Signification
Talking without being listened to.
Contexte culturel
In Bulgarian villages, the wind was often blamed for 'stealing' voices or causing madness. This idiom reflects a deep-seated respect for the wind's power to erase human presence. The concept of 'Inat' (stubbornness) is central to Balkan social dynamics. 'Talking to the wind' is the natural result of encountering someone's 'Inat'. In modern Sofia, this phrase is frequently used in the context of bureaucracy and government services, where citizens feel their complaints are ignored. Teachers in Bulgaria are known for using this phrase to guilt-trip students into paying attention, often followed by a heavy sigh.
Use with 'сякаш'
Adding 'сякаш' (as if) makes the phrase sound more natural and less like a direct accusation. 'Сякаш говоря на вятъра'.
Don't over-conjugate
While you can change the tense, the most common forms are present and past aorist. Avoid complex conditional tenses unless you are very advanced.
Signification
Talking without being listened to.
Use with 'сякаш'
Adding 'сякаш' (as if) makes the phrase sound more natural and less like a direct accusation. 'Сякаш говоря на вятъра'.
Don't over-conjugate
While you can change the tense, the most common forms are present and past aorist. Avoid complex conditional tenses unless you are very advanced.
The 'Empty Promises' nuance
If you want to say someone's words are empty, use 'Това са приказки на вятъра' instead of 'Той говори на вятъра'.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Никой не ме слуша, сякаш говоря на _______.
The definite article '-а' is required in this idiom.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'Говоря на вятъра'?
Situation: You are giving a speech and the microphone breaks.
The phrase is for when people ignore you, not for technical issues.
Choose the best response for Maria.
Петър: (игнорира Мария) Мария: ________
Maria is expressing her frustration at being ignored.
Match the Bulgarian phrase to its English equivalent.
1. Говоря на вятъра 2. Приказки на вятъра
'Говоря' is the action, 'Приказки' are the words themselves.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesНикой не ме слуша, сякаш говоря на _______.
The definite article '-а' is required in this idiom.
Situation: You are giving a speech and the microphone breaks.
The phrase is for when people ignore you, not for technical issues.
Петър: (игнорира Мария) Мария: ________
Maria is expressing her frustration at being ignored.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
'Говоря' is the action, 'Приказки' are the words themselves.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt can be. It expresses frustration. If you say it to someone's face, you are telling them they are ignoring you. Use it carefully with superiors.
No, it sounds unnatural. The definite article '-а' is part of the fixed idiom.
'Глас в пустиня' (Voice in the desert) is more formal and implies no one is listening at all. 'Говоря на вятъра' is more common for personal interactions.
Almost never. It is inherently a phrase about frustration and wasted effort.
You say 'Говориш на вятъра'. Just change the verb ending.
Yes, but usually among colleagues to vent about a client or a boss who doesn't listen.
Exactly. It is the perfect Bulgarian equivalent for 'wasting your breath'.
Yes, 'Говоря на стената' (Talking to the wall) is a bit more informal/slangy.
Yes, it's very common in informal writing, blogs, and social media posts.
Wind carries things away. Water (like 'наливам в каца без дъно') is used for wasting money or resources, not words.
Expressions liées
Глас в пустиня
synonymA voice in the desert.
Говоря на стената
similarTalking to the wall.
Вятър работа
builds onWind work / Useless task.
Хвърлям думи на вятъра
synonymTo throw words to the wind.
