ка́звам се …
kázvam se …
The English phrase "my name is" can be expressed in Bulgarian as ка́звам се … (kázvam se …) Wiktionary also lists мое́то и́ме е … (moéto íme e …) and аз съм … (az săm …).
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Bulgarian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ка́звам се … | kázvam se … | |
| мое́то и́ме е … | moéto íme e … | |
| аз съм … | az săm … | [as sɤm] (word by word, narrow) |
These phrases are used to identify yourself to others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ка́звам се … literally means "I call myself".
Which one should you use?
мое́то и́ме е … is more formal and is often used in official contexts or when filling out forms.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ка́звам се …, the verb is conjugated in the first-person singular present tense.
How do you pronounce it?
kázvam se …
What mistakes should you avoid?
While аз се ка́звам is grammatically correct, English speakers often over-emphasize the pronoun аз (I). Because the verb ending already indicates the subject, native speakers usually omit the pronoun.
Did you know?
- The word се used in ка́звам се descends from the Proto-Indo-European root swé, which is a distant relative of the English word 'self'.
- The phrase мое́то и́ме е is so formal that using it in a casual party might make a speaker sound like they are reading from a legal document or a passport.
- While ка́звам се means 'I call myself', Bulgarians may use the more direct аз съм ('I am') when introducing themselves in casual settings or over the phone.
Examples in context
- Моето име е Петър.My name is Peter.
- Моето име е Ана.My name is Ana.
- Аз се казвам Даниел.My name is Daniel.
- Аз се казвам София.My name is Sofia.
- Казвам се Мария.My name is Maria.
- Казвам се Иван.My name is Ivan.
- Аз съм Ники.I am Niki.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (аз, съм) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries аз, е, се, съм, CC BY-SA 4.0.
