без

Without with Без

Level 1Sounds Like bez

без + noun = without something: кафе без захар (coffee without sugar), Не мога без теб (I can't do without you).

How It Works

Без is a preposition. It never changes form.

  • With a noun: чай без мляко (tea without milk). In general statements the noun usually has no article; add the article for a specific thing: без ключа (without the key).
  • With a pronoun: use the long forms мен/мене, теб/тебе, него, нея, нас, вас, тях: Не мога без теб. See пълни местоимения мене/тебе/него/нея.
  • Telling the time: the hour comes first, then без and the minutes: осем без пет (five to eight). See колко е часът.
  • With an action: без cannot take a verb directly. Use без да: Излезе, без да каже нищо (He left without saying anything). See без да.

The opposite of без is с/със: кафе със захар (coffee with sugar).

Examples (6)

  1. Кафе без захар, моля.

    Coffee without sugar, please.

    Word by Word: Coffee without sugar, please.

  2. Не мога без теб.

    I can't do without you.

    Word by Word: Not (I) can without you.

    After без the long pronoun теб is used.

  3. Излязох без чадър.

    I went out without an umbrella.

    Word by Word: (I) went-out without umbrella.

  4. Не мога да вляза без ключа.

    I can't get in without the key.

    Word by Word: Not (I) can to enter without key-the.

    The article -а shows that a specific key is meant.

  5. Часът е осем без пет.

    It is five to eight.

    Word by Word: Hour-the is eight without five.

    For times before the hour, say the hour, then без and the minutes.

  6. Той живее без кола.

    He lives without a car.

    Word by Word: He lives without car.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subject pronoun after без.

    Не мога без ти.
    Не мога без теб.

    After a preposition Bulgarian uses the long object forms: без мен, без теб, без него, без нея.

  • Putting a verb straight after без.

    Той излезе без каже нищо.
    Той излезе, без да каже нищо.

    Without doing something is без да + verb, and a comma normally goes before без да.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

безLevel 1Without with Без

Learn This First

Без is taught alongside с, its opposite.

Words in This Pattern

без