Proverbs are short and straightforward sayings that express valuable life advice. Studying Bulgarian proverbs means digging deeper into the local culture—it also means that you’re an advanced Bulgarian language learner who’s ready to take their knowledge to the next level. And while proverbs can be quite valuable to language learners, they also teach people how to be wiser in different life situations.

It’s always a fascinating adventure to explore the proverbs and sayings of other cultures, so BulgarianPod101 has compiled this list of thirty proverbs in Bulgarian along with their English translations. We think you’ll step away from this article a little wiser than before…

Table of Contents

1. Bulgarian Proverbs About Success
2. Bulgarian Proverbs About Wisdom
3. Bulgarian Proverbs About Love
4. Bulgarian Proverbs About Friendship
5. Bulgarian Proverbs About Food
6. Bulgarian Proverbs About Health
7. Bulgarian Proverbs About Work and Language Learning Efforts
8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

1. Bulgarian Proverbs About Success

We all strive to be successful in life, whatever that means to us. So what essential features must one develop to achieve success in life? Here are a few Bulgarian proverbs and sayings to offer you some cultural perspective on the topic. 

#1 

Bulgarian	Капка по капка, вир става.
Pronunciation	Kapka po kapka, vir stava.
Literal	Drop by drop turns into a pool.
Equivalent	Drop by drop is the water pot filled.
This Bulgarian saying means that diligence and persistence lead to success. Even a few drops of water, if collected instead of being wasted, can add up over time so that you have enough to fill an entire pot. The same concept applies to money, experience, and any life skill that requires endurance. If you want to be successful, you have to be patient.

#2 

Bulgarian	Който се учи, той ще сполучи.
Pronunciation	Koyto se uchi, toy shte spoluchi.
Literal	A person who learns will succeed.
Equivalent	Knowledge is power and power is success.
If you want to be successful, then learn, learn, learn. The more knowledge you gain, the more confidence you’ll have while meeting different challenges in your work. Although knowledge alone is not enough, it’s an important part of achieving success.  Now, let’s apply this proverb to Bulgarian language learning. In order to become a fluent Bulgarian speaker, you must learn more and more Bulgarian words. Add new words to your vocabulary every single day and you’ll succeed.

#3 

Bulgarian	Капката дълбае камъка не със сила, а с постоянство.
Pronunciation	Kapkata dalbae kamaka ne sas sila, a s postoyanstvo.
Literal	A drop carves a stone not with force, but with perseverance.
Equivalent	If you want a well, dig only in one place.
This Bulgarian saying means that people who would like to become real experts in something should work hard in their field until they’ve perfected their skills. There are many people out there who try hard in the beginning, only to give up once they get tired or discouraged, which prevents them from becoming successful. Everyone is able to be successful if he or she is persistent enough to continue even in the face of challenges.

#4 

Bulgarian	Ако не кърпиш вехтото, ново няма да носиш.
Pronunciation	Ako ne karpish vehtoto, novo nyama da nosish.
Literal	If you don’t patch your old cloth, you will not wear a new one.
Equivalent	Spending is quick, earning is slow.
Older Bulgarians in particular tend to prefer saving money over spending it on unnecessary things. Years of stringency made them frugal, and they respect people who know how to save money in order to spend it when a real need arises.

2. Bulgarian Proverbs About Wisdom

Bulgarians have many proverbs about wisdom. In fact, they even have a national folklore character named Хитър Петър (Hitar Petar), who is a symbol of cunning, wisdom, and wit. That said, let’s go over a few inspirational Bulgarian proverbs related to wisdom! 

#5

Bulgarian	Утрото е по-мъдро от вечерта.
Pronunciation	Utroto e po-madro ot vecherta.
Literal	The morning is wiser than the evening.
Equivalent	An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
On the one hand, this Bulgarian proverb suggests that the morning hours are the most productive ones. On the other hand, people in Bulgaria say this proverb when they have an important decision to make and it’s already late in the evening. They believe that making the decision should be postponed until the next morning, as the brain is tired in the evening and cannot think clearly. In the morning, when a person wakes up, he or she can consider problems much more efficiently and are more likely to make the right decision. That is why the morning is wiser than the evening.

#6

Bulgarian	Докато мъдрите се намъдруват, лудите се налудуват.
Pronunciation	Dokato madrite se namadruvat, ludite se naluduvat.
Literal	While the wise people philosophize, the mad people go crazy.
This Bulgarian proverb means that if the rulers are weak, the whole nation will suffer at the hands of offenders. In this case, the word “wise” is used in an ironic sense, because these “wise people” only philosophize instead of taking real actions to stop the criminals.

#7

Bulgarian	Ум царува, ум робува, ум патки пасе.
Pronunciation	Um tsaruva, um robuva, um patki pase.
Literal	The mind reigns, the mind is enslaved, the mind grazes ducks.
Equivalent	Some are wise and some are otherwise.
This Bulgarian saying means a few different things: A person can become engaged in various activities, whether it’s science, management, or anything else. It depends on his motivation, what kind of work he is going to choose, and what future he will have. Everyone is capable of being a shepherd, a hotel manager, a policeman, a builder, etc. The decisions you make can take you down from the position of a ruler to that of a slave.

#8

Bulgarian	По дрехите посрещат, по ума изпращат.
Pronunciation	Po drehite posreshtat, po uma izprashtat.
Equivalent	First impression is from your dress, last impression from your brains/wits.
The first thing people notice about you is your clothes, so they might initially be impressed by your appearance. But after talking with you, they’ll get an impression of your brain or wits. Wiser people don’t talk too much, and Bulgarians usually don’t welcome those who are too talkative. They like balanced conversations, so be aware of this if you’re ever invited to a Bulgarian’s home.

→ Need more motivation? Then check out our list of the Top 10 Inspirational Bulgarian Quotes!

3. Bulgarian Proverbs About Love

As a popular song states, “All you need is love.” In that vein, let’s explore some of the most popular Bulgarian love proverbs…

#9

Bulgarian	Любов хубост не гледа.
Pronunciation	Lyubov hubost ne gleda.
Literal	Love does not look for beautiful appearance.
Equivalent	Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.
When one person loves another, he or she doesn’t notice any defects in the appearance or character of the one they love. A Bible proverb written by Solomon says that “love covers over all wrongs.”

#10

Bulgarian	Старата любов ръжда не хваща.
Pronunciation	Starata lyubov razhda ne hvashta.
Equivalent	Old love does not rust.
This saying means that old feelings do not fade away. Metal may rust over time and waste away, but feelings of love typically don’t and can even stay as strong as they were in the very beginning!

It’s interesting to note that Bulgarians have another proverb which states exactly the opposite: 

#11

Bulgarian	Очи, които дълго не се виждат, се забравят.
Pronunciation	Ochi, koito dalgo ne se vizhdat, se zabravyat.
Literal	Eyes that have not seen each other for a long time can be forgotten.
Equivalent	Out of sight, out of mind.
If two lovers are separated for a long time, they might forget each other—especially if their love is not well-rooted.

#12

Bulgarian	Младост без любов — пролет без цвете.
Pronunciation	Mladost bez lyubov — prolet bez tsvete.
Literal	Youth without love is spring without a flower.
Equivalent	Without love, everything is in vain.
One cannot be happy without loving and being loved. This Bulgarian proverb states that love is the essence of life, making everything around it beautiful—just like flowers make springtime the most beautiful season.

→ Want to impress your Bulgarian sweetheart? Then study these 15 Bulgarian Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day!

4. Bulgarian Proverbs About Friendship

Bulgarians value true friendship, so it should come as no surprise that we have many proverbs on the topic. Who knows? Maybe they’ll help you understand who your true friends are! 

#13

Bulgarian	Приятел в нужда се познава.
Pronunciation	Priyatel v nuzhda se poznava.
Literal	A friend is recognized in need.
Equivalent	A friend in need is a friend indeed.
A true friend will always help out in times of need, and will never leave his or her friend to suffer alone. They’ll dedicate their time, money, and efforts to help you, doing everything they can to make you feel better. A false friend, on the other hand, will hide from you as soon as you run into troubles.

#14

Bulgarian	Кажи ми какви са приятелите ти, за да ти кажа какъв си.
Pronunciation	Kazhi mi kakvi sa priyatelite ti, za da ti kazha kakav si.
Equivalent	Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
This Bulgarian saying means that the friends you hang out with can define you. This makes sense, as friends tend to share personality and behavioral traits. As such, you can tell a lot about a person based on who their friends are.

#15

Bulgarian	Лют човек приятел не държи.
Pronunciation	Lyut chovek priyatel ne darzhi.
Literal	A furious man does not keep any friends around.
It’s difficult for some people to find friends. They might think that the problem lies with other people, but often the problem is hidden within themselves. No one wants to hang around or be associated with an angry person.

#16

Bulgarian	Приятелството си е приятелство, но сиренето е с пари.
Pronunciation	Priyatelstvoto si e priyatelstvo, no sireneto e s pari.
Literal	Friendship is friendship, but cheese costs money.
Although a friend in need is a friend indeed, a true friend will not take advantage of a friend’s generosity. Just because your friend sells cheese doesn’t mean you should expect to get any for free!

→ This was only a small sample of what Bulgarians have to say on the topic. Check out our vocabulary list of the Top 10 Bulgarian Quotes About Friendship for even more words of wisdom!

5. Bulgarian Proverbs About Food

Food is an important detail of one’s life, so here are a few wise Bulgarian sayings related to food.

#17

Bulgarian	Никой не е по-голям от хляба.
Pronunciation	Nikoy ne e po-golyam ot hlyaba.
Literal	No one is larger than bread.
This saying reveals the attitude that Bulgarians have toward bread and how important it is to them. In Bulgaria, bread plays an important role and it’s always present on the table. It’s also considered the most holy of foods.

#18

Bulgarian	Умният навсякъде си изкарва хляба.
Pronunciation	Umniyat navsyakade si izkarva hlyaba.
Literal	A smart man earns his bread anywhere.
Equivalent	A smart man can earn a living anywhere.
The saying “to earn your own bread” in Bulgarian means to earn a living, which again underlines the importance of bread in Bulgarian culture. This saying means that the wise can overcome all challenges so that they always have enough to live on wherever they are.

#19

Bulgarian	Гладна кокошка просо сънува.
Pronunciation	Gladna kokoshka proso sanuva.
Literal	A hungry hen dreams of millet.
This proverb relates to wishful thinking. It means that some people dream of things greater than what they have, but they take no action to make it happen in reality.

#20

Bulgarian	Ден година храни.
Pronunciation	Den godina hrani.
Translation	A single day helps you get food for the whole year.
In the past, this saying meant that every day of the year was equally important for earning a living. But nowadays, it’s mostly associated with unfair traders who make their prices unrealistically high in order to make lots of money quickly and remain idle the rest of the year.

→ Head over to our free vocabulary list on Talking About Food and Ingredients in Bulgarian to further expand your vocabulary!

6. Bulgarian Proverbs About Health

Health is among the most valuable acquisitions a person can have, so let’s see what Bulgarian proverbs have to say about it. 

#21

Bulgarian	Здрав дух – здраво тяло.
Pronunciation	Zdrav duh – zdravo tyalo.
Equivalent	A healthy mind, a healthy body.
This Bulgarian proverb expresses the importance of inner peace, forgiveness, trust, etc., for people’s wellbeing. We should keep our spirit healthy in order to have a healthy body, as stress, anxiety, suspicion, and other negative feelings can increase our chances of getting sick.

#22

Bulgarian	Никой не може да бъде по-добър лекар от верния приятел.
Pronunciation	Nikoy ne mozhe da bade po-dobar lekar ot verniya priyatel.
Equivalent	No one is a better doctor than a faithful friend.
This Bulgarian saying is a continuation of the previous one. A faithful friend is able to bear our griefs, so we won’t feel alone in our sorrow.  A similar proverb goes:  Споделената мъка е половин мъка, а споделената радост е двойна радост.  Spodelenata maka e polovin maka, a spodelenata radost e dvoyna radost. “Shared sorrow is half the sorrow; shared joy is double the joy.”

#23

Bulgarian	Живот, здраве и добри помисли като има човек, пари не му трябват.
Pronunciation	Zhivot, zdrave i dobri pomisli kato ima chovek, pari ne mu tryabvat.
Translation	When a person has a good life, good health, and good thoughts, he does not need money.
Мoney can’t buy happiness! This saying is as old as money, but it’s true. You can find poor people barely earning a living who are constantly smiling and happy, as well as millionaires who are so miserable and depressed that they take their own lives. This Bulgarian proverb states that there are three factors involved in being happy: life, health, and good thoughts.

#24

Bulgarian	Здравето е най-големият имот.
Pronunciation	Zdraveto e nay-golemiyat imot.
Translation	Our health is our largest property.
No matter how many properties we have, and no matter how luxurious and large they are, we cannot enjoy them (or our lives) if we aren’t healthy. That’s why health is considered one of the most valuable and precious things in this world!

Do you have health problems you would like to share with your Bulgarian friends in their own language? BulgarianPod101 can help! Just head over to our vocabulary list of Bulgarian Vocabulary for Common Health Problems! 

7. Bulgarian Proverbs About Work and Language Learning Efforts

Those who are diligent and persistent in their language learning efforts will soon see progress and advance quickly. For extra motivation, let’s see what Bulgarian proverbs say about work and learning. 

#25

Bulgarian	Човек се учи, докато е жив.
Pronunciation	Chovek se uchi, dokato e zhiv.
Literal	A person learns while he is alive.
Equivalent	You are never too old to learn.
This popular Bulgarian proverb means that we never stop learning, as knowledge itself is endless and our life is too short to comprehend it all. On the other hand, this saying could also be applied to your Bulgarian language studies. The more you learn, the more successful you’ll be over time.

#26

Bulgarian	Без труд почивката не е сладка.
Pronunciation	Bez trud pochivkata ne e sladka.
Literal	Without work, rest is not sweet.
This saying encourages diligence. It suggests that those who don’t work cannot feel the sweetness of rest. They probably cannot sleep as well as those who work hard all day.

#27

Bulgarian	Работата на ум учи.
Pronunciation	Rabotata na um uchi.
Literal	The work teaches the mind.
One only gains practical skills and experience through working, and the same concept applies to language learning. Once you gain minimal knowledge of a language, you should start practicing it in real life to expand upon your skills and gain new ones. Passive learning is often in vain.

#28

Bulgarian	Лозето не ще молитва, а мотика.
Pronunciation	Lozeto ne shte molitva, a motika.
Literal	The vineyard does not need a prayer, but a hoe.
Equivalent	God helps those who help themselves.
This saying is quite popular in Bulgaria, and it conveys the importance of hard work in being successful. If you want your vineyard to give fruit, don’t just sit beside it and pray; take the hoe and start working. No matter how many prayers you say, you won’t receive a good crop unless you work for it.

8. How BulgarianPod101 Can Help You Learn Bulgarian

In this Bulgarian proverbs guide, you’ve picked up some useful phrases and gained some valuable insight into the beauty of Bulgarian culture. Learning these proverbs will make it easier for you to communicate with the local people and help you better fit in during your stay in Bulgaria. 

If you would like to learn even more Bulgarian proverbs or dig deeper into Bulgarian grammar, we recommend you try our MyTeacher service for Premium PLUS members. You can choose a private teacher from our team of experienced Bulgarian language experts, who will give you additional information on any topics of your choosing and provide you with practical assignments to hone your skills. 

We hope you enjoyed today’s lesson on Bulgarian proverbs, and that you feel a little bit wiser now. 😉 Before you go, let us know in the comments which of these proverbs you can relate to the most right now. We look forward to hearing from you!