In handwriting and italics, "т"
looks like an m, "д"
like a g, and "и"
like a u — so "ти"
can look like "mu"! Many modern Bulgarian fonts use these rounded, Latin-like shapes even in regular text, so signs and menus may look unfamiliar even if you already read Cyrillic. Don't worry: the letters are the same, only the shapes differ. A letter is "буква"
; the alphabet is "азбука"
.
Explore Bulgaria
Bulgarian letter shapes
Bulgarian Cyrillic has a look of its own.
History of Bulgaria
An illustrated history of Bulgaria
Explore Bulgaria
Diminutives: little and sweet
Bulgarians love diminutives — words made "small and sweet" with endings like "-че", "-ка", "-ичка"
.
Good evening or good night?
"Лека нощ"
(literally "light night") is only for saying goodbye late in the evening or before bed — never as a greeting.
Chestito! — congratulations
"Честито!"
is the all-purpose "congratulations!"