# Bulgarian

/bəɫˈɡɛɹiən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bulgarian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a person

noun · CEFR A2

a person who comes from Bulgaria.

For teachers: a person who is a citizen or native of Bulgaria.

- My new neighbour is a Bulgarian who moved here to study engineering.
- The conference hosted several prominent Bulgarians who shared their research on Eastern European history.

### 2. the language

noun · CEFR A2

the language spoken in Bulgaria.

For teachers: the official South Slavic language of Bulgaria, written in the Cyrillic alphabet.

- He is learning Bulgarian because he wants to work in Sofia next year.
- The document was originally written in Bulgarian and required a certified translator to produce the English version.

### 3. relating to Bulgaria

adjective · CEFR A2

related to the country of Bulgaria, its people, or its culture.

For teachers: pertaining to Bulgaria, its inhabitants, or its language.

- We enjoyed some traditional Bulgarian food at the festival last night.
- The museum features a rare collection of Bulgarian folk costumes dating back to the nineteenth century.

### 4. gym exercise

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

a type of leg exercise where you put one foot on a bench behind you.

For teachers: a shortened term for the 'Bulgarian split squat', a lower-body strength exercise.

- My legs were very sore after doing three sets of Bulgarians at the gym.
- The trainer recommended incorporating Bulgarians into the routine to improve balance and unilateral leg strength.

Usage: Usually used in the plural when referring to the exercise repetitions.

## Examples

- She is a Bulgarian who moved to London last year.
- The local community center offers classes for anyone interested in learning how to speak Bulgarian fluently.
- While many younger citizens are proficient in English, the majority of daily business and cultural exchange in Sofia is conducted exclusively in Bulgarian.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.