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A1 verb 7 min de leitura

казвам

To say or tell

At the A1 level, 'казвам' is primarily learned in two contexts: introducing yourself and simple reporting. You will learn the phrase 'Как се казваш?' (What is your name?) and the response 'Казвам се...' (My name is...). This is often the first verb students learn that uses the reflexive particle 'се'. Additionally, you use it to say simple things like 'I say hello' (Казвам здравей) or 'He says yes' (Той казва да). The focus is on the present tense and the basic 'Subject + Verb + Object' structure. You also learn that 'казвам' is the word to use when you want to know the Bulgarian word for an object: 'Как се казва това на български?' (How is this called in Bulgarian?).
At the A2 level, you begin to use 'казвам' with short dative pronouns (ми, ти, му, ѝ, ни, ви, им). You learn to say things like 'Tell me the truth' (Кажи ми истината - using the perfective imperative) or 'She tells us everything' (Тя ни казва всичко). You also start using the conjunction 'че' (that) to create indirect speech: 'Той казва, че е добре' (He says that he is well). You begin to distinguish between 'казвам' (to say/tell) and 'говоря' (to talk/speak), realizing that 'казвам' requires a specific message or piece of information to be conveyed.
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At the B1 level, you dive into the past tenses. You learn the imperfect tense 'казвах' to describe habitual actions in the past (e.g., 'My grandmother used to tell me stories'). You also become more proficient in using 'казвам' in complex sentences with multiple clauses. You start to see the verb in different moods, such as the conditional ('Бих казал, че...' - I would say that...). You also begin to learn common idioms and fixed expressions involving the verb, such as 'Какво ще кажеш?' to make suggestions or 'Както казваш' to agree with someone's point during a discussion.
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At the B2 level, you use 'казвам' to report nuanced information and opinions. You can use it in the passive voice or in more formal constructions. You also start to recognize the difference between 'казвам' and its many prefixed relatives like 'изказвам' (to express/voice) or 'подказвам' (to prompt/give a hint). You understand the subtle shift in meaning when 'казвам' is used in the renarrative mood (преизказно наклонение), which is a unique feature of Bulgarian used to report events that the speaker did not witness personally. This is essential for reading news reports or sharing gossip accurately.
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At the C1 level, your use of 'казвам' becomes very precise. You use it in academic and professional contexts to attribute theories or statements to specific authors. You are comfortable with the verb in all its forms, including rare participles. You can distinguish between 'казвам' and highly specific synonyms like 'твърдя' (assert), 'отбелязвам' (note), or 'констатирам' (state a fact). You also understand the stylistic implications of using 'казвам' in literary texts versus everyday speech, and you can use it rhetorically to emphasize a point: 'Казвам ти го за последен път!' (I am telling you for the last time!).
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At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'казвам'. You can appreciate and use the verb in its most abstract and metaphorical senses. You understand the historical development of the word and its place in the Slavic language family. You can use it in complex legal or philosophical arguments where the distinction between 'saying' and 'stating' is legally or logically significant. You are also familiar with archaic or dialectal forms and can use the verb to mimic different registers of speech perfectly. At this level, 'казвам' is no longer just a word but a versatile tool for high-level linguistic manipulation and expression.
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Exemplos Notas e dicas

казвам em 30 segundos

  • The primary Bulgarian verb for 'to say' or 'to tell'.
  • Imperfective aspect, focusing on the process or habit.
  • Essential for introducing yourself: 'Казвам се...'.
  • Used with dative pronouns like 'ми' (to me) and 'ти' (to you).

The Bulgarian verb казвам is one of the most fundamental pillars of communication in the Bulgarian language. At its core, it translates to 'to say' or 'to tell' in English, but its utility extends far beyond simple vocalization. It is an imperfective verb, which means it focuses on the process of saying, the habit of saying, or an action that is currently unfolding. When you are introducing yourself, reporting what someone else is currently stating, or describing a repetitive action of speaking, казвам is your primary tool. It belongs to the first conjugation group (ending in -ам), making it relatively straightforward for beginners to learn and use in the present tense.

Introduction of Names
In Bulgarian, you don't 'have' a name; you 'call yourself' or 'say yourself' a name. The phrase Как се казваш? (How do you call yourself?) is the standard way to ask someone's name.
Reporting Information
It is used to relay messages or facts. For example, Той казва, че е зает (He says that he is busy) focuses on the ongoing state of his statement.

Винаги казвам истината, дори когато е трудно.

I always tell the truth, even when it is difficult.

Understanding the distinction between казвам (imperfective) and its perfective counterpart кажа is crucial for moving beyond the A1 level. While казвам describes the act of saying as a general fact or an ongoing process, кажа refers to a single, completed instance of saying something. If you are telling a story and want to say 'And then he said...', you would likely use the perfective past tense of кажа. However, if you are describing a person's character—'He always says funny things'—you must stick with казвам.

Как се казва това на български?

How is this called in Bulgarian?
Opinions and Suggestions
It is frequently used in the phrase Какво ще кажеш? which translates to 'What do you say?' or 'What do you think?' about a proposal.

In everyday interactions, you will hear this word in shops, at home, and in professional settings. It is the bridge between internal thought and external expression. Whether you are ordering food, asking for directions, or debating politics, the ability to conjugate казвам correctly allows you to attribute thoughts and statements to yourself and others accurately.

Using казвам correctly requires an understanding of Bulgarian sentence structure and verb conjugation. Since it is a first-conjugation verb, its endings are very regular in the present tense. One of the most common ways to use this verb is to follow it with the conjunction че (that), which introduces a subordinate clause. This is the standard way to report speech or thoughts.

Direct vs. Indirect Speech
Direct: Той казва: „Гладен съм.“ (He says: "I am hungry.") Indirect: Той казва, че е гладен. (He says that he is hungry.) Notice how the verb 'to be' changes to match the subject in the second example.

Майка ми винаги ми казва да внимавам.

My mother always tells me to be careful.

Another vital aspect is the use of dative clitics (short pronouns) to indicate to whom something is being said. In Bulgarian, we say 'He tells *to me*' or 'She says *to him*'. The short dative pronouns are ми, ти, му, ѝ, ни, ви, им. These usually come immediately before the verb. For example: Тя ми казва тайна. (She is telling me a secret.)

Какво ти казват твоите приятели?

What do your friends tell you?

In the past tense (imperfect), казвах describes a repeated action or a state of saying something over a period. Аз му казвах да не ходи там (I was telling him/I used to tell him not to go there). This emphasizes that the advice was given multiple times. In contrast, the future tense often uses the perfective form ще кажа, but ще казвам can be used to indicate a future habit: Всеки ден ще ти казвам колко те обичам. (Every day I will tell you how much I love you.)

The word казвам is ubiquitous in Bulgaria. You will hear it from the moment you land at the airport until you leave. It is the heartbeat of social interaction. In a casual setting, such as a cafe in Sofia, you might hear friends asking each other, Какво ще кажеш за едно кафе? (What do you say to a coffee?). This is a very common way to make a suggestion. It’s softer and more conversational than saying 'Let's go for coffee.'

„Не ми казвай, че пак си забравил ключовете!“

"Don't tell me you forgot the keys again!"

In the media, news anchors frequently use казвам or its derivatives to report on what politicians or experts have stated. You might hear: Министърът казва, че икономиката е стабилна. (The minister says that the economy is stable.) In this context, it serves as a neutral reporting verb. In literature and film, it is used to drive dialogue, though authors often swap it for more descriptive verbs like промълви (whispered) or извика (shouted) to add color.

In educational settings, teachers use казвам to give instructions or to ask students to repeat words. Кажи ми как е това на английски (Tell me how this is in English) is a phrase every Bulgarian student knows well. In professional environments, it is used to confirm understanding: Както казвате, проектът трябва да бъде завършен до петък. (As you say, the project must be completed by Friday.) Its versatility across all social strata makes it an indispensable word for any learner.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using казвам is confusing it with the verb говоря (to speak/talk). In English, 'say' and 'tell' are distinct, but 'talk' is also related. In Bulgarian, казвам is used for specific content or information, whereas говоря is used for the act of speaking or having a conversation. You 'say' a word (казвам дума), but you 'talk' to a friend (говоря с приятел). Using казвам when you mean 'to have a conversation' will sound unnatural.

Aspect Confusion
Learners often use казвам when they should use the perfective кажа. For a one-time command like 'Tell me!', you must use the imperative of the perfective: Кажи ми!. Using the imperative of казвам (Казвай ми!) implies 'Keep telling me' or 'Start telling me right now', which is much more aggressive or specific.

Грешно: Аз говоря истината. Правилно: Аз казвам истината.

Common mistake: Using 'talk' instead of 'say' for the truth.

Another common mistake is the omission of the dative pronoun. English allows 'He told me', where 'me' is a direct object. In Bulgarian, you must remember that you are telling 'to' someone. While the 'to' (на) is often replaced by the short dative pronoun (ми, ти, му...), beginners sometimes forget this and try to use accusative pronouns (ме, те, го...). Saying Той ме казва is incorrect; it must be Той ми казва.

While казвам is the 'go-to' verb for saying, Bulgarian offers a rich palette of alternatives that can provide more specific meaning. Depending on the context—whether you are sharing a secret, announcing a fact, or narrating a story—you might want to choose a different word to sound more like a native speaker.

Разказвам vs. Казвам
Разказвам means 'to tell a story' or 'to narrate'. If you are describing the plot of a movie, use разказвам. If you are just saying one sentence from the movie, use казвам.
Съобщавам vs. Казвам
Съобщавам is 'to announce' or 'to report'. It is more formal and implies that the information is news or an official statement.
Твърдя vs. Казвам
Твърдя means 'to claim' or 'to assert'. Use this when there is a sense of conviction or when the truth of the statement might be debated.

Той сподели, че се чувства уморен.

He shared (told) that he feels tired. ('Споделям' is more intimate than 'казвам').

In formal writing, you might encounter изричам (to utter/pronounce) or споменавам (to mention). Изричам is often used for solemn oaths or poetic expressions, while споменавам is perfect for when you briefly touch upon a subject without going into detail. Choosing the right synonym not only improves your Bulgarian but also allows you to convey nuance and emotion that казвам alone cannot capture.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Бихте ли ми казали колко е часът?"

Neutro

"Той казва, че ще закъснее."

Curiosidade

The root 'kaz' is also found in the word 'показвам' (to show) and 'доказвам' (to prove), showing the historical link between speaking and pointing out the truth.

Guia de pronúncia

UK ˈkazvam
US ˈkɑːzvəm
First syllable: KAZ-vam.
Rima com
пазвам (pazvam) наказвам (nakazvam) показвам (pokazvam) доказвам (dokazvam) отказвам (otkazvam) заказвам (zakazvam) свръзвам (svrazvam) разказвам (razkazvam)
Erros comuns
  • Pronouncing it as 'kaz-VAM' with stress on the second syllable.
  • Softening the 'z' too much so it sounds like 's'.
  • Swallowing the final 'm'.
  • Over-emphasizing the 'a' in the second syllable.
  • Confusing the 'v' with a 'w' sound (Bulgarian doesn't have a 'w').
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Exemplos por nível

1

Аз казвам „здравей“.

I say "hello".

Present tense, 1st person singular.

2

Как се казваш?

What is your name?

Reflexive use with 'се'.

3

Казвам се Мария.

My name is Maria.

Response to 'Как се казваш?'.

4

Той казва „да“.

He says "yes".

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

5

Как се казва това?

What is this called?

Passive/Reflexive use for naming objects.

6

Ние казваме истината.

We tell the truth.

1st person plural.

7

Вие казвате „благодаря“.

You (plural) say "thank you".

2nd person plural.

8

Те казват „довиждане“.

They say "goodbye".

3rd person plural.

1

Той ми казва тайна.

He is telling me a secret.

Use of short dative pronoun 'ми'.

2

Тя казва, че е гладна.

She says that she is hungry.

Indirect speech with 'че'.

3

Майка ми ми казва да уча.

My mother tells me to study.

Command structure in indirect speech.

4

Не ми казвай това!

Don't tell me that!

Negative imperative (imperfective).

5

Какво ти казва той?

What is he telling you?

Question with dative pronoun 'ти'.

6

Ние им казваме новината.

We are telling them the news.

Dative pronoun 'им' (to them).

7

Вие ни казвате пътя.

You are telling us the way.

Dative pronoun 'ни' (to us).

8

Тя му казва „обичам те“.

She tells him "I love you".

Dative pronoun 'му' (to him).

1

Баба ми ми казваше приказки.

My grandmother used to tell me stories.

Imperfect tense for habitual past action.

2

Какво ще кажеш за този филм?

What do you say about this movie?

Future tense used for suggestions.

3

Той винаги казваше, че ще успее.

He always used to say that he would succeed.

Imperfect tense with indirect speech.

4

Бих казал, че това е добра идея.

I would say that this is a good idea.

Conditional mood.

5

Не казвах нищо през цялото време.

I wasn't saying anything the whole time.

Negative imperfect tense.

6

Те ни казваха къде да отидем.

They were telling us where to go.

Imperfect tense, plural.

7

Тя ми казваше истината всеки път.

She used to tell me the truth every time.

Focus on repeated action.

8

Какво казваше законът по този въпрос?

What did the law say on this matter?

Imperfect tense for states/rules.

1

Казва се, че градът е много стар.

It is said that the city is very old.

Impersonal passive construction.

2

Той ми казваше да не се притеснявам.

He was telling me not to worry.

Imperfective past reporting advice.

3

Всички казват, че тя е най-добрата.

Everyone says that she is the best.

General consensus/habitual present.

4

Както казвах по-рано, времето е пари.

As I was saying earlier, time is money.

Reference to previous statement.

5

Тя казваше това с голяма увереност.

She was saying that with great confidence.

Manner of speaking in the past.

6

Не казвам, че си виновен, но внимавай.

I'm not saying you're guilty, but be careful.

Nuanced present tense statement.

7

Те казваха, че ще дойдат, но не дойдоха.

They were saying they would come, but they didn't.

Contrast between past intent and result.

8

Какво се казва в доклада?

What is stated in the report?

Passive use for documents.

1

Авторът казва, че обществото се променя.

The author states that society is changing.

Academic reporting verb.

2

Трудно е да се каже кой е прав.

It is hard to say who is right.

Infinitive-like use with 'се'.

3

Казвам го от личен опит.

I say it from personal experience.

Emphasizing the source of knowledge.

4

Той казваше това с известна ирония.

He was saying that with a certain irony.

Describing tone and subtext.

5

Никой не може да ми казва какво да правя.

No one can tell me what to do.

Modal verb 'може' with 'да' construction.

6

Казвам ти, че това няма да свърши добре.

I'm telling you, this won't end well.

Emphatic present tense.

7

Какво казва науката за това явление?

What does science say about this phenomenon?

Abstract subject.

8

Тя казваше, че мечтите се сбъдват.

She used to say that dreams come true.

Imperfective reporting of a belief.

1

Не бих могъл да казвам със сигурност.

I couldn't say for certain.

Complex modal conditional.

2

Казвам това, за да подчертая важността му.

I say this to emphasize its importance.

Purposive clause.

3

Както се казва в народната мъдрост...

As the folk wisdom says...

Fixed idiomatic introduction.

4

Той казваше думите си внимателно претеглени.

He was saying his words carefully weighed.

Literary description of speech.

5

Без да казвам нищо, аз излязох от стаята.

Without saying anything, I left the room.

Gerund-like 'без да' construction.

6

Казвам ти го като на приятел.

I'm telling you this as a friend.

Establishing a relational context.

7

Всичко, което казвате, ще бъде записано.

Everything you say will be recorded.

Relative clause in a formal context.

8

Тя казваше, че мълчанието е злато.

She used to say that silence is golden.

Reporting an aphorism.

Colocações comuns

казвам истината
казвам лъжа
казвам мнение
казвам здравей
казвам сбогом
казвам виц
казвам тайна
казвам молитва
казвам „да“
казвам „не“

Frases Comuns

Как се казваш?

Казвам се...

Какво ще кажеш?

Както казваш.

Така да се каже.

Да не казвам голяма дума.

Искам да кажа...

Казвам ти!

Как се казва това?

Какво казваш?

Expressões idiomáticas

"казвам го в очите"

To say something directly to someone's face.

Ако имаш проблем с мен, кажи ми го в очите.

informal

"лесно е да се каже"

Easier said than done.

Лесно е да се каже, но е трудно да се направи.

neutral

"казвам си тежката дума"

To have the final say or to make a decisive statement.

Директорът си каза тежката дума.

neutral

"да не казвам голяма дума"

Lest I speak too soon or boast.

Да не казвам голяма дума, но мисля, че спечелихме.

informal

"какво ще кажат хората"

What people will say (worrying about public opinion).

Тя винаги се притеснява какво ще кажат хората.

neutral

"казана дума, хвърлен камък"

A word spoken is a stone thrown (once said, it cannot be taken back).

Внимавай, защото казана дума е хвърлен камък.

proverb

"казвам на черното бяло"

To deny the obvious (literally: to call black white).

Той винаги казва на черното бяло само за да спори.

informal

"не ми казвай!"

You don't say! / I don't believe it!

Спечелил си от лотарията? Не ми казвай!

informal

"кажи-речи"

More or less / Practically.

Работата е кажи-речи свършена.

informal

"езикът ми го казва"

It's on the tip of my tongue.

Името му е... езикът ми го казва, но не мога да се сетя.

informal

Família de palavras

Substantivos

Verbos

Adjetivos

Relacionado

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Memorize

Mnemônico

Think of a 'kazoo'. You use a kazoo to 'say' a melody. KAZ-vam is how you say things in Bulgarian.

Associação visual

Imagine a speech bubble coming out of a mouth with the word 'KAZ' written inside it.

Word Web

дума (word) уста (mouth) истина (truth) лъжа (lie) име (name) глас (voice) тайна (secret) че (that)

Desafio

Try to use 'казвам' in five different sentences today: one for your name, one for a secret, one for a truth, one for a lie, and one to ask a question.

Origem da palavra

Derived from the Proto-Slavic root *kazati, which originally meant 'to show' or 'to point out'.

Significado original: To show, to demonstrate, or to point towards something with words.

Indo-European -> Slavic -> South Slavic -> Bulgarian.

Contexto cultural

Be careful with the imperative 'Казвай!' (Tell me now!). It can sound very demanding or even like an interrogation if used with the wrong tone.

Unlike English, where 'say' and 'tell' have strict grammatical rules (you tell *someone*, you say *something*), Bulgarian uses 'казвам' for both, but requires a dative pronoun for the person being told.

The Bulgarian translation of the Bible: 'В началото бе Словото... и Бог каза' (In the beginning was the Word... and God said). The popular children's song 'Как се казваш?' The movie 'Вчера' where characters often debate what was said and what was meant.
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