Radio and podcasts

Introduction to Radio and Podcasts in Bulgarian

This lesson focuses on improving your Bulgarian listening and comprehension skills using real-life audio sources such as radio programs and podcasts. At the B1 level, you will be introduced to vocabulary and expressions commonly found in spoken Bulgarian media, helping you become more comfortable with everyday conversations and current topics in Bulgaria.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

The lesson highlights important words and phrases related to broadcasting and discussions, enabling you to understand and participate in conversations about news, interviews, and special interest topics.

• радио – radio
• подкаст – podcast
• предаване – program, broadcast
• водещ – host, presenter
• епизод – episode
• слушам – to listen
• интервю – interview
• новини – news

Example sentence:

Вчера слушах интересен подкаст за българската история. (Yesterday I listened to an interesting podcast about Bulgarian history.)

Understanding Spoken Bulgarian

This lesson also helps you get used to the rhythm, intonation, and common expressions used in conversational Bulgarian, especially within the context of radio and podcast settings. You will practice recognizing key information and expressions used by speakers in real situations.

Language Differences and Useful Phrases

One notable difference between English and Bulgarian is that Bulgarian uses the Cyrillic alphabet and has grammatical genders and verb aspects that don't have direct equivalents in English. Bulgarian verbs often convey whether an action is completed (perfective) or ongoing/habitual (imperfective), so it's important to get familiar with these forms when listening to natural speech.

Useful phrases for radio and podcast contexts include:

• Какво мислите за... – What do you think about...
• Гост на предаването е... – The guest of the program is...
• Какво сте чували за... – What have you heard about...
• Да поговорим за... – Let's talk about...

These phrases will help you engage with spoken content and even participate in discussions yourself as your skills advance.