Looking for expert Bulgarian translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Bulgarian to clients worldwide. We specialize in various industries, including legal, technical, marketing, and business sectors. Our team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Bulgarian translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Bulgarian Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Bulgarian translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to all major Bulgarian dialects, ensuring linguistic accuracy and cultural relevance for diverse projects.
- Standard Bulgarian (Official language spoken across Bulgaria)
- Western Bulgarian (Spoken in regions of Sofia and surrounding areas)
- Eastern Bulgarian (Spoken in regions around Varna and the Black Sea)
We specialize in both English to Bulgarian and Bulgarian to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Bulgarian language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Bulgarian translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or Bulgarianized work for most professional or formal use cases. While they are typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Bulgarian text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Bulgarian Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Bulgarian communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Bulgarian Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Bulgarian translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Bulgarian Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Bulgarian language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Bulgarian, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Bulgarian. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Bulgarian and Bulgarian to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's elite team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Bulgarian and English. Nearly all countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Bulgarian and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Bulgarian medical translations are treated as "organization critical," unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to HIPAA and HITECH requirements. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Bulgarian language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Bulgarian translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as "Sofia Bulgarian," "Plovdiv Bulgarian," and more. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Bulgarian dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Bulgarian
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Bulgarian localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Bulgarian-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Bulgarian, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Bulgarian-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Bulgarian-speaking users.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Bulgarian/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Bulgarian or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Bulgarian and English.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Bulgarian and English contexts.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Bulgarian to English or English to Bulgarian translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Bulgarian- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Bulgarian Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Bulgarian-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, we ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Bulgarian, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Bulgarian-speaking audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Bulgarian and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process includes correcting grammar, syntax, and terminology, adapting the text for the intended audience, and ensuring it adheres to any stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements. MTPE-Full is suitable for business-critical texts where precision and quality are paramount.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) is a more streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. In this process, the human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Bulgarian or English). While MTPE-Light may not deliver a translation that is fully Bulgarianed or ready for publication, it provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for internal documents, reports, and communications where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for Bulgarian
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and more, in both Bulgarian and English. Our certified translations are known for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you need expedited service, Green Crescent can typically accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations may involve trade-offs, which could affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for further details.
Discounts
We offer volume discounts for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Bulgarian language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Bulgarian Language
Bulgarian is the official language of Bulgaria and is spoken by over 9 million people worldwide. As one of the oldest documented Slavic languages, Bulgarian holds a significant place in history and continues to be a key cultural and linguistic bridge in Southeast Europe. With its rich heritage and unique grammatical structure, Bulgarian presents interesting challenges and opportunities for translators working with the language.
History and Legacy of the Bulgarian Language
The Bulgarian language has a long and storied history, with roots tracing back to Old Church Slavonic, the liturgical language of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Over time, Bulgarian evolved into its modern form, shaped by historical events such as the Ottoman occupation and the Bulgarian Revival period, when a renewed interest in Bulgarian culture and language emerged.
Bulgarian literature, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, played a crucial role in shaping national identity. Authors like Ivan Vazov, whose novel *Under the Yoke* vividly depicts life during Ottoman rule, remain central to Bulgarian literary heritage. This rich cultural and literary background influences modern Bulgarian, making it an important language for translation in sectors like publishing, legal documents, and historical texts.
Bulgaria: The Cultural Context and Linguistic Features
Bulgarian is closely tied to the cultural and historical identity of the region. As the first Slavic language to be written using the Cyrillic script, Bulgarian has deep historical roots, contributing to the rich tradition of Slavic literature and cultural expression. Over the centuries, Bulgarian has absorbed influences from Turkish, Greek, and Russian, but it maintains distinct features that set it apart from other Slavic languages.
Unlike many other Slavic languages, Bulgarian has lost its case system, making it structurally closer to English in certain ways. However, Bulgarian's verb system is more complex, with numerous forms to express aspect and mood, which requires careful consideration during translation.
The Writing System: The Cyrillic Script
Cyrillic Script: Bulgarian is written using the Cyrillic alphabet, which consists of 30 letters. The script is used across many Slavic and non-Slavic languages, but Bulgarian has its own specific variations in letter use and phonetics. Translators must be familiar with the nuances of the Bulgarian Cyrillic system to ensure accuracy, particularly when working with formal documents and specialized texts.
Loanwords and Influence: Bulgarian incorporates loanwords from Turkish, Greek, and Russian, a result of historical interactions and exchanges. These influences reflect the region’s complex past, but they can add layers of meaning that need careful handling in translation. Words like "dost" (friend), borrowed from Turkish, or "lampada" (lamp), from Greek, often have specific cultural connotations that translators must account for.
Regional Dialects and Variations
Bulgaria is home to several regional dialects that can differ significantly in pronunciation and vocabulary. The standard Bulgarian used today is based on the eastern dialects, particularly the one spoken in the capital, Sofia. Translators must be aware of these regional variations, especially when localizing content for different Bulgarian-speaking communities. While the standard language is widely understood, dialectal differences can add richness to the language, especially in literature or culturally specific content.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Bulgarian and English for Translation
Translating between Bulgarian and English presents several unique challenges due to significant linguistic differences:
Word Order and Sentence Structure:
Bulgarian typically follows a flexible word order, though the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure is common, much like in English. However, Bulgarian often uses word order to emphasize specific elements of a sentence. For instance, "I am reading a book" in English translates to "Аз чета книга" (Az cheta kniga) in Bulgarian, but variations in order may shift the emphasis, requiring careful handling in translation.
Verb Conjugations and Tenses:
Bulgarian verb conjugation is complex, with various tenses, aspects, and moods that are more nuanced than in English. For example, the past tense in Bulgarian distinguishes between completed and ongoing actions, a subtlety that must be captured when translating into English.
Definite Articles:
Unlike English, where definite articles ("the") are separate words, Bulgarian uses postfixed definite articles. For instance, "the book" is "книгата" (knigata), where the article is attached to the noun. Understanding this difference is crucial for producing grammatically correct translations.
Pronouns and Formality:
Bulgarian distinguishes between formal and informal forms of address, much like many other Slavic languages. The formal "Вие" (Vie) is used in professional and respectful contexts, while "ти" (ti) is used in informal settings. This difference must be considered when translating documents with varying levels of formality, such as business correspondence versus casual communication.
Idiomatic Expressions:
Bulgarian is rich in idiomatic expressions, which often do not have direct English equivalents. For example, "Да вървиш по вода" (Da varvish po voda), meaning "to walk on water," is an idiom that suggests someone is doing something exceptionally well. Translating such expressions requires careful attention to preserve meaning without losing cultural nuance.
By recognizing and adapting to these linguistic and cultural differences, Green Crescent ensures that our Bulgarian translation services are both accurate and culturally relevant. Whether translating legal documents, technical manuals, or marketing materials, our expert translators deliver high-quality translations that meet the specific needs of Bulgarian-speaking audiences.
An Insight into Bulgarian Wit and Expression
This passage is from Tobacco by Dimitar Dimov, first published in 1951. The novel is a cornerstone of 20th-century Bulgarian literature, offering a profound critique of social and political dynamics in Bulgaria during the interwar and postwar periods.
- Bulgarian: "Животът е нещо повече от пари и амбиции. Той е любов, приятелство и саможертва."
- English Translation: "Life is more than money and ambition. It is love, friendship, and sacrifice."