The Cyrillic Script
Bulgaria has given the world one of its most important cultural gifts: the Cyrillic script. The brothers Cyril and Methodius developed the Glagolitic alphabet in the 9th century for the Slavic liturgy, but the modern Cyrillic alphabet was further developed and spread by their students in Bulgaria — especially at the School of Preslav and the School of Ohrid.
Today, over 250 million people use the Cyrillic script: Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Macedonians, Mongolians, and many others. In Bulgaria, the Cyrillic script is not just an alphabet but a national symbol. May 24th is a holiday in honor of the Cyrillic script and culture — schools and cities celebrate with flowers, parades, and singing.
Cyrillic for Travelers
The good news: In tourist areas, signs are usually bilingual (Cyrillic and Latin). In rural areas, however, road signs, bus schedules, and menus may only be in Cyrillic. Learning a few letters makes the stay significantly easier:
| Cyrillic | Latin | Example |
|---|---|---|
| А Б В Г Д | A B V G D | Варна = Varna |
| Е Ж З И Й | E Zh Z I Y | Жити = Zhiti |
| К Л М Н О | K L M N O | Пловдив = Plovdiv |
| П Р С Т У | P R S T U | София = Sofia |
| Ф Х Ц Ч Ш | F H Ts Ch Sh | Черно = Cherno |
| Щ Ъ Ь Ю Я | Sht Ă Y Yu Ya | Търново = Tarnovo |
Tip: The Google Translate app with camera function can translate Cyrillic signs in real-time — indispensable in the countryside.