Surnames in -ов/-ев
Surnames for Men, Women and Families
Most Bulgarian surnames end in -ов or -ев. A woman’s form adds -а and the family form adds -и: Петров, Петрова, Петрови.
How It Works
- Man: Иван Петров, Николай Стоянов, Димитър Георгиев
- Woman: Мария Петрова, Елена Стоянова, Анна Георгиева
- Family or several members: Петрови, Стоянови, Георгиеви
The endings work like gender and number endings elsewhere: -а is feminine and -и is plural. See женски род на -а/-я and множествено число -и.
The family. Say семейство Петрови (the Petrov family) or simply Петрови (the Petrovs). The plural keeps its capital letter: Петрови имат две деца.
The middle name. A Bulgarian’s second name comes from the father’s first name and takes the same endings: Иван’s son is Петър Иванов and his daughter is Мария Иванова.
Addressing people. Use the right form after господин and госпожа: господин Петров, госпожа Петрова. When you speak to a woman directly, госпожа becomes госпожо, while господин stays the same before a surname: Добър ден, госпожо Петрова! and Добър ден, господин Петров! The surname itself does not change. See звателна форма.
Other surnames. Surnames in -ски follow the adjective pattern: Стойковски, Стойковска, family Стойковски. See прилагателни на -ски. Surnames in -ин work like -ов: Радин, Радина, Радини.
To give your own name, see казвам се: Казвам се Мария Петрова.
Examples (6)
- Казвам се Иван Петров.
My name is Ivan Petrov.
Word by Word: I-call myself Ivan Petrov.
- Съпругата ми се казва Мария Петрова.
My wife’s name is Maria Petrova.
Word by Word: Wife-the my herself calls Maria Petrova.
The same surname adds -а for a woman.
- Семейство Петрови живее в Пловдив.
The Petrov family lives in Plovdiv.
Word by Word: Family Petrovs lives in Plovdiv.
After семейство, the surname takes the plural -и.
- Петрови имат две деца.
The Petrovs have two children.
Word by Word: Petrovs have two children.
The plural surname alone means the whole family.
- Добър ден, госпожо Стоянова!
Good afternoon, Mrs Stoyanova!
Word by Word: Good day, madam Stoyanova!
A woman’s surname keeps -а when you address her.
- Дъщеря им е Елена Георгиева Стоянова.
Their daughter is Elena Georgieva Stoyanova.
Word by Word: Daughter their is Elena Georgieva Stoyanova.
Георгиева comes from her father’s first name, Георги.
Common Mistakes
Using the man’s form of the surname for a woman.
Това е госпожа Петров.Това е госпожа Петрова.A woman’s surname in -ов or -ев adds -а.
Leaving the surname singular for a whole family.
Семейство Петров живее тук.Семейство Петрови живее тук.For a family or several members, the surname takes the plural ending -и.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Surnames in -ов/-ев follow adjective agreement.
Related Patterns
- казвам сеSaying Your Name
Казвам се Мария Петрова is how you give your full name.
Level 1 - Feminine Nouns in -а/-яFeminine Nouns Ending in А or Я
The feminine -а on Петрова is the same ending feminine nouns use.
Level 1 - Plural in -иPlural Ending -и
The family form Петрови uses the common plural ending -и.
Level 1 - The Vocative Form
Addressing someone: госпожо Петрова, господин Петров.
Level 2 - Adjectives in -ски
Surnames in -ски follow the adjective pattern: Стойковски, Стойковска.
Level 3 - Noun Gender
Surname endings follow the same gender and number logic as nouns.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Surnames in -ов/-ев in Bubblegum
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