Small Talk and Invitations
Разговори и покани
Make small talk, invite someone, and accept or decline politely
89 phrases · 15 parts · Elizabeth, native voice, Sofia · free to read and hear
Как сте?
Kak ste?
How are you?
The polite 'how are you' for a neighbor or colleague you don't know well yet — keeps the formal вие.
Open a friendly conversation and ask how someone is doing
4 phrases
Как сте?
Kak ste?
How are you?
The polite 'how are you' for a neighbor or colleague you don't know well yet — keeps the formal вие.
Добре съм, а вие?
Dobre sam, a vie?
I'm well, and you?
The natural volley back — answer, then hand the question straight back.
Какви са плановете ви за уикенда?
Kakvi sa planovete vi za uikenda?
What are your plans for the weekend?
A warm, low-stakes way to keep a chat going with someone you're getting to know.
Отдавна не сме се виждали!
Otdavna ne sme se vizhdali!
Long time no see!
When you run into someone you've met before but haven't seen in a while.
Invite someone over or out without being pushy
3 phrases
Заповядайте у нас.
Zapovyadayte u nas.
Come over to our place.
'Заповядайте' is the warm, welcoming invite — the polite plural form for people you've just met.
Може ли да ви поканя на кафе?
Mozhe li da vi pokanya na kafe?
May I invite you for coffee?
Coffee is the default first social step in Bulgaria — this keeps the invite polite and easy to accept.
Искате ли да дойдете с нас?
Iskate li da doydete s nas?
Would you like to come with us?
When you're already heading somewhere and want to include a new acquaintance.
Say yes with warmth or say no without offence
2 phrases
С удоволствие!
S udovolstvie!
With pleasure!
The warm, enthusiastic yes when you're happy to accept an invitation.
За съжаление, не мога.
Za sazhalenie, ne moga.
Unfortunately, I can't.
A soft, polite decline — the 'за съжаление' softens the no so it doesn't sting.
Keep a relaxed chat alive when you lose the thread
3 phrases
По-бавно, моля.
Po-bavno, molya.
Slower, please.
Small talk speeds up fast — this keeps you in the conversation instead of nodding blankly.
Извинете, не разбрах.
Izvinete, ne razbrah.
Sorry, I didn't catch that.
The gentle, apologetic version that fits a friendly chat better than a flat 'I don't understand'.
Може ли пак?
Mozhe li pak?
Can you say that again?
The quick, easy 'once more?' that keeps the mood light.
Greet warmly and ask how someone is, in both formal and friendly registers
7 phrases
Здравей!
Zdravey!
Hi!
The everyday informal 'hi' to a friend, a neighbour you know, or anyone you're on ти terms with.
Как си?
Kak si?
How are you?
The informal 'how are you' for a friend — the ти counterpart to the formal Как сте?
Как върви?
Kak varvi?
How's it going?
A relaxed 'how are things?' between people who already know each other.
Какво ново?
Kakvo novo?
What's new?
A friendly opener to restart a chat with someone you haven't seen for a bit.
Радвам се да те видя.
Radvam se da te vidya.
Glad to see you.
Warm reunion line for a friend (informal те); use the formal variation for someone you address with вие.
Всичко е наред.
Vsichko e nared.
Everything's fine.
The easy reassuring answer when someone asks how you're doing.
Приятно ми е.
Priyatno mi e.
Nice to meet you.
Said on being introduced — the present-tense 'pleased to meet you'.
Make effortless small talk about the weather
8 phrases
Днес времето е хубаво.
Dnes vremeto e hubavo.
The weather is nice today.
The safest small-talk opener there is — weather works with anyone, formal or not.
Днес е студено.
Dnes e studeno.
It's cold today.
A quick shared observation in winter — usually said with a shrug at the bus stop.
Днес е топло.
Dnes e toplo.
It's warm today.
Топло is pleasantly warm; use горещо if it's genuinely hot.
Какво хубаво време!
Kakvo hubavo vreme!
What lovely weather!
An upbeat exclamation on a bright day — invites the other person to agree.
Вали дъжд.
Vali dazhd.
It's raining.
Вали alone already means 'it's precipitating'; adding дъжд makes 'rain' explicit.
Вали сняг.
Vali snyag.
It's snowing.
The winter version — same вали verb, with сняг for snow.
Днес е ветровито.
Dnes e vetrovito.
It's windy today.
Handy on a gusty day — a common complaint that keeps a chat rolling.
Казаха, че утре ще вали.
Kazaha, che utre shte vali.
They said it'll rain tomorrow.
Referring to the forecast — 'казаха' (they said) is how Bulgarians cite the weather report.
Ask about and share plans for the day or weekend
8 phrases
Какви са плановете ти за днес?
Kakvi sa planovete ti za dnes?
What are your plans for today?
Informal ти version for a friend — the formal ви form is the existing weekend-plans phrase.
Какво правиш днес?
Kakvo pravish dnes?
What are you doing today?
Casual ти check-in with a friend; the formal variation fits a colleague you use вие with.
Какво ще правиш през уикенда?
Kakvo shte pravish prez uikenda?
What are you doing this weekend?
Friendly ти question about weekend plans — a natural way to fish for a chance to meet up.
Имаш ли планове за довечера?
Imash li planove za dovechera?
Do you have plans for tonight?
The lead-in to a spontaneous invitation, informal ти.
Свободен ли си този уикенд?
Svoboden li si tozi uikend?
Are you free this weekend?
Свободен is the masculine form addressed to a man; use the feminine variation for a woman.
Нищо особено.
Nishto osobeno.
Nothing special.
The relaxed answer that leaves the door open for someone to suggest a plan.
Мислим да излезем в града.
Mislim da izlezem v grada.
We're thinking of going out in town.
Sharing a loose plan — 'мислим да' (we're thinking of) keeps it casual and open to company.
Ще ходим на село.
Shte hodim na selo.
We're going to the village.
A quintessential Bulgarian weekend — 'на село' means the family village, not just any village.
Exchange light details about where you're from, work, and family
8 phrases
Откъде сте?
Otkade ste?
Where are you from?
Formal вие opener for someone you've just met; drop to the casual ти variation with a peer.
Аз съм от Англия.
Az sam ot Angliya.
I'm from England.
Swap Англия for your own country; as an expat this is the question you'll answer most.
С какво се занимавате?
S kakvo se zanimavate?
What do you do (for work)?
The polite way to ask about someone's line of work — softer than a blunt 'what's your job?'. Casual variation for friends.
Работя от вкъщи.
Rabotya ot vkashti.
I work from home.
A common answer for remote-working expats — no gendered form needed.
Как е семейството?
Kak e semeystvoto?
How is the family?
Warm follow-up once you know someone a little — asking after their family is a sign of real friendliness.
Имате ли деца?
Imate li detsa?
Do you have children?
Formal вие; drop to the casual ти variation with a peer.
Отдавна ли живеете тук?
Otdavna li zhiveete tuk?
Have you lived here long?
A natural question between neighbours; formal вие as you're still getting acquainted.
Как е работата?
Kak e rabotata?
How is work?
The go-to catch-up question for someone whose job you already know.
Talk about free time, hobbies, and shared interests
8 phrases
Какво обичаш да правиш в свободното време?
Kakvo obichash da pravish v svobodnoto vreme?
What do you like to do in your free time?
Friendly ти question to find common ground; the formal variation fits someone you use вие with.
Интересувам се от история.
Interesuvam se ot istoriya.
I'm interested in history.
Template for naming an interest — swap история for музика, спорт, готварство, etc.
Обичам да ходя на планина.
Obicham da hodya na planina.
I love hiking in the mountains.
'На планина' (to the mountain) is the classic Bulgarian weekend pastime — a reliable bonding topic.
Спортуваш ли?
Sportuvash li?
Do you do any sport?
Casual ти; use the formal variation with someone you don't yet know well.
Обичам да готвя.
Obicham da gotvya.
I love to cook.
A friendly self-disclosure that often leads to swapping recipes or a dinner invite.
Чета много.
Cheta mnogo.
I read a lot.
Short and natural — 'чета много' is how you'd say reading is your thing.
Каква музика слушаш?
Kakva muzika slushash?
What music do you listen to?
A light ти question that easily fills a lull in conversation.
Звучи интересно.
Zvuchi interesno.
Sounds interesting.
The all-purpose encouraging reaction that keeps the other person talking.
Extend invitations warmly, in both formal and friendly registers
8 phrases
Може ли да ви поканя на вечеря?
Mozhe li da vi pokanya na vecherya?
May I invite you to dinner?
Formal вие dinner invite — the same polite 'Може ли да...' frame as the coffee invitation.
Искаш ли да излезем?
Iskash li da izlezem?
Do you want to go out?
Informal ти invite to go out — 'излезем' covers going out for a walk, a drink, or the evening.
Да пием по кафе някой път?
Da piem po kafe nyakoy pat?
Shall we grab a coffee sometime?
The low-pressure 'sometime' invite — 'по кафе' is the idiomatic 'grab a coffee'.
Искаш ли да пием по кафе?
Iskash li da piem po kafe?
Do you want to grab a coffee?
The direct ти version of the coffee invite for a friend.
Заповядай у нас.
Zapovyaday u nas.
Come over to our place.
The informal ти twin of the existing formal 'Заповядайте у нас' — for a friend.
Ела на вечеря с нас.
Ela na vecherya s nas.
Come to dinner with us.
'Ела' is the friendly perfective imperative 'come' for a one-off invite to a friend.
Каня те на рождения си ден.
Kanya te na rozhdeniya si den.
I'm inviting you to my birthday.
Informal ти (те) invite; note that birthdays are a big deal and the host usually treats the guests.
Заповядайте, когато искате.
Zapovyadayte, kogato iskate.
You're welcome anytime.
A gracious open-ended invitation in the formal вие — leaves the timing to the guest.
Accept with warmth or decline gracefully, and firm up details
7 phrases
С голямо удоволствие!
S golyamo udovolstvie!
I'd love to!
An even warmer yes than 'С удоволствие' — 'голямо' (great) adds real enthusiasm.
Звучи чудесно!
Zvuchi chudesno!
Sounds great!
Enthusiastic reaction to a proposed plan, right before you sort out the details.
В колко часа?
V kolko chasa?
At what time?
The first practical question after you say yes.
Може би друг път.
Mozhe bi drug pat.
Maybe another time.
A gentle soft-no that keeps the friendship open for a future invitation.
Тогава съм зает.
Togava sam zaet.
I'm busy then.
Зает is the masculine 'busy'; a woman says заета (see feminine variation).
Не се чувствам добре.
Ne se chuvstvam dobre.
I don't feel well.
An honest, blame-free reason to bow out of a plan — no gendered form needed.
Благодаря за поканата.
Blagodarya za pokanata.
Thanks for the invitation.
Say this whether you accept or decline — it acknowledges the gesture graciously.
Pin down when and where to meet
8 phrases
Кога ви е удобно?
Koga vi e udobno?
When suits you?
Formal вие way to ask what time works; casual ти variation for a friend.
Да се чуем.
Da se chuem.
Let's be in touch.
Literally 'let's hear each other' — the standard 'let's talk (by phone) soon' sign-off.
Ще се видим тогава.
Shte se vidim togava.
See you then.
Confirms a plan once the time is set.
Ще ти се обадя.
Shte ti se obadya.
I'll call you.
Informal ти; for вие say 'Ще ви се обадя'.
Пиши ми.
Pishi mi.
Text me.
Informal imperative 'write me' — how you'd swap contact plans with a friend.
Утре удобно ли е?
Utre udobno li e?
Does tomorrow work?
Proposing a specific day and checking it suits — works in either register.
Да кажем в шест часа.
Da kazhem v shest chasa.
Let's say at six.
'Да кажем' (let's say) is how you propose a concrete time.
Къде да се срещнем?
Kade da se sreshtnem?
Where shall we meet?
The other half of the plan — settling the place.
Pay a genuine, well-judged compliment
6 phrases
Изглеждаш чудесно!
Izglezhdash chudesno!
You look great!
Warm informal ти compliment for a friend; for вие say 'Изглеждате чудесно'.
Хубав дом имате.
Hubav dom imate.
You have a lovely home.
Say this when you're welcomed into someone's home — formal вие, and always appreciated.
Каква хубава градина!
Kakva hubava gradina!
What a lovely garden!
Bulgarians take pride in their gardens — this is a compliment that lands.
Много е вкусно!
Mnogo e vkusno!
It's very tasty!
The essential compliment to a host who has cooked for you.
Говорите чудесно български.
Govorite chudesno balgarski.
You speak Bulgarian wonderfully.
The compliment expats hear constantly; good to recognise it and to return in kind.
Много мило, благодаря.
Mnogo milo, blagodarya.
That's very kind, thank you.
The graceful way to accept a compliment or a kind gesture.
Close a conversation warmly and send good wishes
6 phrases
Беше ми приятно.
Beshe mi priyatno.
It was nice (meeting you).
The standard warm sign-off after a first meeting or a good chat.
Поздрави на семейството.
Pozdravi na semeystvoto.
Say hi to the family.
A friendly parting line that signals you think of them as more than an acquaintance.
Пази се!
Pazi se!
Take care!
Informal ти farewell to a friend; the formal/plural is 'Пазете се!' (see variation).
До скоро!
Do skoro!
See you soon!
The everyday 'see you soon' — works with anyone, formal or friendly.
Приятен ден!
Priyaten den!
Have a nice day!
A friendly closer as you part ways — heard everywhere from shops to neighbours.
Благодаря за гостоприемството.
Blagodarya za gostopriemstvoto.
Thank you for the hospitality.
The gracious thing to say when leaving a home where you've been hosted.