Meaning
Engaging in physical activity.
Cultural Background
Street fitness is a huge cultural phenomenon. You will see people 'doing exercises' on bars in public parks regardless of the weather. There is a traditional belief that 'morning gymnastics' (утринна гимнастика) is the key to longevity, a concept heavily promoted during the 20th century. Bulgarian schools emphasize rote learning and drills. 'Doing exercises' in a workbook is a primary part of the student experience. In cities like Sofia, 'doing exercises' has shifted toward boutique yoga and pilates studios, reflecting a globalized fitness culture.
Use the plural
Always use 'упражнения' (plural) unless you are literally talking about one single movement.
Avoid 'вземам'
Never say 'вземам упражнения'. It sounds like you are eating them like medicine!
Meaning
Engaging in physical activity.
Use the plural
Always use 'упражнения' (plural) unless you are literally talking about one single movement.
Avoid 'вземам'
Never say 'вземам упражнения'. It sounds like you are eating them like medicine!
Preposition Power
Remember: 'за' for body parts (за ръце), 'по' for subjects (по история).
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'правя'.
Аз всяка сутрин _______ упражнения.
The subject is 'Аз' (I), so the verb must be in the 1st person singular.
Which preposition is used for school subjects?
Правя упражнения _______ български език.
In Bulgarian, we use 'по' for academic subjects.
Match the phrase with the context.
Match the following:
Understanding context is key to using the right register.
Complete the dialogue.
- Защо си толкова уморен? - Защото два часа _______ упражнения във фитнеса.
The person is tired *now* because they *did* exercises in the past.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Упражнения
Physical
- • за гръб
- • за крака
- • за корем
Academic
- • по български
- • по математика
- • по история
Practice Bank
4 exercisesАз всяка сутрин _______ упражнения.
The subject is 'Аз' (I), so the verb must be in the 1st person singular.
Правя упражнения _______ български език.
In Bulgarian, we use 'по' for academic subjects.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Understanding context is key to using the right register.
- Защо си толкова уморен? - Защото два часа _______ упражнения във фитнеса.
The person is tired *now* because they *did* exercises in the past.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is the standard way to say you are doing school exercises.
'Тренирам' is more for 'training' for a sport, while 'правя упражнения' is more general.
Use the perfective: 'Направих си упражненията'.
It is neutral and can be used in any situation.
Yes, 'правя упражнения по йога' is very common.
The singular is 'упражнение', but it's rarely used alone in this phrase.
Yes, especially outdoor 'street fitness' is very popular.
No, say 'спортувам' instead.
Правя упражнения за очи.
It's a bit more old-fashioned or refers to rhythmic stretching.
Related Phrases
тренирам
similarto train / to work out
спортувам
similarto do sports
правя гимнастика
specialized formto do gymnastics/calisthenics
разгрявам
builds onto warm up
решавам задачи
similarto solve problems
