Think you might want to learn Bulgarian, but not sure if there’s a point? Brilliant question.
Let’s start by talking about the country. Bulgaria gave the Slavic world its alphabet and it throws one almighty party every year to mark the occasion, on Bulgarian Independence Day, on 22nd September.
This occasion celebrates the moment Bulgaria officially waved goodbye to Ottoman rule for good in 1908, with marching bands, wreath-laying, folk concerts, fireworks, and church bells ringing out joyfully.
Moreover, you can expect to hear a variety of different languages cheering for the mother country.
What Languages are Spoken in Bulgaria?
This is a consideration if you’re thinking about visiting, moving to or working in Bulgaria. Although it’s a solid catch all tactic to learn Bulgarian rather than get too provincial.
So, what’s the spread?
- Bulgarian – The undisputed star of the show, spoken natively by around 85% of the population and written in Cyrillic, which the Encyclopaedia Britannica describes as the “writing system developed in the 9th-10th century for Slavic-speaking peoples of the Eastern Orthodox faith, currently used exclusively or as one of several alphabets for more than 50 languages, notably Belarusian, Bulgarian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Russian, Serbian, Tajik, Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Uzbek”.
- Turkish – The largest minority language, spoken by roughly 8-9% of the country.
- Romani – Another rich linguistic thread spoken by about 4%.
- English – The popular second language for younger Bulgarians and people working in the tourist industry.
- Russian – Still widely spoke, especially by seniors who grew up with it in school.
There’s no shortage of language options to go at. But what about learning Bulgarian specifically? Is it a good move?
Why Are Brits Choosing to Learn Bulgarian?
Unsurprisingly, it’s rarely a random decision. People typically learn Bulgarian for the following reasons:
- Relationships and family – A Bulgarian partner, spouse, or in-laws who deserve more than Google Translate over Christmas dinner.
- Property and holidays – Bulgaria’s a key hotspot for British property developers, in addition to the country’s ongoing tourist trade.
- Relocation and work – An emerging tech scene is luring digital brains. And you’d presumably rather not mime your way through the supermarket if you’re one of them?
- Cultural appeal – Folklore, cinema, cuisine, and Cyrillic script. Irresistible if it’s your thing.
Plus, there’s an added bonus. The Bulgarian language is a cheat sheet into the wider Slavic language family. Think of it as a friendly warm-up if you’re planning to tackle Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish down the line.
Why Now?
Chasing romance?
Relocating?
Want to earn yourself Cyrillic bragging rights?
At la Academia, you’ll discover in person and online tuition options to learn Bulgarian your way.
Get in touch and tell us what you want and need.