Kevin Whipple / © Culture Trip
Often described as one of the world’s most difficult languages, Hungarian presents a challenge to visitors hoping to test their linguistic mettle. Get the lowdown on the most important (and occasionally amusing) phrases to learn, from Hungarian teacher Dávid Hollós.
The jury’s out on exactly how difficult Hungarian is to learn, but one thing’s for sure: this rich language is among Europe’s loneliest. With Hungary (mostly) surrounded by Slavic-speaking countries, Hungarian’s closest (but still distant) relative is much further north, in Finland. Both Finnish and Hungarian belong to the Finno-Ugric language family, along with Estonian and a number of languages spoken by smaller communities in northeastern Europe and Siberia. The relative solitude of Magyar (as the language is called in Hungarian) – not to mention its 14 vowel sounds – certainly contributes to the difficulty it presents to speakers of other European languages.
Nonetheless, mastering a few Hungarian phrases will add to any Budapest city break or an adventure discovering the wine regions of Hungary. This brief guide takes in key expressions and popular idioms, both equipping you to conquer the bar or supermarket and offering insight into Hungarian culture as reflected in its language.
Szia (see-ya) / Sziasztok (see-ya-stock)
Meaning: Hi / Hello / Bye (informal)
This is the basic greeting among friends. Use szia when greeting one person and use sziasztok when meeting several people. The phrase can also be used when saying goodbye; this one’s fairly intuitive for English speakers, given the phonetic closeness to the ubiquitous informal goodbye, ‘See ya!’
Kevin Whipple / | © Culture Trip
Jó napot (yoh nah-poht)
Meaning: Good day / Good morning
As in many languages, in Hungarian there is a difference between informal and formal address. If you want to be more formal, you can use Jó napot as a general greeting, regardless of the time of day. It’s an incredibly useful catch-all phrase for language learners.
Viszontlátásra (vee-sont-lah-tash-rah)
Meaning: Goodbye
This phrase is rather formal, so you shouldn’t say it to friends when bidding them farewell. Although it looks very long, thankfully the short version is also perfectly acceptable: viszlát (vee-slaht).
Jó reggelt / estét / éjszakát (yoh reg-ghelt / esh-tate / ey-sa-kaht)
Meaning: Good morning / evening / night
The general rule of thumb is that you should say Jó reggelt until around 10am, Jó estét after around 6pm or 7pm and Jó éjszakát when heading to bed, as with ‘Good night’ in English. For everything in between, Jó napot or Szia(sztok) is a safe bet.
Igen / nem (eeghen / nehm)
Meaning: Yes / no
Luckily, these basic expressions are pretty simple in Hungarian – don’t be afraid to say igen to new adventures in Hungary!
Elnézést (el-neh-zesht)
Meaning: Excuse me
If you want to ask somebody for something, this is a near foolproof expression with which to begin your request. It will also almost certainly come in handy when fighting to get off the bus – preferably accompanied by an appropriate level of assertiveness.
Köszönöm (kew-sew-newm) / Köszi (kew-see)
Meaning: Thank you / Thanks
Never underestimate the power of a kind word – Hungarian hearts can be melted with a vote of thanks in their native tongue. Köszönöm can be used in just about any situation, while köszi is informal and should be avoided when addressing older people.
Nem értem / Nem beszélek magyarul (nehm ehr-tehm / nehm be-say-lek ma-djar-oohl)
Meaning: I don’t understand / I don’t speak Hungarian
However confident you might be in your linguistic abilities, there’s always a chance you won’t understand absolutely everything. These phrases might help you out, although there is a good chance that the cause of your confusion will be repeated back to you, just slower and louder.
Egy sört / bort / pálinkát kérek (edj shewr-t / bohr-t / pah-link-ah-t keh-rek)
Meaning: I’d like one beer / wine / pálinka please
Hungary is making a name for itself as a prime destination for wine connoisseurs (you might have heard about wine from the Tokaj region, for example), while excellent local beer is available in supermarkets and bars. No visit to Hungary would be complete without trying pálinka – a local fruit brandy, fermented exclusively from fruit without any sugar or alcohol added. It’s no surprise, then, that being able to order at the bar in Hungary is a matter of extreme importance.
Egy sör nem sör (edj shewr nem shewr)
Meaning: One beer is not a beer
This succinct phrase originates from the longer saying, ‘One beer is not a beer, two beers are half a beer, four beers are one beer but one beer is not a beer…’ and expresses the universal truth that one beer is never enough.
Kevin Whipple / | © Culture Trip
Nagyon finom (nadj-ohn feeh-nohm)
Meaning: Very delicious
The perfect phrase to compliment the chef on a delectable plate of traditional chicken paprikash or lecsó vegetable stew.
Egészségedre (ag-esh-sheg-ad-reh)
Meaning: Cheers / Bless you
Egészségedre (literally meaning ‘to your health’) is said when glasses are raised for a toast. Don’t forget to look into each other’s eyes while saying it, otherwise it will bring you seven years of bad luck. This phrase is also said when somebody sneezes.
Fizetek / Fizetnék (fee-zet-ek / fee-zet-nehk)
Meaning: I’d like to pay
When you are at a restaurant, this is the easiest way to express your desire to hand over your money in exchange for all the delicious dishes you’ve just enjoyed.
A számlát kérem (ah szahm-laht keh-rehm)
Meaning: I’d like the bill please
This slightly more complex phrase is most likely accompanied with the internationally known gesture of writing a phantom signature in the air.
Készpénz / bankkártya (cays-pehnz / bank kahr-tja)
Meaning: Cash / card
Many market stalls (and some smaller shops) only accept cash, so these two expressions might come in especially handy when trying to buy some traditional paprika or a bottle of Tokaj wine.
Hogy vagy? (hodj vadj)
Meaning: How are you?
A common conversation starter, but people offering a friendly Hogy vagy? rarely expect to hear a monologue about your problems – it’s better to give a short answer, then ask the same question and hope your interlocutor returns the favour.
Puszi! (poo-see)
Meaning: Kiss on the cheek
It’s not what you think! Puszi is a very common phrase used when finishing a phone call or when friends (usually girls) say goodbye after hanging out together. To add to the cuteness (or hilarity) of this phrase, it’s often said twice.
Szeretlek (seh-ret-lehk)
Meaning: I love you
Planning on falling in love on your trip to Hungary? This is a simple but effective way to express your affection. A word of advice, though: with every beautiful Hungarian admirer comes a dad with homemade pálinka that you will likely be required to consume to excess. The reward is great: if you survive, you will instantly become a family member.
Szakad az eső (sah-kaad az eh-shew)
Meaning: ‘The rain is being torn apart’ – said when observing heavy rain; along the lines of ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’
Heavy storms and rain are commonplace in Hungary, particularly after hot summer days. When Hungarian speakers look out of the window and see a downpour, they might disappointedly say ‘Már megint szakad az eső…’ (‘Oh no, the rain is being torn apart again…’). At least there are no falling household pets, right?
Király / zsír / állat (kee-rali / zhee-r / ah-laat)
Meaning: Cool (literally ‘king / fat / animal’)
Don’t be alarmed by the near-constant discussion of kings and fat animals in Hungary – this is a good thing. Roughly equivalent to the English exclamation ‘Cool!’, when something is really good you may well hear Hungarians say ‘Ez király! Ez nagyon zsír!’ (‘This is king! This is very fat!’) or ‘Ez nagyon állat!’ (‘This is very animal!’).
Kevin Whipple / | © Culture Trip
Tök (tewk)
Meaning: Very (literally ‘pumpkin’)
In addition to the wide variety of pumpkins grown on Hungarian soil, the local language is also flush with the tasty squash. Often used to mean ‘very’, the phrase is an endearing intensifier to add emphasis to your sentences. You can be tök boldog (‘pumpkin happy’), tök szomorú (‘pumpkin sad’) or things can be tök jó / rossz (‘pumpkin good / bad’). After all, why limit pumpkins to your dinner plate?
These are just a few of the phrases that might come in handy when visiting Hungary. One question still remains: isn’t Hungarian tök király?
FAQs
Hogy vagy? -
Note: When you ask Hogy vagy? in Hungarian, you are really asking how they are, unlike in English where 'how are you' is a polite greeting. A good answer to the question would be: Jól vagyok, 'I am fine (well)'.
What is the hardest Hungarian word? ›
- magánnyugdíjpénztár. (n) private pension fund.
- bakancszokni. (n) socks for boots.
- használtruha-kereskedés. (n) second hand clothing store.
- liszteszsák. (n) flour bag.
- mézeskalácssütés. (n) baking of gingerbread.
- cukroszacskó (n) sugar bag.
- rizsszem. (n) grains of rice.
- uzsiszsák. (n) snack bag.
But if you're just around friends (for example, at a party, get-together, or bumping into each other on the street), here's how to say hello in Hungarian language: “Hi/Hello/Bye” = Szia! “Hi guys/Bye guys” [Plural] = Sziasztok!
Do Hungarians say thank you? ›
1- Köszönöm.
In Hungarian, “Thank you.” is Köszönöm.
How do you say goodbye in Budapest? ›
Viszontlátásra! (“Goodbye!”) This is the most polite way to tell someone goodbye. Viszlát!
Is Hungarian hard to learn? ›
Hungarian: One of the Most Difficult Language for Foreigners to Learn. Hungarian may be the most difficult language in the world for an English speaker to learn, for a variety of grammar, spelling, and pronunciation reasons.
What is the longest word in Hungarian? ›
Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért, with 44 letters is officially the longest word in the Hungarian language and means something like “for your [plural] continued behaviour as if you could not be desecrated”. It is already morphed, since Hungarian is an agglutinative language.
What does Egan mean in Hungarian? ›
heaven [heavens] ▼ ◼◼◼ noun.
Is Polish or Hungarian harder to learn? ›
Polish and Hungarian are recognized as some of the most difficult European languages to learn, based on their grammar, structure, and pronunciation. Moreover, according to the FSI (Foreign Service Institute), Hungarian is even more difficult to learn than Polish.
How do you say love in Hungary? ›
The word you are looking for if you want to say I love you in Hungarian is Szeretlek.
Gyönyörű = “Beautiful”
What do Hungarians say when they toast? ›
― Cheers! (literally, “To your health!”) A: Köszönöm az ebédet.
How do you respond to thank you in Hungarian? ›
3 Ways to Say Thank You in Hungarian - YouTube
What does Servus mean in Hungarian? ›
The word may be used as a greeting, a parting salutation, or as both, depending on the region and context. Despite its formal origins, servus is now used as an informal salute in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Südtirol, Slovenia, Hungary, and Romania.
Which is the best side Buda or Pest? ›
Buda is considered to be the calmer side of the city–while it's not exactly dead, there tends to be much more going on, including nightlife, on the Pest side of the river. Buda tends to have a much more residential feel.
What is SZIA? ›
Interjection. szia. (informal) hi. (informal) bye, see ya, so long.
How do you reply to Koszonom? ›
You basically round your mouth like you are saying look or book, but round the sound out a bit and bring your octave a bit deeper and more guttural. You'll get the hang of it eventually. This is how you respond when someone says “Köszönöm” to you. Straight, sweet and to the point.
What is my name in Hungarian? ›
Self-Introduction in Hungarian - My Name Is in Hungarian - YouTube
How are u in Hungary? ›
Hogy vagy? “How are you doing?” Right after greeting a friend, Hungarians usually ask about each other's well being, which is oftentimes followed by a lengthy response, whether it's good or bad, starting with: Köszönöm, jól.
How do you say please in Hungarian? ›
How to say Please and Thank you in Hungarian - YouTube
In fact, Hungarian comes from the Uralic region of Asia and belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group, meaning its closest relatives are actually Finnish and Estonian.
What does Bachi mean in Hungarian? ›
Noun. bácsi (plural bácsik) uncle (a form of address for an older man, especially by children or in case of great age difference) synonyms ▲coordinate term ▼ Synonyms: bá, bátya. Józsi bácsi ― uncle Joe.
Is Hungarian harder than German? ›
So learning Hungarian is much harder than German, Latin or even Slavic languages for a Chinese or Arabic person too of whom languages neither are Indo-European nor Uralic.
What is the shortest word? ›
The shortest word is a. Some might wonder about the word I since it consists of one letter, too. In sound, a is shorter because it is a monophthong (consists of one vowel), while I is a diphthong. Both do consist of one letter in the English writing system, and in most fonts I is the narrowest letter.
What do you call a person from Budapest? ›
Budapestian (plural Budapestians) A native or inhabitant of Budapest, Hungary.
Is Floccinaucinihilipilification a real word? ›
The word "floccinaucinihilipilification" means "the estimation of something as worthless." It's an 18th-century coinage that combines four Latin prefixes meaning "nothing."
Is Hungary a poor or rich country? ›
Hungary has transitioned from a centrally planned economy to a market economy and is considered a high-income country by the World Bank. The country's top trading partners include Germany and Austria.
How long does it take to learn Hungarian? ›
How do you say hello and goodbye in Hungary? ›
How to say Hello and Goodbye in Hungarian - One Minute ... - YouTube
Is Hungarian like German? ›
Although Hungarian is not an Indo-European language, unlike most other European languages, its vocabulary has many words from Slavic and Turkic languages and also from German.
Hungarian belongs to the Ugric branch of Finno-Ugric, along with the Ob-Ugric languages, Mansi and Khanty, spoken in western Siberia. The language has been written in a modified Latin alphabet since the 13th century ad, and its orthography was stabilized from the 16th century with the introduction of printing.
Is Finnish hard to learn for a Hungarian? ›
As a native hungarian and a fromer learner of finnish, I think that these two languages have a very similar structure and the grammatical scheme is the same. This means the learning-difficulty is most likely equal.
What is Szeretlek? ›
szeretlek ― I love you.
How do you say happy birthday in Hungarian? ›
In Hungarian, the rhyme is: Isten éltessen sokáig, füled érjen bokáig! Thanks for reading this post on how to say 'happy birthday' in Hungarian.
What can I say instead of I Love You? ›
Here are five great alternatives to "I love you," each that deliver a heartfelt and meaningful message.
- I respect you. You can be madly in love with someone, but the relationship will fall short if one person doesn't feel respected by the other. ...
- I appreciate you. ...
- I like you. ...
- I treasure you. ...
- I think you're hot.
Irgum-Burgum (interjection) – An Expression of Playful Anger, mostly Used with Children. We love irgum-burgum – it's such a nice and playful word! It's one of the so-called Hungarian interjections and is a word of simulated anger and one for an empty threat.
What is the national drink of Hungary? ›
The inky, amber-tinted liquid inside is called Unicum, and with roots that delve back to the late 18th century, it's one of the most revered national drinks in Hungary. Like that other boozy Hungarian favorite, the fruit brandy pálinka, Unicum is largely savored as an aperitif or a digestif in shot form.
What race do Hungarians belong to? ›
Ethnic Hungarians are a mix of the Finno-Ugric Magyars and various assimilated Turkic, Slavic, and Germanic peoples. A small percentage of the population is made up of ethnic minority groups. The largest of these is the Roma (Gypsies).
What do Hungarians have for breakfast? ›
In Hungary, a typical breakfast may consist of fresh bread, cold sausage type minced meat products (such as kolbász or szalámi), some vegetables or jam. Lunch is the main meal of the day, usually consisting of three courses: soup is followed by a main dish and a dessert.
How do you say hello in Budapest? ›
How to Say Hello in Hungarian - YouTube
Hungarian greetings and other useful expressions - YouTube
What are some Hungarian last names? ›
Hungarian Last Names
- Don.
- Dona.
- Donath.
- Dora.
- Dore.
- Dorko.
- Dorman.
- Doro.
Gruß Gott – 'hello'.
How do you reply to servus? ›
So when someone greets you, Servus! it meant originally "[I am your] servant" but it is nowadays only a friendly greeting/goodbye, like "Hi!"/"Bye!" in English. Show activity on this post.
Does servus mean hello or goodbye? ›
Servus is a general, friendly way of greeting someone – so it can be used for saying hello as well as for saying good-bye. The roots of this greeting date far back; it comes from the Latin word servus, which means “slave” or “servant.”
What is SZIA? ›
Interjection. szia. (informal) hi. (informal) bye, see ya, so long.
How do you pronounce Koszonom? ›
Pronunciation
- IPA: [ˈkøsønøm]
- Audio. 0:02. (file)
- Hyphenation: kö‧szö‧nöm.
- Rhymes: -øm.
How to Pronounce Hungary? (CORRECTLY) - YouTube
How do you respond to thank you in Hungarian? ›
If someone says "thank you" in Hungarian, simply say Nincs mit. It literally means "nothing to thank for" or "you're welcome." Let's wrap up this lesson by recapping what we've learned. Listen to the expressions and repeat after me.
What does Servus mean in Hungarian? ›
The word may be used as a greeting, a parting salutation, or as both, depending on the region and context. Despite its formal origins, servus is now used as an informal salute in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Austria, Südtirol, Slovenia, Hungary, and Romania.
How to Say Hello in Hungarian - YouTube
How do I say how are you in Hungarian? ›
How to ask "how are you?" in Hungarian - One Minute ... - YouTube
How do you say thank you in Hungarian phonetically? ›
3 Ways to Say Thank You in Hungarian - YouTube
What language is Hungarian? ›
Hungarian belongs to the Ugric branch of Finno-Ugric, along with the Ob-Ugric languages, Mansi and Khanty, spoken in western Siberia. The language has been written in a modified Latin alphabet since the 13th century ad, and its orthography was stabilized from the 16th century with the introduction of printing.
Do and don'ts in Hungary? ›
DON'Ts
- Don't be careless, and hold onto your valuables! Even though Hungary is considered to be one of the safest places, crowded places attract pickpockets.
- Don't hail a cab on the street. ...
- Don't exchange money at the airport! ...
- Don't expect everyone to speak a foreign language. ...
- Don't make the cheesy Hungary-hungry pun.
Hungarians are not Slavic.
Most experts agree that the Magyar tribes originated somewhere between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains in present day Russia. Others schools of thought suggest that Hungarians have a Sumerian/Iranian origin.
Is Hungarian like German? ›
Although Hungarian is not an Indo-European language, unlike most other European languages, its vocabulary has many words from Slavic and Turkic languages and also from German.
Which is the best side Buda or Pest? ›
Buda is considered to be the calmer side of the city–while it's not exactly dead, there tends to be much more going on, including nightlife, on the Pest side of the river. Buda tends to have a much more residential feel.
How do you reply to Koszonom? ›
You basically round your mouth like you are saying look or book, but round the sound out a bit and bring your octave a bit deeper and more guttural. You'll get the hang of it eventually. This is how you respond when someone says “Köszönöm” to you. Straight, sweet and to the point.
How do you say nice to meet you Hungarian? ›
How to say "nice to meet you" in Hungarian - YouTube
