adj
Common
Bulgarian
buhl-GEH-uh-ree-uhn
Bulgarian (adj) means relating to Bulgaria, its people, or the Bulgarian language. Example: “She ordered a Bulgarian yoghurt at the market.”
adj
1
Relating to Bulgaria, its people, or the Bulgarian language.
"Gary Cahill, a target for Arsenal and Tottenham before the transfer window closed, put England ahead early on and Rooney was on target twice before the interval as the early hostility of the Bulgarian supporters was swiftly subdued."
— Phil McNulty, Bulgaria 0-3 England (2011)
"She ordered a Bulgarian yoghurt at the market."
noun
1
A person from Bulgaria, or the Bulgarian language.
"The big advantage of learning Russian is that, once you’re proficient, you can understand other Slav languages such as Czech, Polish or Bulgarian."
— John Malathronas, Which languages are easiest – and most difficult – for native English speakers to learn? (2021)
"He's fluent in Bulgarian and Russian."
How to use Bulgarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything from Bulgaria, or refers to a Bulgarian person or the Bulgarian language.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more Bulgarian
- Superlative
- most Bulgarian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ordered a _____ yoghurt at the market.
Etymology
From Bulgaria + the adjective suffix -an/-ian.
Rhymes for Bulgarian
See all rhymes for Bulgarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Bulgarian” mean?
The word “Bulgarian” means relating to Bulgaria, its people, or the Bulgarian language. In plain terms, describes anything from Bulgaria, or refers to a Bulgarian person or the Bulgarian language.
How do you pronounce “Bulgarian”?
“Bulgarian” is pronounced buhl-GEH-uh-ree-uhn (/bʌlˈɡɛɹi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bulgarian” in a sentence?
Here is “Bulgarian” used in a sentence: “She ordered a Bulgarian yoghurt at the market.”
What part of speech is “Bulgarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Bulgarian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Bulgarian” a common word?
“Bulgarian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Bulgarian” have?
“Bulgarian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Bulgaria, its people, or the Bulgarian language.
Is "Bulgarian" capitalized in all its uses?
Yes, "Bulgarian" is always capitalized, whether it's used as an adjective describing something related to Bulgaria or as a noun for a person from Bulgaria or the Bulgarian language. This follows the standard rule that nationalities and languages are proper adjectives.
Can "Bulgarian" refer to a language as well as a nationality?
Yes, "Bulgarian" refers both to a person from Bulgaria and to the Bulgarian language itself, so the same word covers both the people and their native tongue. Context, such as "she speaks Bulgarian" versus "she is Bulgarian," clarifies which sense is meant.
How is "Bulgarian" used differently as an adjective versus a noun?
As an adjective, "Bulgarian" describes something relating to Bulgaria, its people, or its language, as in "Bulgarian cuisine" or "a Bulgarian passport." As a noun, it names a person from Bulgaria or the language itself, as in "she is a Bulgarian" or "he is learning Bulgarian."
