Numbers are the scaffolding of any language, and Bulgarian is no exception. Whether you’re haggling at Sofia’s flea markets, telling time, or just trying to order the correct number of banitsas without causing a bakery meltdown, knowing your numbers is non-negotiable. And let’s be honest - Bulgarian numerals are delightfully straightforward compared to, say, the grammatical minefield of Bulgarian’s unique Slavic quirks. So, let’s get you counting.
Bulgarian Numbers 1-10: The Foundation
The first ten numbers are your bread and butter. Memorise these, and the rest will follow like obedient sheep. Here they are, with IPA pronunciations because guessing Bulgarian vowels is a fool’s errand:
| Number | Bulgarian | Pronunciation (IPA) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | едно | /ˈɛdno/ |
| 2 | две | /dvɛ/ |
| 3 | три | /tri/ |
| 4 | четири | /tʃɛˈtiri/ |
| 5 | пет | /pɛt/ |
| 6 | шест | /ʃɛst/ |
| 7 | седем | /ˈsɛdɛm/ |
| 8 | осем | /ˈɔsɛm/ |
| 9 | девет | /ˈdɛvɛt/ |
| 10 | десет | /ˈdɛsɛt/ |
Numbers 11-20: The Teen Rebellion
Bulgarian teens are easy. Just take “десет” (10) and slap the unit digit after it, with an “на” or “е” in between. For example:
- 11: единадесет (/ɛdiˈnadɛsɛt/) – literally “one-on-ten”
- 12: дванадесет (/dvaˈnadɛsɛt/) – “two-on-ten”
- 13: тринадесет (/triˈnadɛsɛt/) – you get the idea
- Fun fact: 18 is “осемнадесет”, which sounds like a tongue-twister but is actually just “eight-on-ten”. Try saying it five times fast.
20-50: The Decade Jump
Decades in Bulgarian are refreshingly logical. “Двадесет” (20) is “two tens”, “тридесет” (30) is “three tens”, and so on. Here’s the full list up to 50:
- 20: двадесет (/ˈdvadɛsɛt/)
- 30: тридесет (/ˈtridɛsɛt/)
- 40: четиридесет (/tʃɛtiˈridɛsɛt/)
- 50: петдесет (/pɛtˈdɛsɛt/)
To form numbers in between, just add the unit digit after the decade. For example, 27 is “двадесет и седем” (twenty and seven). Note the “и” (and) - it’s optional but common in speech.
и
[i]“and”
Why Bother Learning Numbers?
Beyond the obvious utility, numbers sneak into Bulgarian superstitions, idiomatic expressions, and even internet slang. For instance, saying “давам 100%” (I give 100%) is universal, but Bulgarians might also say “на шест глави” (for six heads) to mean something’s overly complicated. Numbers are cultural glue, really.
