добър ден
dobar den[doˈbɤr dɛn]word by word
добър ден (dobar den) is the Bulgarian way to say "good day".
добър ден is a greeting used between sunrise and sunset. It is the most common way to say "good day" in Bulgarian.
Meaning: greeting between sunrise and sunset (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective добър (good) and the noun ден (day).
Which one should you use?
добър ден is used specifically during daylight hours, whereas добър вечер is used once the sun has set.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
добър ден is a formal or semi-formal greeting used in professional settings or when addressing strangers. For a more casual greeting with friends or peers, one would use здравей (singular) or здравейте (plural/polite) instead of добър ден or the colloquial здрасти used among friends and acquaintances.
How do you pronounce it?
dobar den
Did you know?
- The word ден (day) shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'day' and the Latin 'dies'. Both originate from the Proto-Indo-European root for the sky god or daylight.
- While добър ден is the standard formal greeting, Bulgarians often use it not just to say hello but as a polite way to end a conversation when leaving a shop or office.
- The word добър can also be used to describe a person's character, meaning they are 'kind' or 'virtuous' rather than just 'good' in quality.
Examples in context
- Добър ден, госпожо!Good day Miss!This sentence is useful for practicing the greeting добър ден.Tatoeba #4582998 by korobo4ka, translation #8863593 by moxy
- Добър ден на всички!Dobŭr den na vsichki!Good day to everyone!
- Добър ден, господине.Dobŭr den, gospodine.Good day, sir.
Example conversation
Georgi and Desislava meet at a cafe during the afternoon.
- Георги GeorgiДобър ден, Десислава!Dobur den, Desislava!Good day, Desislava!
- Десислава DesislavaЗдравей, Георги!Zdravey, Georgi!Hello, Georgi!
- Георги GeorgiКакво правиш днес?Kakvo pravish dnes?What are you doing today?
- Десислава DesislavaПия кафе и чета.Piya kafe i cheta.I am drinking coffee and reading.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (добър, ден) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ден, добър, добър ден, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
