Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet. This guide provides both Cyrillic and transliterated versions of key phrases. Most infectious disease specialists in Sofia have some English, and the community services (Checkpoint Sofia, Single Step) can often communicate in English.
The Health System
НЗОК / NHIF (Национална здравноосигурителна каса)
The National Health Insurance Fund — Bulgaria's public health insurance system. Coverage is mandatory for citizens and registered residents. Foreigners without Bulgarian insurance registration should present an EHIC card (EU/EEA) for emergency care.
Лична карта (Lichna karta) — ID Card
Your Bulgarian identity document. Presented at hospitals and clinics for insurance verification.
Личен лекар (Lichen lekar) — Personal Doctor / GP
Your registered family doctor. Entry point to the public health system. Can provide referrals to specialists.
СБАЛИПБ (SBALIPB)
Специализирана болница за активно лечение на инфекциозни и паразитни болести — the Specialised Hospital for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Sofia. The primary centre for HIV treatment, PEP, and infectious disease specialist care.
Частна клиника / Частен кабинет (Chastna klinika / Chastnen kabinet)
Private clinic / private practice. Often more accessible and sometimes more affirming than the public system.
Key Phrases
Getting Tested
| Purpose | Bulgarian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| HIV test | „Искам тест за ХИВ." | "Iskam test za HIV." |
| Full STI screen | „Искам пълен тест за полово предавани инфекции." | "Iskam palen test za polovo predavani infektsii." |
| Three-site swabs | „Искам проби от гърло, ректум и урина." | "Iskam probi ot garlo, rektum i urina." |
| Anonymous test | „Искам анонимен тест." | "Iskam anonimen test." |
Needing PEP
| Purpose | Bulgarian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| I had an HIV risk | „Имах рисков контакт с ХИВ." | "Imah riskov kontakt s HIV." |
| I need PEP | „Имам нужда от ПЕП (постекспозиционна профилактика)." | "Imam nuzda ot PEP (postekspozitsionna profilaktika)." |
| Hours ago | „Преди [X] часа." | "Predi [X] chasa." |
Starting PrEP
| Purpose | Bulgarian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| I want PrEP | „Искам да приемам ПрЕП." | "Iskam da priemam PrEP." |
| What does it cost? | „Колко струва?" | "Kolko struva?" |
At the Hospital
| Purpose | Bulgarian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | „Спешно!" | "Speshno!" |
| Infectious disease dept | „Инфекциозно отделение" | "Infektsiozno otdelenie" |
| I have insurance | „Имам здравна осигуровка." | "Imam zdravna osigurovka." |
| EHIC card (EU) | „Имам европейска здравноосигурителна карта." | "Imam evropeyska zdravnoosiguritelna karta." |
Key Vocabulary
| Bulgarian (Cyrillic) | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Болница | Bolnitsa | Hospital |
| Спешно отделение | Speshno otdelenie | Emergency department |
| Лекар | Lekar | Doctor |
| Инфекциолог | Infektsiolog | Infectious disease specialist |
| Аптека | Apteka | Pharmacy |
| Рецепта | Retsepta | Prescription |
| Изследване | Izsledvane | Test / examination |
| Анонимен | Anonimen | Anonymous |
| ХИВ | HIV | HIV |
| ПЕП | PEP | Post-exposure prophylaxis |
| ПрЕП | PrEP | Pre-exposure prophylaxis |
| Полово предавани инфекции (ППИ) | Polovo predavani infektsii | Sexually transmitted infections |
| Гонорея | Gonoreya | Gonorrhoea |
| Сифилис | Sifilis | Syphilis |
| Хламидия | Khlamidiya | Chlamydia |
| Хепатит | Hepatit | Hepatitis |
Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 112 | Pan-European emergency (ambulance, fire, police) |
| 150 | Bulgarian ambulance direct |
| 0800 11 011 | Mental health crisis line (Горещ телефон — check current availability) |
Related:
- > Testing in Bulgaria: Checkpoint Sofia & KABKIS — using the phrases
- > PEP in Bulgaria: Infectious Disease Hospital — emergency phrases
- > PrEP in Bulgaria: Private Access — talking to doctors
- > Bulgaria: Checkpoint Sofia — the full Bulgaria guide map