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The Bulgarian language is one of the oldest in Europe, with a unique history that makes it so special. In the following lines, I will reveal fascinating facts that highlight its importance and richness.
The First Written Slavic Language
Bulgarian is the first Slavic language to have a written script, created in the 9th century by Saints Cyril and Methodius. Initially, the Glagolitic alphabet was used, and later, and up to the present day, the Cyrillic alphabet. Here you can find more information about the formation of the language.
Originally, the Alphabet Had 46 Letters
In its original form, the Cyrillic alphabet consisted of 46 letters. Today, it includes 30 letters, six of which are vowels, and the rest are consonants.
Azbuka
The word ‘azbuka’, which means ‘alphabet’ in Bulgarian comes from the pronunciation of the first two letters: az-buki (А, Б, now pronounced as a, bu).
Some Letters Have Two Sounds
The letter 'ш' in Bulgarian [ʃ] sounds like the word 'Shush' in English, but without finishing it, i.e., 'Shu'.
The letter 'щ ' [ʃt] is a combination of two other letters – 'ш' and 'т'.
There is also the letter 'ю' [ju], which combines the sounds of 'и' and 'у', and sounds like the word 'you' in English, as well as "я" [ja], which is pronounced like the beginning of the word "yard."
We Use About 200,000 Words
According to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Bulgarian language contains around 200,000 words. As a constantly evolving system, the exact number of words can never be determined.
9 Verb Tenses
The Bulgarian language has 9 main verb tenses, divided into three categories: past, present, and future. In a separate article/forum, we will discuss each one in detail.
Definite Article Only in Bulgarian
The definite article indicates that an object is already known or mentioned in the text, expressing definiteness. Bulgarian is the only Slavic language that uses a definite article placed at the end of the noun, for example: "стол" (chair). When definite, the word changes to "столът" (the chair).
Example Sentence:
This chair is very beautiful.
The chair is very beautiful. (definite article)
Intonation and Accent
Accent in Bulgarian is free and can fall on any syllable in the word. This sometimes causes confusion for foreigners, as changing the accent can alter the meaning of the word.
Stay tuned to the forums and blog page for more interesting information related to the Bulgarian language : )
Reneta, OLS Community Manager – Bulgarian