e v osem i deset.

Your appointment is at ten past eight.

Something you hear when the diary runs in odd increments. Осем и десет is 8:10 — plain 'eight and ten', no 'past'.

Ще дойда точно в пет.

Shte doyda tochno v pet.

I'll come at five sharp.

Точно marks the hour as exact rather than approximate — the opposite of към пет.

Приемът е от четиринайсет до шестнайсет часа.

Priemat e ot chetirinayset do shestnayset chasa.

Reception hours are from fourteen to sixteen hundred.

Something you hear in official settings — municipality, bank, clinic. The 24-hour clock is normal on signs and recorded messages, even though people speak in twelves.

В колко точно да дойда?

V kolko tochno da doyda?

What time exactly should I come?

Ask this before you hang up. Around-ish times get agreed far too easily, and the cost lands on you at the door.

Може ли на пети?

Mozhe li na peti?

Could we do the fifth?

can_i_x

Записах ви за дванайсети септември.

Zapisah vi za dvanayseti septemvri.

I've booked you for the twelfth of September.

Something you hear as the booking is entered. Months: януари, февруари, март, април, май, юни, юли, август, септември, октомври, ноември, декември — all lower case in Bulgarian.

На коя дата ми е часът?

Na koya data mi e chasat?

What date is my appointment on?

When you have the day of the week but not the date — useful before you put it in a calendar.

В началото на месеца няма да съм тук.

V nachaloto na mesetsa nyama da sam tuk.

I won't be here at the start of the month.

В началото / в средата / в края на месеца — the three chunks Bulgarians use when a precise date isn't the point yet.

Може ли в края на месеца?

Mozhe li v kraya na mesetsa?

Could we do it at the end of the month?

can_i_x

Може ли вдругиден?

Mozhe li vdrugiden?

Could we do the day after tomorrow?

can_i_x

След една седмица удобно ли е?

Sled edna sedmitsa udobno li e?

Would a week from now work?

След + a length of time is 'in / after' that time: след една седмица, след два дни, след месец.

Елате пак след един месец.

Elate pak sled edin mesets.

Come back in a month.

Something you hear at the end of a visit when a follow-up is expected — often without a slot being booked, so ask to book it there and then.

Онзи ден се обадих, но нямаше свободен час.

Onzi den se obadih, no nyamashe svoboden chas.

I called the other day but there was nothing free.

Онзи ден means a day or two back, not literally the day before yesterday. Обадих is ungendered, so this line suits any learner.

Съжалявам, зает съм тогава.

Sazhalyavam, zaet sam togava.

Sorry, I'm busy then.

Gendered, unavoidably: a man says зает съм, a woman заета съм. Learn the one that is yours and recognise the other.

Много рано ми е.

Mnogo rano mi e.

That's too early for me.

The dative ми е construction — literally 'it is early to me'. Swap рано for късно to say the opposite.

В този ден не мога.

V tozi den ne moga.

I can't on that day.

Short and ungendered. Follow it immediately with an alternative or you'll be handed the same slot again.

Има ли нещо по-късно?

Ima li neshto po-kasno?

Is there anything later?

The workhorse follow-up when the offered time is too early. По-рано for the other direction.

Може ли в друг ден?

Mozhe li v drug den?

Could we do a different day?

can_i_x

А в петък сутринта?

A v petak sutrinta?

What about Friday morning, then?

Something you hear as the next probe after you turn one slot down. The bare А at the front carries the whole 'what about' — nothing else is needed.

Да, това ми е удобно.

Da, tova mi e udobno.

Yes, that suits me.

The clean acceptance. Ungendered, works on the phone and at the desk.

Ще ви запиша.

Shte vi zapisha.

I'll book you in.

Something you hear the moment the slot is agreed — it means it is now going into the diary, so this is your last easy chance to change it.

Кажете ми име и телефон.

Kazhete mi ime i telefon.

Give me a name and a phone number.

Something you hear right after that. Have your name ready to spell letter by letter — foreign surnames are the usual snag.

Готово, часът ви е за четвъртък в десет.

Gotovo, chasat vi e za chetvartak v deset.

Done — your appointment is Thursday at ten.

Something you hear as the confirmation. Repeat it back before you say goodbye.

Значи вторник в три, нали?

Znachi vtornik v tri, nali?

So, Tuesday at three, right?

Значи ... нали? is the standard read-back frame. Use it every single time — it costs three seconds and saves a wasted trip.

В осем сутринта или в осем вечерта?

V osem sutrinta ili v osem vecherta?

Eight in the morning or eight in the evening?

Bulgarians speak in twelves, so осем is genuinely ambiguous. Asking outright is normal, not rude.

Точно така, в три.

Tochno taka, v tri.

That's right, at three.

Something you hear as the read-back is accepted. If you hear не, не instead, the correction follows immediately — stay on the line.

Колко време ще продължи?

Kolko vreme shte prodalzhi?

How long will it last?

About the appointment itself, where колко време ще отнеме is more about the job being done. Either is understood.

Отнема около час.

Otnema okolo chas.

It takes about an hour.

Something you hear in reply. Около is the hedge — plan for longer if there's a queue.

Какво да нося със себе си?

Kakvo da nosya sas sebe si?

What should I bring with me?

Worth asking for anything official — banks, clinics and garages all expect you to arrive with something.

Носете си документ за самоличност.

Nosete si dokument za samolichnost.

Bring an identity document.

Something you hear as the standing requirement. Документ за самоличност covers passport, ID card or residence card — your passport is the safe answer.

Може ли да ме запишете в списъка на чакащите?

Mozhe li da me zapishete v spisaka na chakashtite?

Could you put me on the waiting list?

can_i_x

Ако се освободи час, обадете ми се.

Ako se osvobodi chas, obadete mi se.

If a slot frees up, call me.

The practical version of the same idea — reflexive се освободи, 'if a slot becomes free'.

Ще ви се обадим, ако някой откаже.

Shte vi se obadim, ako nyakoy otkazhe.

We'll call you if someone cancels.

Something you hear in reply. Откаже here means 'cancels their appointment', not 'refuses'.

За съжаление се налага да отменим часа ви.

Za sazhalenie se nalaga da otmenim chasa vi.

Unfortunately we have to cancel your appointment.

Something you hear on an unwelcome phone call. Don't just say добре — ask straight away for the next free slot before you hang up.

Ще закъснея с десет минути.

Shte zakasneya s deset minuti.

I'll be ten minutes late.

Ring rather than just turn up late — ten minutes announced is usually fine, ten minutes unannounced can lose you the slot. Ungendered.

Подраних, ще изчакам отвън.

Podranih, shte izchakam otvan.

I'm early, I'll wait outside.

Подраних is one word for 'I arrived too early' and is ungendered, so it suits any learner.

Малко закъсняваме, изчакайте десет минути.

Malko zakasnyavame, izchakayte deset minuti.

We're running a bit behind, please wait ten minutes.

Something you hear at the desk when the diary has slipped. Ten stated minutes is often twenty — settle in rather than push.

Може ли да го преместим?

Mozhe li da go premestim?

Could we move it?

can_i_x

Може ли по-рано от четвъртък?

Mozhe li po-rano ot chetvartak?

Could we do it earlier than Thursday?

can_i_x

За кога да го преместя?

Za koga da go premestya?

When shall I move it to?

Something you hear as soon as they agree to move you. Have a day and a time ready before you ask to reschedule.

Преместих ви за петък в единайсет.

Premestih vi za petak v edinayset.

I've moved you to Friday at eleven.

Something you hear as the change is entered. Read it back before you hang up — moved appointments are where diaries go wrong.

Искам да откажа часа си за утре.

Iskam da otkazha chasa si za utre.

I'd like to cancel my appointment for tomorrow.

Отказвам час is the set phrase for cancelling a booking. Doing it by phone rather than silently is the whole difference in how you're treated next time.

Ако не можете, обадете се поне ден по-рано.

Ako ne mozhete, obadete se pone den po-rano.

If you can't make it, call at least a day ahead.

Something you hear as the house rule when the booking is made. Take it seriously — small places remember.

Извинявайте, вчера пропуснах часа си.

Izvinyavayte, vchera propusnah chasa si.

I'm sorry, I missed my appointment yesterday.

Opening a call after a no-show. Пропуснах is ungendered. Apologising first, then rebooking, gets you back in the diary.

Може ли да запиша нов час?

Mozhe li da zapisha nov chas?

Can I book a new appointment?

can_i_x

Ще получите съобщение един ден преди часа.

Shte poluchite saobshtenie edin den predi chasa.

You'll get a message the day before the appointment.

Something you hear at the end of the booking. Съобщение covers both a text and a message app — ask which if it matters.

Обаждам се да потвърдя часа си за утре.

Obazhdam se da potvardya chasa si za utre.

I'm calling to confirm my appointment for tomorrow.

The day-before check. It costs a minute and catches the slot that quietly moved or vanished.

Може ли всяка седмица по едно и също време?

Mozhe li vsyaka sedmitsa po edno i sashto vreme?

Could we do the same time every week?

can_i_x

Тогава пак другата седмица, по същото време.

Togava pak drugata sedmitsa, po sashtoto vreme.

Then again next week, same time.

Something you hear as a standing arrangement is set up. Другата седмица is the everyday spoken 'next week'.

Извинете, в колко часа казахте?

Izvinete, v kolko chasa kazahte?

Sorry, what time did you say?

The single most useful repair line in this whole scenario — times are said fast and you will miss them.

Кой ден казахте?

Koy den kazahte?

Which day did you say?

Days of the week sound alike at speed — вторник and четвъртък especially. Ask, don't guess.

Може ли да ми напишете деня и часа?

Mozhe li da mi napishete denya i chasa?

Could you write down the day and the time for me?

At a desk, this ends the problem completely. Reading Cyrillic is far easier than catching it spoken.

Аз разбрах десет часа, така ли е?

Az razbrah deset chasa, taka li e?

I understood ten o'clock — is that right?

Better than може ли пак when you have most of it: you state what you heard so they only have to correct the wrong part. Разбрах is ungendered.

Благодаря, ще се видим тогава!

Blagodarya, shte se vidim togava!

Thanks, see you then!

The warm close once the day and time are agreed and read back.

Очакваме ви в четвъртък!

Ochakvame vi v chetvartak!

We'll expect you on Thursday!

Something you hear as the sign-off. It is also a last free check on the day — if it isn't the day you thought, say so now.

Всичко добро, дочуване!

Vsichko dobro, dochuvane!

All the best, goodbye!

Дочуване is the telephone goodbye — literally 'until we hear each other'. Довиждане is the face-to-face one.