Words in a family share a root: "учител"
and "ученик"
connect with "уча"
. The root helps you recognise the topic, but does not guarantee the same stress.
A prefix comes before the root. With verbs it often adds direction or a boundary: "напиша"
creates a text; "препиша"
makes a copy; "допиша"
completes the writing; "разпиша се"
signs a name. "Извадя"
and "дочета"
also illustrate direction or reaching an endpoint. A prefix can have more than one meaning.
A suffix follows the root and often points to a word category: "превод → преводач"
, "учител → учителка"
, "безработен → безработица"
. Do not create words mechanically from an ending.
Diminutives such as "книжка"
can express small size or an attitude. But "шофьорска книжка"
is an established term, not a small book. Learn derived words with context, stress and the forms you need.
| начин | изходна дума | производна дума |
|---|---|---|
| на- | пиша | напиша |
| пре- | пиша | препиша |
| до- | пиша | допиша |
| раз- | пиша | разпиша се |
| -ач | превод | преводач |
| -ка | учител | учителка |
| умалителна форма | книга | книжка |
Examples
Ще допиша писмото след обед.
I will finish writing the letter after lunch.
Може ли да се разпишете тук?
Could you sign here?
Преводачът обясни защо буквалният превод не работи.
The translator explained why the literal translation does not work.
Учителката ни показа думи с общ корен.
Our teacher showed us words with a shared root.
За работата е нужна шофьорска книжка.
A driving licence is needed for the job.
Познавам думата, но ще проверя ударението в речника.
I know the word, but I will check its stress in the dictionary.
For speakers of your language
The prefix normally stays attached to the verb. "Се"
, however, is a separate word: "Ще се разпиша"
.
Quick quiz
Which word names a person who translates?
преводач
The suffix "-ач" here forms a person noun:"преводач".
You want to finish the writing. Which verb fits?
допиша
"До-" in"допиша"points to completing a text already started.
What does "шофьорска книжка"
normally mean?
документ за право на управление
This is an established term; the diminutive is not interpreted literally.Which word contains the prefix "пре-"?
препиша
In"препиша", the prefix "пре-" precedes the root.
Choose the word for a woman in this profession.
учителка
"Учителка"names a person; the other words do not identify a particular woman.
Stress always stays on the same syllable when a new word is formed.
False
Compare"превод"with
"преводач": the stress shifts.