Bulgarian conjugation

Bulgarian conjugation is the creation of derived forms of a Bulgarian verb from its principal parts by inflection. It is affected by person, number, gender, tense, mood and voice. Bulgarian verbs are conventionally divided into three conjugations according to the thematic vowel they use in the present tense:

• 1st conjugation: verbs using the vowel е (/ɛ/).
• 2nd conjugation: verbs using the vowel и (/i/).
• 3rd conjugation: athematic verbs, stems end in а or я.

In a dictionary, Bulgarian verbs are listed with their first-person-singular-present-tense form, due to the lack of an infinitive. This form is called the citation form.

Bulgarian verbs are conjugated using the formula:

$\mathrm{v}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{f}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{m}=\text{stem}+\text{thematic vowel}+\text{inflectional suffix}$

where thematic vowel and inflection suffix are only optional. The stem of the verb is what is left of the citation form after removing its final letter. Sometimes in the course of conjugation, the stem may undergo some alterations. In this article, any alteration of the stem is coloured in blue, the thematic vowels are coloured in red, and the inflectional endings in green.

Inflectional suffixes

Personal endings

Below are the endings for all finite forms:

Tense/Mood	Conjugation	Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
Present	First	-a (/ɐ/1 or /ɤ/2) -я (/jɐ/1 or /jɤ/2) -м3 (/m/)	-ш (/ʃ/)	-∅	-м (/m/)	-те (/t̪ɛ/)	-ат (/ɐt̪/1 or /ɤt̪/2) -ят (/jɐt̪/1 or /jɤt̪/2)
	Second
	Third	-м (/m/)			-ме (/mɛ/)		-т (/t̪/)
Past Imperfect	All three	-х (/x/)	-ше (/ʃɛ/)		-хме (/xmɛ/)	-хте (/xt̪ɛ/)	-ха (/xɐ/)
Past Aorist			-∅
Imperative	All three	-	-∅	-	-	-те (/t̪ɛ/)	-

¹ When unstressed.

² When stressed.

³ Only some irregular first conjugation verbs.

Non-finite form endings

These are the endings for the non-finite forms:

	Indefinite				Definite
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural	Masculine subject form	Masculine object form	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
Present Active Participle	-щ	-ща	-що	-щи	-щият	-щия	-щата	-щото	-щите
Past Active Aorist Participle	-л	-ла	-ло	-ли	-лият	-лия	-лата	-лото	-лите
Past Active Imperfect Participle					-	-	-	-	-
Past Passive Participle	-н -т	-на -та	-но -то	-ни -ти	-ният -тият	-ния -тия	-ната -тата	-ното -тото	-ните -тите
Verbal noun	-	-	-не	-ния -нета	-	-	-	-нето	-нията -нетата
Adverbial participle	-йки

Thematic vowels

Below is a table of the thematic vowels. They are inserted between the stem and the ending.

Tense/Mood	First							Second			Third
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	1st	2nd	3rd	1st	2nd
Present	е (/ɛ/)							и (/i/)			∅
Past Imperfect	Yat vowel: я (/ja/), а (/a/), or е (/ɛ/)
Past Aorist	о (/o̝/) е (/ɛ/)	а (/ɐ/ or /a/)			Yat: я (/ja/)	я (/jɐ/ or /ja/)	∅	и (/i/)	Yat: я (/ja/)	а (/a/)
Imperative	и (/i/), е (/ɛ/), й (/j/)										й (/j/)

Finite forms

Present Tense

First conjugation

Verbs from the first conjugation use the thematic vowel е (/ɛ/) between the stem and the personal endings, except in first person singular and third person plural, where the endings are added directly to the stem.

All verbs with citation forms ending in а use the endings -а and -ат in first person singular and third person plural respectively.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
чета	чет-	чета*	четеш	чете	четем	четете	четат*
пиша	пиш-	пиша	пишеш	пише	пишем	пишете	пишат

* Notice that the endings -а and -ат when stressed are pronounced /ɤ/ and /ɤt̪/, not /a/, /at̪/.

All verbs with stems ending in a vowel use the endings -я and -ят in first person singular and third person plural respectively.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
пея	пе-	пея	пееш	пее	пеем	пеете	пеят
играя	игра-	играя	играеш	играе	играем	играете	играят

All verbs with citation forms ending in я also use the endings -я and -ят in first person singular and third person plural.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
къпя	къп-	къпя	къпеш	къпе	къпем	къпете	къпят
дремя	дрем-	дремя	дремеш	дреме	дремем	дремете	дремят

All verbs with stems ending in -к (/k/) or -г (/g/) change to -ч (/tʃ/) and -ж (/ʒ/) respectively, before the thematic vowel е. This change is not limited solely to the present tense and happens always before /i/, /ɛ/ and the yat vowel.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
пека	пек-	пека	печеш	пече	печем	печете	пекат
мога	мог-	мога	можеш	може	можем	можете	могат

Second conjugation

Verbs from the second conjugation use the thematic vowel и (/i/) between the stem and the personal endings, except in first person singular and third person plural, where the endings are added directly to the stem.

All verbs with stems not ending in -ж (/ʒ/), -ч (/tʃ/) or -ш (/ʃ/) use the endings -я and -ят in first person singular and third person plural.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
говоря	говор-	говоря	говориш	говори	говорим	говорите	говорят
вървя	върв-	вървя*	вървиш	върви	вървим	вървите	вървят*
стоя	сто-	стоя*	стоиш	стои	стоим	стоите	стоят*

* Notice that the endings -я and -ят when stressed are pronounced /jɤ/ and /jɤt̪/, not /ja/, /jat̪/.

All verbs with stems ending in -ж (/ʒ/), -ч (/tʃ/) or -ш (/ʃ/) use the endings -а and -ат in first person singular and third person plural.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
движа	движ-	движа	движиш	движи	движим	движите	движат
мълча	мълч-	мълча*	мълчиш	мълчи	мълчим	мълчите	мълчат*

* Notice that the endings -а and -ат when stressed are pronounced /ɤ/ and /ɤt̪/, not /a/, /at̪/.

Third conjugation

Strictly speaking, verbs from the third conjugation are athematic, because the personal endings are added directly to the stem with no thematic vowel in between. It may seem that the vowel а (/ə/) is inserted between them, but that vowel is actually part of the stem. All verbs have stems ending in either а or я.

Citation form	Stem	Present Tense
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
искам	иска-	искам	искаш	иска	искаме	искате	искат
стрелям	стреля-	стрелям	стреляш	стреля	стреляме	стреляте	стрелят

Past Imperfect

The past imperfect always follows the stress patterns of the present tense.

First and second conjugation

These verbs use the old yat vowel between the stem and the personal endings. When stressed, it is pronounced as /ja/ (written я) or /a/ (written а) after /ʒ/, /tʃ/ and /ʃ/. When unstressed, it is pronounced as /ɛ/ (written е). In second and third person singular it is always pronounced as /ɛ/.

Citation form	Stem	Past Imperfect
		Stressed yat vowel
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
чета	чет-	четях	четеше	четеше	четяхме	четяхте	четяха
вървя	върв-	вървях	вървеше	вървеше	вървяхме	вървяхте	вървяха
пека	пек-	печах*	печеше*	печеше*	печахме*	печахте*	печаха*
мълча	мълч-	мълчах	мълчеше	мълчеше	мълчахме	мълчахте	мълчаха

Citation form	Stem	Past Imperfect
		Unstressed yat vowel
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
пиша	пиш-	пишех	пишеше	пишеше	пишехме	пишехте	пишеха
говоря	говор-	говорех	говореше	говореше	говорехме	говорехте	говореха
мога	мог-	можех*	можеше*	можеше*	можехме*	можехте*	можеха*
движа	движ-	движех	движеше	движеше	движехме	движехте	движеха

* The consonants к (/k/) and г (/g/) change to ч (/tʃ/) and ж (/ʒ/) before the front vowels е (/ɛ/) and и (/i/).

Additionally, after ж (/ʒ/), ч (/tʃ/) and ш (/ʃ/) the stressed yat vowel can be pronounced either as /a/ (as above) or as /ɛ/. The latter forms have fallen largely into disuse.

Citation form	Stem	Past Imperfect
		Stressed yat vowel
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
пека	пек-	печех	печеше	печеше	печехме	печехте	печеха
мълча	мълч-	мълчех	мълчеше	мълчеше	мълчехме	мълчехте	мълчеха

Third conjugation

Verbs from the third conjugation use no thematic vowel, the endings are added directly to the stem.

Citation form	Stem	Past Imperfect
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
искам	иска-	исках	искаше	искаше	искахме	искахте	искаха
стрелям	стреля-	стрелях	стреляше	стреляше	стреляхме	стреляхте	стреляха

Past Aorist

In the first and second conjugation, verbs are additionally divided into classes according to the thematic vowel they use. In the third conjugation, verbs are divided into classes according to the final vowel of the stem.

Stress

Verbs with stress on the stem can keep it there or move it to the thematic vowel (or the final vowel of the stem in the case of the athematic third conjugation verbs). However, this shift can only happen if the verb is unprefixed or if it is imperfective. Forms with unshifted stress are usually typical for the eastern dialects and forms with shifted stress for the western dialects. However, the latter forms have become stylistically marked as dialectal and should be avoided and used only to distinguish otherwise homonymous forms.

Prefixed perfective verbs with stress on the stem do not change it.

Verbs with stress on the thematic vowel keep it there with the exception of first conjugation verbs of the first class and a few others.

First conjugation

First class

These verbs have the vowel о (/o̝/) or е (/ɛ/) in second and third person singular between the stem and the personal endings. The stems of these verbs end in д (/d̪/), т (/t̪/), с (/s/), з (/z/) and к (/k/). This class contains only 23 main verbs, which, however, are some of the most frequently used and there are hundreds of prefixed verbs formed from them:

бодá, (съ-)блекá, бъ́да*, (до-)ведá, влекá, дам*, до́йда*, кладá, крадá, (в-)ля́за, метá, (в-)несá, пасá, пекá, плетá, предá, растá*, рекá, секá, текá, тресá, четá, ям*

*These verbs are irregular but are considered part of the first class because in the aorist they behave just like the regular ones.

Although the stem of the verb тъка ends in к (/k/), it is not part of this class, it belongs to the next one.

An important feature of regular verbs from the first class is that the stress always moves on the last syllable of the stem (unless it is already there). This stress position is kept in the past active aorist participle, the past passive participle and the verbal noun.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
крада	крад-	крадох	краде	краде	крадохме	крадохте	крадоха
чета	чет-	четох	чете	чете	четохме	четохте	четоха
треса	трес-	тресох	тресе	тресе	тресохме	тресохте	тресоха
пека	пек-	пекох	пече*	пече*	пекохме	пекохте	пекоха

* The consonant к (/k/) changes to ч (/tʃ/) before the front vowel е (/ɛ/).

The verbs (съ-)блекá, влекá, (в-)ля́за and секá have the old yat vowel in the stem, which alternates between я (/ja/) and е (/ɛ/) according to the pronunciation in the eastern dialects.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
вляза	вляз-	влязох	влезе	влезе	влязохме	влязохте	влязоха
сека	сек-	сякох	сече	сече	сякохме	сякохте	сякоха

Second class

These verbs use the thematic vowel а (/a/ or /ə/) between the stem and the personal endings. The stems of these verbs end in a consonant different from ж /ʒ/, ч /tʃ/, ш /ʃ/, д (/d̪/), т (/t̪/), с (/s/), з (/z/) or к (/k/), and their citation forms end in а. This class contains over 400 main verbs.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
легна	легн-	легнах *	легна *	легна *	легнахме *	легнахте *	легнаха *
рева	рев-	ревах	рева	рева	ревахме	ревахте	реваха

* Notice the stress shift as mentioned above.

Stems ending in -ер (/ɛr/), such as бера, пера and дера, lose the е (/ɛ/):

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
пера	пер-	прах	пра	пра	прахме	прахте	праха

In the verbs греба and гриза the stress moves to the stem. This is so because they used to belong to the first class.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
греба	греб-	гребах	греба	греба	гребахме	гребахте	гребаха
гриза	гриз-	гризах	гриза	гриза	гризахме	гризахте	гризаха

Third class

These verbs also use the thematic vowel а (/a/ or /ə/). This class is almost identical to the previous one, the only difference is that the citation form ends in я. It contains 23 main verbs:

бъ́бля*, бъ́бря*, бъ́хтя*, дре́мя, дъ́дря*, зо́бя*, ка́пя, кле́пя*, къ́кря*, къ́пя, мъ́мля*, мъ́мря*, пъ́пля*, си́пя, ску́бя, трепе́ря*, тре́пя, тъ́тря*, фъ́фля*, ха́пя, хъ́хря*, цъ́цря*, щипя

* These verbs have moved to the first class of the second conjugation due to analogy. First-conjugation forms can still be found, but are considered old-fashioned.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
къпя	къп-	къпах *	къпа *	къпа *	къпахме *	къпахте *	къпаха *
треперя	трепер-	треперах *	трепера *	трепера *	треперахме *	треперахте *	трепераха *

* Notice the stress shift as mentioned above.

The verb дремя contains the yat vowel which alternates between я (/ja/) and е (/ɛ/):

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
дремя	дрем-	дрямах дремах	дряма дрема	дряма дрема	дрямахме дремахме	дрямахте дремахте	дрямаха дремаха

Fourth class

These verbs use the vowel а (/a/ or /ə/) between the stem and the personal endings. The stems of these verbs end in one of the consonants ж /ʒ/, ч /tʃ/ or ш /ʃ/, which in the aorist change to з/г (/z,g/), k (/k/) and с (/s/) respectively. This class contains 27 main verbs:

Change from /ʒ/ to /z/: бли́жа, въ́ржа, ка́жа, ли́жа, ма́жа, ни́жа, ре́жа, хари́жа

Change from /ʒ/ to /g/: лъ́жа, стри́жа, стъ́ржа

Change from /tʃ/ to /k/: ба́уча, дъ́вча, мя́уча, пла́ча, сму́ча, су́ча, тъ́пча

Change from /ʃ/ to /s/: бри́ша, бъ́рша, мири́ша, (о-)па́ша, пи́ша, ре́ша*, уйди́ша, уйдурди́ша, че́ша

* реша also belongs to the second conjugation.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
кажа	каж-	казах *	каза *	каза *	казахме *	казахте *	казаха
лъжа	лъж-	лъгах *	лъга *	лъга *	лъгахме *	лъгахте *	лъгаха
плача	плач-	плаках *	плака *	плака *	плакахме *	плакахте *	плакаха
пиша	пиш-	писах *	писа *	писа *	писахме *	писахте *	писаха

* Notice the stress shift as mentioned above.

The verb режа has the yat vowel, which alternates between я (/ja/) and е (/ɛ/).

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
режа	реж-	рязах резах	ряза реза	ряза реза	рязахме резахме	рязахте резахте	рязаха резаха

The verbs глождя (глозгах), дращя (драсках) and пощя (посках) used to belong to this class but now have completely migrated to the second conjugation.

Fifth class

This class uses the yat vowel between the stem and the personal endings. It is consistently pronounced as я (/ja/) in all forms. The stems of these verbs end in a consonant + р (/r/), except for the defective verb ща. This is the smallest class, containing only 6 main verbs:

вра, зра, мра, (с-)пра́, простра́, ща

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
спра	спр-	спрях	спря	спря	спряхме	спряхте	спряха
простра	простр-	прострях	простря	простря	простряхме	простряхте	простряха

Sixth class

This class uses the thematic vowel я (/ja/ or /jə/). The class contains a small number of verbs, whose stems end in the vowels а (/a/) or е (/ɛ/):

але́я, ба́я, бле́я, ва́я, ве́я, зе́я, зна́я*, ка́я се, (на-)кле́я, кре́я, ла́я, ма́я се, наде́я се, неха́я, отча́я се, ре́я се, тра́я, шля́я се

* Verbs derived from зная by prefixation belong to the seventh class.

Some verbs belong both to this and to the next class. Some examples are: вея, блея, рея, шляя се, etc.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
зея	зе-	зеях *	зея *	зея *	зеяхме *	зеяхте *	зеяха
трая	тра-	траях *	трая *	трая *	траяхме *	траяхте *	траяха

* Notice the stress shift as mentioned above.

Seventh class

These verbs do not use any thematic vowel. The personal endings are added directly to the stem, which almost always ends in a vowel, either а (/a/), я (/ja/), е (/ɛ/), и (/i/), у (/u/) or ю (/ju/). This class contains over 250 main verbs, some of which are:

Stems in /a/ or /ja/ : веща́я, вита́я, влия́я, гада́я, жела́я, (по-)зна́я, игра́я, копа́я, мечта́я, обеща́я, сия́я, скуча́я, четра́я, etc.

Stems in /ɛ/ : венче́я, възмъже́я, върше́я, гре́я, дебеле́я, живе́я, ле́я, пе́я, се́я, тъмне́я, etc.

Stems in /i/ (only 9 main verbs) : би́я, ви́я, гни́я, кри́я, ми́я, пи́я, ри́я, три́я, ши́я.

Stems in /u/ or /ju/ (only 6 main verbs) : (на-)ду́я, плу́я, плю́я, (об-)у́я, (на-)хлу́я, чу́я.

All stems ending in /ɛ/ actually end in the old yat vowel which is pronounced as я (/ja/) or а (/a/) after /ʒ/, /tʃ/ and /ʃ/ in all aorist forms.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
играя	игра-	играх	игра	игра	играхме	играхте	играха
пея	пе-	пях	пя	пя	пяхме	пяхте	пяха
вършея	върше-	вършах	върша	върша	вършахме	вършахте	вършаха
пия	пи-	пих	пи	пи	пихме	пихте	пиха
чуя	чу-	чух	чу	чу	чухме	чухте	чуха

Stems ending in -ем (/ɛm/) are also considered to belong in this class since they do not use a thematic vowel. They are a special case because the stem loses the м (/m/) before adding the personal endings.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
взема	взем-	взех	взе	взе	взехме	взехте	взеха
наема	наем-	наех	нае	нае	наехме	наехте	наеха

Second conjugation

First class

These verbs use the vowel и (/i/) between the stem and the personal endings. There are both stems ending in a consonant and stems ending in a vowel. The vast majority of the verbs from second conjugation belong to this class.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
платя	плат-	платих	плати	плати	платихме	платихте	платиха
говоря	говор-	говорих *	говори *	говори *	говорихме *	говорихте *	говориха *
строя	стро-	строих	строи	строи	строихме	строихте	строиха
реша	реш-	реших	реши	реши	решихме	решихте	решиха
движа	движ-	движих *	движи *	движи *	движихме *	движихте *	движиха *

* Notice the double stress pattern as mentioned above.

Second class

These verbs use the old yat vowel between the stem and the personal endings. It is consistently pronounces as я (/ja/) in all forms. The majority of the stems end in a consonant (different from ж /ʒ/, ч /tʃ/ or ш /ʃ/) but there a few ending in a vowel. These verbs are characterized by the fact that the stress always falls on the thematic vowel across all forms, not exclusively in the aorist. This class contains 76 main verbs.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
вървя	върв-	вървях	вървя	вървя	вървяхме	вървяхте	вървяха
стоя	сто-	стоях	стоя	стоя	стояхме	стояхте	стояха

Third class

These verbs use the vowel а (/a/) between the personal endings and the stem, which always ends in ж /ʒ/ or ч /tʃ/. The stress is always on the thematic vowel in all forms, just as in the previous class. The class contains 27 main verbs:

бръмча́, буча́, гълча́, гъмжа́, дрънча́, държа́, еча́, жужа́, журча́, звуча́, квича́, клеча́, лежа́, лича́, мижа́, муча́, мълча́, руча́, ръмжа́, стърча́, тежа́, търча́, фуча́, хвърча́, хуча́, цвърча́.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
лежа	леж-	лежах	лежа	лежа	лежахме	лежахте	лежаха
мълч	мълч-	мълчах	мълча	мълча	мълчахме	мълчахте	мълчаха

Third conjugation

All verbs conjugate in the same fashion (without a thematic vowel, simply by adding the personal endings directly to the stem), nevertheless, Bulgarian grammar books divide them into two classes, depending on the final vowel of the stem.

First class

These are stems ending in а (/a/). The vast majority of third conjugation verbs belong to this class.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
гледам	гледа-	гледах *	гледа *	гледа *	гледахме *	гледахте *	гледаха *
искам	иска-	исках *	иска *	иска *	искахме *	искахте *	искаха *

* Notice the stress shift as explained above.

Second class

The stems of these verbs end in я (/ja/). This class is much smaller compared to the first one.

Citation form	Stem	Past Aorist
		Singular			Plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person	1st person	2nd person	3rd person
вечерям	вечеря-	вечерях *	вечеря *	вечеря *	вечеряхме *	вечеряхте *	вечеряха *
стрелям	стреля-	стрелях *	стреля *	стреля *	стреляхме *	стреляхте *	стреляха *

* Notice the stress shift as explained above.

Imperative mood

Inflected imperative forms exist only for the second person. The other persons use periphrastic constructions. All regular verbs, regardless of conjugation, form the imperative mood in the same way:

• Stems ending in a vowel (which include all third-conjugation verbs) use the thematic (semi)vowel й (/j/) between the stem and the personal endings. These verbs usually do not have a stress shift, they keep the stress of the present tense, unless it is on the thematic vowel, in which case it moves on the preceding syllable, since /j/ is not a vowel and cannot be stressed.
• Stems ending in a consonant use the thematic vowel и (/i/) in the singular form and the vowel е (/ɛ/) in the plural form. The stress is always on the thematic vowel.

Conjugation	Citation form	Stem	Imperative mood
			Second person
			Singular	Plural
First	пиша	пиш-	пиши	пишете
	пея	пе-	пей	пейте
Second	говоря	говор-	говори	говорете
	стоя	сто-	стой	стойте
Third	искам	иска-	искай	искайте
	стрелям	стреля-	стреляй	стреляйте

Some verbs, most notably stems ending in з (/z/) from the first class of the first conjugation, and a few other frequently used ones, use only the bare stem without a thematic vowel:

Citation form	Stem	Imperative mood
		Second person
		Singular	Plural
вляза	вляз-	влез*	влезте*
държа	държ-	дръж	дръжте

* The yat vowel changes to е (/ɛ/).

Non-finite forms

Present Active Participle

Only imperfective verbs have a present active participle. It is formed from the first-person-singular-past-imperfect form of the verb by removing the final х (/x/) and adding щ (/ʃt̪/). It is inflected as a regular adjective (see the endings).

1st person singular past imperfect	Present Active Participle
	Indefinite				Definite
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural	Masculine subject form	Masculine object form	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
четях	четящ	четяща	четящо	четящи*	четящият*	четящия*	четящата	четящото	четящите*
говорех	говорещ	говореща	говорещо	говорещи	говорещият	говорещия	говорещата	говорещото	говорещите
печах печех	печащ печещ	печаща печеща	печащо печещо	печащи* печещи	печащият* печещият	печащия* печещия	печащата печещата	печащото печещото	печащите* печещите
исках	искащ	искаща	искащо	искащи	искащият	искащия	искащата	искащото	искащите

* Although the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/), it is not pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

Past Active Aorist Participle

It is formed from the first-person-singular-past-aorist form of the verb by removing the final х (/x/) and adding л (/ɫ/), after that it is inflected as an adjective (see the endings). Only verbs from the first class of the first conjugation form it somewhat differently: the thematic vowel о (/o̝/) is removed and the л (/ɫ/) is added directly to the stem with some additional changes, namely:

• Stems ending in д (/d̪/) and т (/t̪/) lose them;
• Stems ending in с (/s/), з (/z/) and к (/k/) have an epenthetic ъ (/ə/) between the stem and the л (/ɫ/) in the masculine indefinite form (it is absent in all the other forms).

The past active aorist participle keeps the stress of the past aorist, either shifted or not.

Conjugation	Class	1st person singular past aorist	Past Active Aorist Participle
			Indefinite				Definite
			Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural	Masculine subject form	Masculine object form	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
First	1st	четох	чел	чела	чело	чели	челият	челия	челата	челото	челите
		тресох	тресъл	тресла	тресло	тресли	треслият	треслия	треслата	треслото	треслите
		сякох	сякъл	сякла	сякло	секли1	секлият1	секлия1	сяклата	сяклото	секлите1
	2nd	легнах	легнал	легнала	легнало	легнали	легналият	легналия	легналата	легналото	легналите
	3rd	къпах	къпал	къпала	къпало	къпали	къпалият	къпалия	къпалата	къпалото	къпалите
	4th	казах	казал	казала	казало	казали	казалият	казалия	казалата	казалото	казалите
	5th	спрях	спрял	спряла	спряло	спрели1	спрелият1	спрелия1	спрялата	спрялото	спрелите1
	6th	траях	траял	траяла	траяло	траяли	траялият	траялия	траялата	траялото	траялите
	7th	играх	играл	играла	играло	играли	игралият	игралия	игралата	игралото	игралите
		пях	пял	пяла	пяло	пели1	пелият1	пелия1	пялата	пялото	пелите1
		вършах	вършал	вършала	вършало	вършали2	вършалият2	вършалия2	вършалата	вършалото	вършалите2
Second	1st	говорих	говорил	говорила	говорило	говорили	говорилият	говорилия	говорилата	говорилото	говорилите
	2nd	вървях	вървял	вървяла	вървяло	вървели1	вървелият1	вървелия1	вървялата	вървялото	вървелите1
	3rd	лежах	лежал	лежала	лежало	лежали	лежалият	лежалия	лежалата	лежалото	лежалите
Third	1st	исках	искал	искала	искало	искали	искалият	искалия	искалата	искалото	искалите
	2nd	стрелях	стрелял	стреляла	стреляло	стреляли	стрелялият	стрелялия	стрелялата	стрелялото	стрелялите

¹ Since the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/) it is pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

² Although the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/), it is not pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

Past Active Imperfect Participle

It is formed from the first-person-singular-past-imperfect form of the verb by removing the final х (/x/) and adding л (/ɫ/). It is inflected as a regular adjective, but without definite forms, since it is never used as an actual adjective, but only in certain verbal constructions (see the endings).

1st person singular past imperfect	Past Active Imperfect Participle
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
четях	четял	четяла	четяло	четели1
говорех	говорел	говорела	говорело	говорели
печах печех	печал печел	печала печела	печало печело	печали2 печели
исках	искал	искала	искало	искали

¹ Since the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/) it is pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

² Although the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/), it is not pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

Past Passive Participle

Only transitive verbs have a past passive participle. It is formed from the first-person-singular-past-aorist form of the verb by removing the final х (/x/) and adding н (/n/) or т (/t̪/), after that it is inflected as an adjective (see the endings). Verbs from the first class of the first conjugation and the first class of the second conjugation change the thematic vowel of the past aorist to е (/ɛ/).

The vast majority of the verbs use the ending н (/n/), only some verbs from the first conjugation use т (/t̪/), namely all verbs with stems ending in н (/n/) from the second class, and a few verbs from the seventh class (all stems ending in /i/, /u/, /ju/, /ɛm/ and a few others). Some verbs from the seventh class can use both endings.

Although the past passive participle is formed from the past aorist, it does not have a stress shift, it always keeps the stress of the present tense, except for first conjugation verbs from the first class, and the verbs греба and гриза which used to belong to the first class.

Conjugation	Class	Citation form	Stem	1st person singular past aorist	Past Passive Participle
					Indefinite				Definite
					Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Plural	Masculine subject form	Masculine object form	Feminine	Neuter	Plural
First	1st	чета	чет-	четох	четен1	четена1	четено1	четени1	четеният1	четения1	четената1	четеното1	четените1
		пека	пек-	пекох	печен1,2	печена1,2	печено1,2	печени1,2	печеният1,2	печения1,2	печената1,2	печеното1,2	печените1,2
		сека	сек-	сякох	сечен1,2,3	сечена1,2,3	сечено1,2,3	сечени1,2,3	сеченият1,2,3	сечения1,2,3	сечената1,2,3	сеченото1,2,3	сечените1,2,3
	2nd	бръсна	бръсн-	бръснах	бръснат 4	бръсната 4	бръснато 4	бръснати 4	бръснатият 4	бръснатия 4	бръснатата 4	бръснатото 4	бръснатите 4
		кова	ков-	ковах	кован	кована	ковано	ковани	кованият	кования	кованата	кованото	кованите
	3rd	къпя	къп-	къпах	къпан 4	къпана 4	къпано 4	къпани 4	къпаният 4	къпания 4	къпаната 4	къпаното 4	къпаните 4
	4th	кажа	каж-	казах	казан 4	казана 4	казано 4	казани 4	казаният 4	казания 4	казаната 4	казаното 4	казаните 4
	5th	спра	спр-	спрях	спрян	спряна	спряно	спрени3	спреният3	спрения3	спряната	спряното	спрените3
	6th	вая	ва-	ваях	ваян 4	ваяна 4	ваяно 4	ваяни 4	ваяният 4	ваяния 4	ваяната 4	ваяното 4	ваяните 4
	7th	играя	игра-	играх	игран	играна	играно	играни	играният	играния	играната	играното	играните
		пея	пе-	пях	пят	пята	пято	пети3	петият3	петия3	пятата	пятото	петите3
		нагрея	нагре-	нагрях	нагрят нагрян	нагрята нагряна	нагрято нагряно	нагрети3 нагрени3	нагретият3 нагреният3	нагретия3 нагрения3	нагрятата нагряната	нагрятото нагряното	нагретите3 нагрените3
		пия	пи-	пих	пит	пита	пито	пити	питият	пития	питата	питото	питите
		взема	взем-	взех	взет	взета	взето	взети	взетият	взетия	взетата	взетото	взетите
Second	1st	говоря	говор-	говорих	говорен5 4	говорена5 4	говорено5 4	говорени5 4	говореният5 4	говорения5 4	говорената5 4	говореното5 4	говорените5 4
	2nd	извървя	извърв-	извървях	извървян	извървяна	извървяно	извървени3	извървеният3	извървения3	извървяната	извървяното	извървените3
	3rd	премълча	премълч-	премълчах	премълчан	премълчана	премълчано	премълчани	премълчаният	премълчания	премълчаната	премълчаното	премълчаните
Third	1st	искам	иска-	исках	искан 4	искана 4	искано 4	искани 4	исканият 4	искания 4	исканата 4	исканото 4	исканите 4
	2nd	застрелям	застреля-	застрелях	застрелян	застреляна	застреляно	застреляни	застреляният	застреляния	застреляната	застреляното	застреляните

¹ Notice that the thematic vowel о (/o̝/) is changed to е (/ɛ/).

² The consonant к (/k/) changes to ч (/tʃ/) before the front vowel е (/ɛ/).

³ Since the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing и (/i/) it is pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

⁴ Notice that there is no stress shift, unlike the past aorist and the past active aorist participle.

⁵ Notice that the thematic vowel и (/i/) is changed to е (/ɛ/).

Adverbial Participle

Only imperfective verbs have an adverbial participle. Verbs from the first and second conjugation use the thematic vowel е (/ɛ/) between the stem and the ending -йки (/jkʲi/). Verbs from the third conjugation just add the ending without using a thematic vowel. This participle is immutable.

The adverbial participle keeps the stress of the present tense.

Conjugation	Citation form	Stem	Adverbial Participle
First and Second	чета	чет-	четейки
	пиша	пиш-	пишейки
	пея	пе-	пеейки
	говоря	говор-	говорейки
	стоя	сто-	стоейки
Third	искам	иска-	искайки
	стрелям	стреля-	стреляйки

Verbal Noun

Only imperfective verbs have a verbal noun. It is formed either from the first-person-singular-past-imperfect or -past aorist form of the verb (or from both). The final х (/x/) is removed and the ending не (/nɛ/) is added. After that it is inflected as neuter noun (see the endings). If the thematic vowel is о (/o̝/), и (/i/) or the yat vowel, it is changed to е (/ɛ/) before adding the ending.

Stems ending in н (/n/) from the second class of the first conjugation, and stems ending in е (/ɛ/), и (/i/), у (/u/) and ю (/ju/) from the seventh class use only the past imperfect to form the verbal noun. All verbs from the first class of the second conjugation use only the past aorist. The remaining verbs may use only the past aorist, only the past imperfect or both. This is not determined by which conjugation or class a verb belongs to, it is an inherent characteristic of each verb.

When the verbal noun is formed from the past aorist, it does not have a stress shift, it usually keeps the stress of the present tense, except for first-conjugation verbs from the first class, and a few other verbs which move the stress further back on the ending.

Conjugation	Class	Citation form	Stem	1st person singular past aorist	1st person singular past imperfect	Verbal noun
						Indefinite			Definite
						Singular	Plural I	Plural II	Singular	Plural I	Plural II
First	1st	треса	трес-	тресох	тресях	тресене1,2,3	тресенета1,2,3	тресения1,2,3	тресенето1,2,3	тресенетата1,2,3	тресенията1,2,3
	2nd	бръсна	бръсн-		бръснех	бръснене	бръсненета	бръснения	бръсненето	бръсненетата	бръсненията
		пера	пер-	прах		пране 4	пранета 4	прания 4	прането 4	пранетата 4	пранията 4
	3rd	къпя	къп-	къпах	къпех	къпане 5 къпене	къпанета 5 къпенета	къпания 5 къпения	къпането 5 къпенето	къпанетата 5 къпенетата	къпанията 5 къпенията
	4th	лъжа	лъж-	лъгах	лъжех	лъгане 5 лъжене	лъганета 5 лъженета	лъгания 5 лъжения	лъгането 5 лъженето	лъганетата 5 лъженетата	лъганията 5 лъженията
	7th	играя	игра-	играх	играех	игране играене	игранета играенета	играния играения	игрането играенето	игранетата играенетата	игранията играенията
		пея	пе-		пеех	пеене	пеенета	пеения	пеенето	пеенетата	пеенията
Second	1st	говоря	говор-	говорих		говорене6 5	говоренета6 5	говорения6 5	говоренето6 5	говоренетата6 5	говоренията6 5
	2nd	вървя	върв-	вървях	вървях	вървене2,7	вървенета2,7	вървения2,7	вървенето2,7	вървенетата2,7	вървенията2,7
	3rd	лежа	леж-	лежах	лежех	лежане лежене	лежанета леженета	лежания лежения	лежането леженето	лежанетата леженетата	лежанията леженията
Third	1st	искам	иска-	исках	исках	искане7 5	исканета7 5	искания7 5	искането7 5	исканетата7 5	исканията7 5
	2nd	стрелям	стреля-	стрелях	стрелях	стреляне7 5	стрелянета7 5	стреляния7 5	стрелянето7 5	стрелянетата7 5	стрелянията7 5

¹ Notice that the thematic vowel о (/o̝/) is changed to е (/ɛ/).

³ Since the yat vowel is followed by a syllable containing е (/ɛ/), it is pronounced as е (/ɛ/).

³ Since both the vowel о (/o̝/) and the yat vowel are changed to е (/ɛ/), the two forms of the verbal noun are written the same, but pronounced differently, they differ by stress position.

⁴ Notice that the stress is on the ending.

⁵ Notice that there is no stress shift, just like the past passive participle and unlike the past aorist and the past active aorist participle.

⁶ Notice that the thematic vowel и (/i/) is changed to е (/ɛ/).

⁷ Since the past aorist and imperfect forms are identical the two forms of the verbal noun are also identical.

Bibliography

• Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Bulgarian Language (1983) Граматика на съвременния български книжовен език. Том 2. Морфология