как си?
kak si?
The English phrase "how are you?" is translated into Bulgarian as как си? (kak si?)
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their well-being. For a more casual way to ask how things are going in general, you can use Как е? (How is it?). To ask a friend more casually what they are doing, you might use Kakvo pravish? (What are you doing?).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase как си? is composed of как (how) and си (you are, 2nd person singular).
Which one should you use?
Как си? is the informal version used for friends, family and children. In contrast, Kak ste? is used for strangers, elders or when addressing a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing more than one person or when using the formal "you" for a single person, use как сте? instead of как си?
How do you pronounce it?
kak si?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you как си?, a standard response is Добре съм. (I am well) or simply Dobre (Good).
Did you know?
- Bulgarians may use the phrase как си? ironically when someone arrives looking exhausted or disheveled, turning a polite inquiry into a gentle joke about the person's appearance.
- When answering как си?, a Bulgarian might say бива, which translates to 'it's okay' or 'surviving', signaling a state of being that is neither good nor bad.
- The word как descends from the Proto-Slavic *kako, which is a linguistic cousin to the words used for 'how' in almost every other Slavic language, from Russian to Polish.
Examples in context
- Здравей, как си?Zdravey, kak si?Hello, how are you?
- Добре съм, а ти как си?Dobre sum, a ti kak si?I am fine, and how are you?
Example conversation
Elena and Dimitar meet on the street.
- Елена ElenaЗдравей, Димитър, как си?Zdravey, Dimitar, kak si?Hello, Dimitar, how are you?
- Димитър DimitarДобре съм, благодаря.Dobre sum, blagodaraya.I am fine, thank you.
- Елена ElenaРадвам се, че си добре.Radvam se, che si dobre.I am glad you are well.
- Димитър DimitarА ти как си, Елена?A ti kak si, Elena?And how are you, Elena?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries как, си, CC BY-SA 4.0.
