Шега за бирата, майката и стендъп кариерата

WhatsAppGmailTelegramEmail

B2 Bulgarian listening practice · Bulgarian · Curated for upper-intermediate learners

💡 Did you know?

What does “nazdrave” mean in Bulgarian?

Наздраве (nazdrave)
interjection · Bulgarian
“cheers! (a toast); also ”bless you“”

In this stand-up bit the comic raises a beer to the camera for his mother and lands on Наздраве (nazdrave): «Наздраве, мамо» (“cheers, mom”). From на здраве, “to health,” it’s the word Bulgarians clink glasses to, looking each other in the eye as they do, since breaking eye contact is said to bring bad luck.

The same word doubles as “bless you” after a sneeze, so context decides whether someone is toasting you or your cold. Across the region you’ll hear cousins of it: Serbian “na zdravlje,” Czech “na zdraví.” Raise a glass at any Bulgarian table and наздраве is the only password you need.

★Where you’ll hear this
  • ▸Bulgarian stand-up and late-night comedy on bTV and Nova.
  • ▸At rakia toasts during Bulgarian weddings and name-day parties.
  • ▸Bulgarian folk and pop-folk (chalga) drinking songs.
  • ▸Across Balkan tables, beside Serbian “na zdravlje” and Greek “yamas.”

Explore Bulgarian Comprehensible Input on Reelang

Open Bulgarian hub