Приятен ден
Prijaten den[priˈja̟tɛn dɛn]word by word
Приятен ден (Prijaten den) is the Bulgarian way to say 'have a good day'.
This phrase is a polite greeting used when saying goodbye to wish someone a pleasant day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'pleasant day'.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, which uses a verb ('have'), the Bulgarian phrase is a noun phrase used as an elliptical wish.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Приятен ден is a standard, polite way to say goodbye in shops, restaurants or with acquaintances. For more elaborate formal expressions, you can use Желая ви хубав ден! or Пожелавам ви хубав ден!, both of which mean 'I wish you a good day!'
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is grammatically masculine to agree with the noun ден (day).
How do you pronounce it?
Prijaten den
When do people say it?
When someone wishes you a good day, a polite response is Взаимно!, which means 'Likewise!'
Did you know?
- The Bulgarian word for 'day' ден descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *dyew-der, which is the same distant ancestor as the English word 'day'.
- In Bulgarian, the word приятен can describe not just a 'day' but also a 'smell' or a 'voice', moving beyond the context of time to describe any sensory pleasure.
Examples in context
- Приятен ден!Priyaten den!Have a pleasant day!
Example conversation
Desislava and Ivan are leaving a small cafe.
- Десислава DesislavaДовиждане, Иван!Dovizhdane, Ivan!Goodbye, Ivan!
- Иван IvanДовиждане, Десислава. Приятен ден!Dovizhdane, Desislava. Priyaten den!Goodbye, Desislava. Have a pleasant day!
- Десислава DesislavaБлагодаря, и на теб!Blagodarya, i na teb!Thank you, and to you too!
- Иван IvanДо следващи срещи.Do sledvashti sreshti.Until we meet again.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (приятен, ден) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ден, приятен, CC BY-SA 4.0.
