Hungarian grammar FAQ
Direct answers to the questions learners ask most often about Hungarian, grouped by topic. Each answer links to the full guide with rules, tables and examples.
Basics
How many letters are in the Hungarian alphabet?
There are 44 letters. The count includes 14 vowel letters, the digraphs cs, dz, gy, ly, ny, sz, ty, zs, the trigraph dzs, and q, w, x, y, which appear mainly in foreign words and names.
Read the full guide: The Hungarian alphabet and pronunciation
How do you pronounce "sz" and "s" in Hungarian?
sz is the English "s" of see, and s is the "sh" of shop. So szia (hi) starts with "s", and Budapest ends in "-pesht".
Read the full guide: The Hungarian alphabet and pronunciation
How do you pronounce "gy" in Hungarian?
gy is a single sound, a palatal stop [ɟ], similar to the "d" in British duke or dew. Press the middle of your tongue against the hard palate and release it; do not say "g" followed by "y".
Read the full guide: The Hungarian alphabet and pronunciation
What is vowel harmony in Hungarian?
It is the rule that a suffix's vowel must match the vowels of the word it attaches to. Back-vowel words take back suffixes (házban), front-vowel words take front suffixes (kertben), and some suffixes have a third, rounded form (sörhöz).
Which vowels are neutral in Hungarian?
i, í and é are fully neutral, and e is partly neutral. In a word that also has back vowels they do not count, so papír and kávé take back suffixes.
Why is it "hídon" and not "hídön" or "híden"?
híd is one of a few dozen back-harmonic stems that contain only i, í or é but take back suffixes, for historical reasons. Others include cél, nyíl, zsír and the verbs ír, nyit, iszik.
What does agglutinative mean in Hungarian?
It means that grammatical information is added by gluing separate suffixes onto a stem, one meaning per suffix. házainkban is ház-a-i-nk-ban: house, plural of possessed, our, in.
In what order do Hungarian suffixes go?
Stem, then derivational suffixes, then the plural (or the possessed plural -i-), then the possessor, then the case ending. The case ending is always last.
What is the longest word in Hungarian?
The usual showpiece is megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért, "for your (plural) acts of behaving as if you could not be desecrated". It is well formed but artificial; its value is that it shows the suffix slots working perfectly.
Is Hungarian word order free?
No. The words can appear in many orders, but each order means something different, because position marks topic and focus. Grammatical roles are shown by case endings, which frees word order to show emphasis.
What is the focus position in Hungarian?
It is the position immediately before the finite verb. An element there is stressed and understood exclusively, as in PÉTER hívta meg Marit, "It was Péter who invited Mari".
Why is it "nem ettem meg" and not "nem megettem"?
nem occupies the slot before the verb, so the verbal prefix meg has to move behind it. The same happens with focused elements and question words.
When do you use "a" and when "az" in Hungarian?
Use a before a word that starts with a consonant sound and az before a vowel sound: a ház, az alma. Digits and abbreviations count as they are read aloud, so it is az 5. oldal because ötödik starts with a vowel.
Does Hungarian have an indefinite article?
Yes, egy, which is also the number one. It is used less than English "a/an": Hungarian says Tanár vagyok ("I'm a teacher") and Van autód? ("Do you have a car?") without it.
Why do Hungarians say "a Péter"?
Putting the article before first names is a common feature of informal spoken Hungarian. It is avoided in formal speech and writing, where the name stands alone.
How do you make a noun plural in Hungarian?
Add -k. After a vowel it attaches directly (autók, with a/e lengthening: almák); after a consonant a linking vowel is inserted (ablakok, kertek, gyümölcsök, házak).
Why is it "két alma" and not "két almák"?
Hungarian does not mark the plural twice. After numbers and quantity words such as sok, néhány, hány, minden, the noun stays singular and the verb agrees in the singular.
Why is the plural of ház "házak" and not "házok"?
ház is a lowering stem, a lexical class of nouns that take a or e as their linking vowel. The accusative házat shows the same vowel, so learning one form tells you the other.
How do you say "better" and "best" in Hungarian?
As adjectives, jobb and legjobb (from jó). As adverbs, jobban and legjobban (from jól), which also mean "more" and "most" with verbs like szeret.
Read the full guide: How do you form the comparative and superlative in Hungarian?
Is it nagyobb nálam or nagyobb, mint én?
Both are correct. nálam is more common in speech; with mint the pronoun stays in the nominative, én.
Read the full guide: How do you form the comparative and superlative in Hungarian?
When must I use mint instead of -nál/-nél?
When the compared word already needs another case (mint Péterrel), when it is a time word or adverb (mint tegnap), or when a clause follows (mint gondoltam).
Read the full guide: How do you form the comparative and superlative in Hungarian?
What is the difference between kis and kicsi?
Both mean "small". Kis can only stand directly before a noun (kis ház); kicsi can stand anywhere, including as a predicate (A ház kicsi) and on its own (Csak kicsi van).
Read the full guide: Kis or kicsi: what is the difference in Hungarian?
Can I say "kicsi ház"?
Yes. Egy kicsi ház is correct and sounds a little more emphatic or colloquial than egy kis ház. What you cannot say is *A ház kis.
Read the full guide: Kis or kicsi: what is the difference in Hungarian?
How do you say "a little" in Hungarian?
Before a noun, egy kis: egy kis víz, "a little water". On its own or with a verb or adjective, egy kicsit: Egy kicsit fáradt vagyok, "I'm a little tired".
Read the full guide: Kis or kicsi: what is the difference in Hungarian?
How do you turn an adjective into an adverb in Hungarian?
Add -an or -en after a consonant (gyorsan, szépen) or -n after a vowel, lengthening a and e (csúnyán). Adjectives in -tlan/-telen take -ul/-ül, and adjectives in -i take -lag/-leg.
Read the full guide: How do you form adverbs in Hungarian: -an/-en, -ul/-ül or -lag/-leg?
When do you use -ul/-ül instead of -an/-en?
After privative adjectives (véletlenül, váratlanul), with language names (magyarul), and in a few words to learn individually, such as rosszul and vadul.
Read the full guide: How do you form adverbs in Hungarian: -an/-en, -ul/-ül or -lag/-leg?
Why is it rosszul and not rosszan?
rossz is one of the few ordinary adjectives that take -ul; nothing in its form predicts it. Its comparative keeps the ending: rosszabbul.
Read the full guide: How do you form adverbs in Hungarian: -an/-en, -ul/-ül or -lag/-leg?
What are the personal pronouns in Hungarian?
én (I), te (you), ő (he/she), mi (we), ti (you all), ők (they), plus formal Ön/Önök and maga/maguk, which take third-person verbs.
How do you say "me" in Hungarian?
It depends on the case: engem as a direct object, nekem for "to/for me", velem for "with me", rólam for "about me", and so on. Each case ending takes a personal suffix instead of combining with én.
Does Hungarian have separate words for "he" and "she"?
No. ő covers both, and Hungarian has no grammatical gender anywhere in its grammar.
Why is it "ez a ház" and not "ez ház"?
Because the demonstrative in Hungarian is used together with the definite article, not instead of it. Ez ház is ungrammatical; Ez egy ház is a sentence, "This is a house".
Read the full guide: Ez or az, ebben or abban: how do "this" and "that" work in Hungarian?
Is it "ebben a házban" or "abban a házban"?
Both exist, with different meanings. Ebben a házban is "in this house", abban a házban is "in that house". The demonstrative keeps its own vowel harmony, so the noun's back vowels do not turn ebben into abban.
Read the full guide: Ez or az, ebben or abban: how do "this" and "that" work in Hungarian?
Is it "ezzel" or "evvel"?
Both are correct, but ezzel is the standard and far more common form. Evvel (and avval for azzal) is described as somewhat folksy.
Read the full guide: Ez or az, ebben or abban: how do "this" and "that" work in Hungarian?
How do you say "anyone" in Hungarian?
It depends on the sentence type. In a question use valaki (Van itt valaki?), in a negative use senki with a negated verb (Nem jött senki), and for "anyone at all, no matter who" use bárki or akárki (Bárki jelentkezhet).
Read the full guide: Valaki, senki or bárki: how do you say someone, no one and anyone in Hungarian?
What is the difference between senki and bárki?
Senki is "nobody" and needs a negated verb: Senki nem tudja. Bárki is "anyone, whoever you like": Ezt bárki tudja, "Anyone knows that". With nem, bárki or akárki means "not just anyone".
Read the full guide: Valaki, senki or bárki: how do you say someone, no one and anyone in Hungarian?
Is there a difference between bárki and akárki?
No meaning difference to learn. Wiktionary and the Hungarian Wikipedia treat bár- and akár- as synonym prefixes, so bárki/akárki, bármi/akármi and bárhol/akárhol can be swapped.
Read the full guide: Valaki, senki or bárki: how do you say someone, no one and anyone in Hungarian?
Is "a könyv, amit olvasok" wrong?
No. It is the normal spoken form, and major writers have used ami after nouns too. The strict written norm prefers a könyv, amelyet olvasok, so use that in formal texts.
Read the full guide: Ami, amely or amelyik: which is correct after a noun?
What is the difference between amely and amelyik?
amelyik singles out one item from several (azzal a vonattal, amelyik 8-kor indul). amely simply refers back to a named thing, and in speech it is replaced by ami.
Read the full guide: Ami, amely or amelyik: which is correct after a noun?
Can I use amely for a person?
No. After a person use aki: az elnök, aki megérkezett. Nouns for groups of people, such as társaság, traditionally take amely or ami.
Read the full guide: Ami, amely or amelyik: which is correct after a noun?
How long does it take to learn Hungarian?
The US Foreign Service Institute estimates about 44 weeks, or 1,100 class hours, of intensive full-time study for English speakers to reach professional working proficiency. Part-time learners need proportionally longer.
Is Hungarian the hardest language to learn?
No. FSI puts it in Category III together with Russian, Polish, Finnish and Turkish. Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are in Category IV, estimated at about twice the time.
What is the hardest part of Hungarian?
For most English speakers it is vocabulary, because almost nothing is cognate, followed by the definite conjugation and verbal prefixes with their effect on word order.
How many people speak Hungarian?
About 13 million people speak Hungarian as their native language. Most live in Hungary (about 9.6 million inhabitants), with sizeable communities in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine.
How many cases does Hungarian have?
18 in the most common count. Some grammars list about 17, others over 20, depending on whether suffixes such as -ul, -kor, -stul and -nként are counted as cases.
How many tenses does Hungarian have?
Three in modern use: present, past and a future formed with fog. The present is also often used for future events.
Cases
How many cases does Hungarian have?
Most textbooks count 18. The number varies from 17 to more than 20 depending on whether the nominative and semi-productive suffixes such as -ul/-ül or -nként are counted.
Are Hungarian cases harder than German or Russian cases?
They are more numerous but much more regular. Hungarian has no genders or declension classes, and each case has one suffix with predictable vowel-harmony variants, so there is far less to memorise per case.
Which Hungarian cases should I learn first?
Start with the accusative -t, the inner cases -ban, -ba, -ból, the surface cases -on, -ra, -ról, the dative -nak and the instrumental -val. Add the proximity cases next, and leave the minor cases for later.
Why is it házat and not házot?
Ház is a lowering stem: it takes the linking vowel a instead of o, and its plural is házak. This is a property of the word that has to be learned, but the plural reveals it.
When does the Hungarian accusative not need a linking vowel?
After a vowel (autót) and after most words ending in j, l, ly, n, ny, r, s, sz, z, zs (asztalt, bort, buszt). Lowering stems such as hal → halat are exceptions.
What is the accusative of "én" and "te"?
Engem (or engemet) and téged (or tégedet). Both take the indefinite conjugation: Péter lát engem.
Is it "segít valakit" or "segít valakinek"?
Segít valakinek, with the dative: Segítek a szomszédnak ("I help the neighbour"). The task you help with goes in -ban/-ben: segít valakinek valamiben.
How do you say "I have" in Hungarian?
Use van plus a possessive suffix: Van egy kutyám ("I have a dog"). For a noun owner add the dative: Péternek van egy kutyája. The negative is Nincs kutyám.
What is the difference between neki and nekik?
Neki is "to him/her" (singular) and nekik is "to them" (plural). For formal "to you", use Önnek or Önöknek.
What are the nine local cases in Hungarian?
Inessive -ban/-ben, illative -ba/-be, elative -ból/-ből, superessive -on/-en/-ön, sublative -ra/-re, delative -ról/-ről, adessive -nál/-nél, allative -hoz/-hez/-höz and ablative -tól/-től.
How do I know whether to use -ban or -on?
Use -ban for enclosed spaces and -on for surfaces and open areas. Some places are conventional: Hungarian towns and Hungary take -on, foreign cities and countries take -ban.
Why is it "orvoshoz megyek" and not "orvosba"?
People are treated as points you approach, so they take the proximity row: orvoshoz (to the doctor), orvosnál (at the doctor's), orvostól (from the doctor).
What is the difference between -ban and -ba in Hungarian?
-ban/-ben means "in" (location, answering Hol?) and -ba/-be means "into" (direction, answering Hová?): a házban vagyok versus a házba megyek.
Is "a boltba vagyok" correct?
No. It is heard in casual speech, but standard Hungarian requires a boltban vagyok for location. A boltba is only correct with movement: a boltba megyek.
How do you say "in May" or "in 2024" in Hungarian?
Add -ban/-ben: májusban, 2024-ben. For years, write the suffix after a hyphen and choose the harmony by the spoken form of the last number word.
When do I use -on, -en or -ön?
After a vowel, just -n. After a consonant, use -on for back-vowel words, -en if the last vowel is e, é, i, í, and -ön if the last vowel is ö, ő, ü, ű.
Why is it Budapesten and not Budapestben?
Most Hungarian settlements use the surface cases by convention: Budapesten, Szegeden, Pécsen. Foreign cities use the inner cases: Bécsben, Londonban.
How do you say "on Monday" in Hungarian?
Hétfőn. The other days are kedden, szerdán, csütörtökön, pénteken, szombaton, and "on Sunday" is simply vasárnap.
What is the difference between -hoz and -ba?
-ba/-be means "into" and -hoz/-hez/-höz means "up to, next to" or "to a person". So a boltba is into the shop, a bolthoz is to the front of the shop, and az orvoshoz is to the doctor.
How do you say "at someone's house" in Hungarian?
Use -nál/-nél on the person: Péternél (at Péter's), nálunk (at our place). With the family plural: Péteréknél.
Is "nagyobb nálam" or "nagyobb, mint én" correct?
Both are correct and mean "bigger than me". Use mint when comparing clauses or words that carry another suffix, since -nál/-nél only attaches to a plain noun or pronoun.
Why is it "busszal" and not "buszszal"?
When a two-letter consonant such as sz is doubled, Hungarian spelling doubles only its first letter. So busz + val becomes busszal, and likewise hegy → heggyel, lány → lánnyal.
How do I say "with me" in Hungarian?
Velem. The full set is velem, veled, vele, velünk, veletek, velük, and formally Önnel, Önökkel.
Is it "találkozom Pétert" or "találkozom Péterrel"?
Találkozom Péterrel. The verb találkozik (meet) takes the instrumental, not the accusative.
What does -ért mean in Hungarian?
It means "for" in the sense of fetching (kenyérért megy), price (ezer forintért), sake (a gyerekeiért) or reason (a késésért). Miért? ("why?") is built from it.
Read the full guide: The minor cases: -ért, -ig, -vá, -ként, -kor and others
What is the difference between -ként and -képpen?
-ként is the everyday "as, in the role of" (tanárként). -képp(en) is formal and mostly found in set words such as másképp, mindenképpen, ajándékképpen.
Read the full guide: The minor cases: -ért, -ig, -vá, -ként, -kor and others
How do you say "daily" and "weekly" in Hungarian?
Naponta and hetente; also havonta (monthly) and évente (yearly). Add a number for intervals: kéthetente (every two weeks).
Read the full guide: The minor cases: -ért, -ig, -vá, -ként, -kor and others
Is it Budapesten or Budapestben?
Budapesten. The capital takes the surface cases: Budapesten (in), Budapestre (to), Budapestről (from). Budapestben is incorrect.
Why is it Magyarországon but Ausztriában?
By convention, Hungary takes the surface cases while other countries take the inner cases. It is a fixed usage that has to be learned; even -ország neighbours like Németország take -ban.
Is it Debrecenben or Debrecenen?
Debrecenben, with Debrecenbe (to) and Debrecenből (from). Debrecen is one of the major Hungarian cities that take the inner cases.
How do you say "my" in Hungarian?
Add -m after a vowel (autóm) or -om/-am/-em/-öm after a consonant (kalapom, házam, kertem, gyümölcsöm). For emphasis, add az én in front: az én házam.
When do I use -ja and when -a?
Almost always -ja/-je after a vowel. After s, sz, z, zs, c, cs, j, ly, gy, ny, ty, almost always -a/-e. After other consonants it depends on the word (kertje but széke), so check a dictionary.
What is the difference between házuk and házaik?
Házuk is "their house" (one house); házaik is "their houses". Házai is "his/her houses".
How do you say "Peter's house" in Hungarian?
Péter háza. The possessor comes first without a suffix and the possessed noun gets the third person possessive ending. Péternek a háza is also correct and slightly more emphatic.
When do I have to use -nak in possessive phrases?
When the possessor is a demonstrative phrase (ennek a háznak a teteje), a question word (kinek a...), a relative pronoun, when it is separated from the possessed noun, and on the middle link of a chain.
How do you say "mine" and "yours" in Hungarian?
Az enyém (mine), a tiéd or a tied (yours), az övé (his/hers), a miénk (ours), a tiétek (yours, plural), az övék (theirs).
What is the difference between a postposition and a case suffix in Hungarian?
A case suffix is attached to the noun and follows vowel harmony (házban, kertben). A postposition is a separate word that never changes (a ház mellett, a kert mellett) and takes possessive endings with pronouns (mellettem).
How do you say "next to me" in Hungarian?
Mellettem for location (Mellettem ül), mellém for movement (Leült mellém) and mellőlem for moving away (Felállt mellőlem).
What does "szerintem" mean?
"In my opinion", literally "according to me". It is the first person form of szerint; szerinted? means "What do you think?"
How do you say "two years ago" in Hungarian?
Két éve with a past tense verb: Két éve költöztem ide, "I moved here two years ago". The longer form két évvel ezelőtt means the same and is never read as "for".
Read the full guide: Két éve, két évig or két évre: "for two years" and "two years ago" in Hungarian
What is the difference between két éve and két évig?
Két éve with a present verb is a stretch still going on (Két éve tanulok magyarul, "I've been learning Hungarian for two years"). Két évig is a stretch with an end: Két évig tanultam magyarul, "I studied Hungarian for two years".
Read the full guide: Két éve, két évig or két évre: "for two years" and "two years ago" in Hungarian
What does két évre mean?
"For two years" as the period an action sets up: Két évre jöttem, "I came for two years". Wikipedia's model is Három napra ment el, "He left for three days".
Read the full guide: Két éve, két évig or két évre: "for two years" and "two years ago" in Hungarian
How do you say "during" in Hungarian?
Before a noun, use alatt, közben, során or folyamán after it: a nap folyamán, "during the day"; élete során, "during his life". Wiktionary lists the four as synonyms.
Read the full guide: Alatt, közben or során: how to say "during" in Hungarian
Does alatt mean "under" or "during"?
Both. Its first sense is "under" (az asztal alatt) and its second is about time: "in, over the course of", as in tíz perc alatt, "in ten minutes".
Read the full guide: Alatt, közben or során: how to say "during" in Hungarian
What does közben mean on its own?
"Meanwhile, in the meantime". Unlike során and folyamán, közben is also an adverb, so it can stand without a noun. Eközben, ezalatt and időközben mean the same.
Read the full guide: Alatt, közben or során: how to say "during" in Hungarian
Verbs
What is the difference between látok and látom?
Látok is indefinite: "I see" with no object or with an indefinite one (látok egy madarat). Látom is definite: "I see it/him/her" or "I see the ..." (látom a madarat).
Is "engem" definite or indefinite in Hungarian?
Indefinite. Engem, téged, minket and titeket always take the indefinite conjugation, as in Anna szeret engem. Only third-person pronouns such as őt trigger the definite.
Why is it "Kérek egy kávét" and not "Kérem egy kávét"?
The object egy kávét is indefinite, so the verb must be indefinite. Kérem is correct only with a definite object, as in Kérem a számlát ("The bill, please").
Is it "olvasol" or "olvasz"?
Olvasol. Verbs whose stem ends in s, sz, z or dz take -ol/-el/-öl in the 2sg indefinite instead of -sz.
Why is it "tanítasz" and not "tanítsz"?
Stems ending in -ít or in two consonants insert a linking vowel before consonant-initial endings, which gives tanítasz, tanítotok, tanítanak.
Does Hungarian have a present continuous tense?
No. Olvasok covers both "I read" and "I am reading"; context or an adverb like most ("now") makes the ongoing meaning clear.
Is it "lakom" or "lakok"?
Both are heard. Lakom is the standard, formal form; lakok is very common in casual speech but is judged informal. Learners should default to lakom.
Why do Hungarian dictionaries list verbs in the third person?
The 3sg present indefinite is the barest form of most verbs (ír), and it is the only form that reveals whether a verb is an -ik verb (lakik). The infinitive does not show this.
What is suksükölés?
It is using subjunctive forms like tanítsuk or lássa where the indicative tanítjuk or látja is required. It affects verbs ending in -t, is strongly stigmatized, and is unrelated to -ik verbs.
How many past tenses does Hungarian have?
One in modern standard Hungarian. It translates English simple past, present perfect and past progressive, with verbal prefixes adding a sense of completion.
When does the Hungarian past tense use -ott instead of -t?
Verbs in -ít, verbs ending in a cluster with final t, and one-syllable verbs in vowel + t (except lát) use -ott/-ett/-ött throughout. Sibilant and plosive stems use it only in the 3sg indefinite (olvasott but olvastam).
What is the past tense of "van" in Hungarian?
Volt: voltam, voltál, volt, voltunk, voltatok, voltak. The negative is simply nem volt; there is no past form of nincs.
Does Hungarian have a future tense?
Not as a verb ending. Hungarian uses the present tense with time words or perfective prefixes, the auxiliary fog with an infinitive, and lesz as the future of van.
Is it "el fogom olvasni" or "fogom elolvasni"?
In a neutral statement, El fogom olvasni. Fogom elolvasni appears only after negation, a question word or a focused element, as in Nem fogom elolvasni or Mikor fogod elolvasni?
How do you say "I will be" in Hungarian?
Leszek, from lesz: Holnap otthon leszek ("I'll be at home tomorrow"). The negative is nem leszek.
Is it "látnék" or "látnák"?
For "I would see", látnék (indefinite) or látnám (definite). Látnák means "they would see it"; using it for "I" is the stigmatized feature called nákolás.
How do you say "I would like" in Hungarian?
Szeretnék with an indefinite object or an infinitive (Szeretnék egy kávét, Szeretnék fizetni) and szeretném with a definite object (Szeretném a számlát).
How is the Hungarian past conditional formed?
Past tense form plus volna: láttam volna ("I would have seen"), elmentél volna ("you would have gone"). Volna never changes.
What is the difference between the imperative and the subjunctive in Hungarian?
Only their use. The forms are identical: Várj! is a command, while Azt akarom, hogy várj uses the same form as a subjunctive after hogy.
Is it "várj" or "várjál"?
Both are correct. Várj is the short form and várjál the long form; the long form is especially common in speech. The same applies to kérd / kérjed in the definite.
How do you say "come here" in Hungarian?
Gyere ide! to one person, Gyertek ide! to several, and formally Jöjjön ide! or Jöjjenek ide!
How do you form the infinitive in Hungarian?
Add -ni to the verb stem: olvas → olvasni, dolgozik → dolgozni. Stems in -ít and most stems ending in two consonants take -ani/-eni, as in tanítani and küldeni.
What does "mennem kell" mean?
It means "I have to go". Mennem is the infinitive menni with the first person ending -em, used because kell itself cannot show the person.
Is it "nekem kell menni" or "nekem mennem kell"?
The standard form is Nekem mennem kell, with the personal ending on the infinitive. Nekem menni kell is heard in casual speech but is best avoided in writing.
What does "meg" mean in Hungarian?
As a verbal prefix, meg has no directional meaning. It usually marks that the action is completed or has a result (megír, "write and finish"), and sometimes it changes the meaning (megfog, "grab"). Do not confuse it with the conjunction meg, "and".
Why is it "Nézd meg!" and not "Megnézd!"?
In positive commands the prefix always moves behind the verb. Megnézd is a subjunctive form used in clauses such as Azt akarom, hogy megnézd, not as a command.
How do you say "no" to a question with a prefix?
Say Nem, or repeat the verb with the prefix after it: Megcsináltad? Nem, nem csináltam meg. "Yes" is the bare prefix: Meg.
What does -lak/-lek mean in Hungarian?
It is a verb ending meaning "I (do something to) you", where "you" is informal. Szeretlek is "I love you" and Látlak is "I see you".
Read the full guide: The -lak/-lek ending (szeretlek, látlak)
How do you say "I love you" in Hungarian?
Szeretlek. For emphasis you can say Nagyon szeretlek ("I love you very much") or Téged szeretlek ("It's you I love").
Read the full guide: The -lak/-lek ending (szeretlek, látlak)
How do you say "I will see you" with -lak/-lek?
Put the ending on the future auxiliary: Látni foglak. More often Hungarians simply use the present, Majd látlak, or Találkozunk! ("See you!").
Read the full guide: The -lak/-lek ending (szeretlek, látlak)
How many irregular verbs does Hungarian have?
Very few. Only van, megy and jön are irregular throughout; a further dozen or so common verbs, such as eszik, iszik, tesz, alszik, belong to small families with predictable stem changes.
What is the past tense of eszik?
The past is ettem, ettél, evett, ettünk, ettetek, ettek. Note the special third person singular evett, and the definite ette ("he ate it").
How do you conjugate van in the future?
Use lesz: leszek, leszel, lesz, leszünk, lesztek, lesznek. It is the normal future of "to be", so Otthon leszek is "I'll be at home".
What does -hat/-het mean in Hungarian?
It is a suffix meaning "may" or "can" in the sense of permission or possibility. Olvas is "reads", olvashat is "may read, is allowed to read".
How do you say "May I come in?" in Hungarian?
Bejöhetek? The prefix be- means "in", jön is "come" and -het adds "may". The same form works in formal and informal situations, because the verb describes what you yourself would do.
What is the difference between "tudok" and "-hatok"?
Tud + infinitive is about ability: Tudok vezetni, "I can drive". -hat/-het is about permission or possibility: Vezethetek?, "May I drive?"
How do you say "I had my hair cut" in Hungarian?
Levágattam a hajam. The causative vágat ("have cut") shows someone else did it; Levágtam a hajam would mean you cut it yourself.
When do you use -tat/-tet instead of -at/-et?
Use -tat/-tet with stems of two or more syllables (csináltat, javíttat) and with one-syllable stems ending in a vowel plus t (láttat). Other one-syllable stems take -at/-et: írat, hozat, festet.
What case is the person who does the action in?
If the verb has its own object, the doer goes in the instrumental: Megjavíttatom a kocsit a szerelővel. If not, the doer is in the accusative: Megnevettette a közönséget.
What is the difference between "olvasó" and "olvasott"?
Olvasó is the present participle, "reading" or "reader": az újságot olvasó férfi, "the man reading the paper". Olvasott is the past participle, "read": a sokat olvasott könyv, "the much-read book".
How do you say "the door is closed" in Hungarian?
Az ajtó be van zárva ("locked") or Az ajtó csukva van ("shut"). For a shop, zárva van means "is closed", and signs simply say Zárva or Nyitva.
What does -andó/-endő mean?
It forms a future participle meaning "to be done": fizetendő "payable, to be paid", megoldandó "to be solved". It is mostly used in formal and written Hungarian.
What is the difference between tudni and ismerni?
Tudni is knowing information or how to do something; ismerni is being acquainted with a person, place or thing. "I know where he lives" is Tudom, hol lakik; "I know him" is Ismerem őt.
Read the full guide: Tud or ismer: how do you say "to know" in Hungarian?
How do you say "I know" in Hungarian?
Tudom. It is definite because an "it" or "that" is understood. "I don't know" is Nem tudom.
Read the full guide: Tud or ismer: how do you say "to know" in Hungarian?
How do you say "I know you" in Hungarian?
To a friend, Ismerlek, with the -lek ending for "I" acting on informal "you". To someone you address formally, Ismerem Önt.
Read the full guide: Tud or ismer: how do you say "to know" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between megy and jár in Hungarian?
Megy is a single trip, now or planned: Iskolába megyek, "I'm going to school". Jár is regular going or attendance: Iskolába járok, "I'm a pupil". Jár also means dating, a machine running and being entitled to something.
Read the full guide: Megy or jár: what is the difference in Hungarian?
How do you say "Have you ever been to Budapest?" in Hungarian?
Jártál már Budapesten? or Voltál már Budapesten? Use the "where" case (-n), not the "where to" case: Budapestre jársz means you go there regularly.
Read the full guide: Megy or jár: what is the difference in Hungarian?
What does "jár valakivel" mean?
It means "to go out with, to date someone": Két éve járnak, "They've been going out for two years". To say you are travelling somewhere together with someone, use megy: Péterrel megyek.
Read the full guide: Megy or jár: what is the difference in Hungarian?
What is the difference between kér and kérdez?
Kér means asking for something or asking someone to do something: Kérek egy kávét. Kérdez means asking a question: Kérdezhetek valamit? The test is whether you expect a thing or an answer back.
Read the full guide: Kér or kérdez: which "ask" do you use in Hungarian?
How do you say "Can I ask you something?" in Hungarian?
Informally, Kérdezhetek tőled valamit?; formally, Kérdezhetek Öntől valamit? The person takes -tól/-től because valamit already fills the object slot. Feltehetek egy kérdést? also works.
Read the full guide: Kér or kérdez: which "ask" do you use in Hungarian?
Is it "megkérdezem a tanárt" or "a tanártól"?
Both are correct when nothing else is the object. Once the question itself is an object (ezt, valamit), the person must go into -tól/-től: Ezt kérdezem a tanártól.
Read the full guide: Kér or kérdez: which "ask" do you use in Hungarian?
What is the difference between szeret and tetszik?
Szeret is a lasting taste or affection: Szeretem a filmeket, "I like films". Tetszik is the impression a particular thing makes on you: Tetszik ez a film, "I like this film". It is a difference of time and source, not of strength.
Read the full guide: Szeret or tetszik: how do you say "I like" in Hungarian?
Does szeret mean "love" or "like"?
Both. With people it usually means love (Szeretlek, "I love you"); with things and activities it is the ordinary "like": Szeretek olvasni, "I like reading".
Read the full guide: Szeret or tetszik: how do you say "I like" in Hungarian?
How do you say "I'd like" in Hungarian?
Use the conditional szeretnék: Szeretnék egy kávét, "I'd like a coffee", or with an infinitive, Szeretnék fizetni, "I'd like to pay". With a definite object it is szeretném.
Read the full guide: Szeret or tetszik: how do you say "I like" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between lát and néz?
Lát is "see": what your eyes take in, whether you want it or not. Néz is "look at" or "watch": where you choose to direct your eyes. Nézem, de nem látom is "I'm looking at it, but I can't see it".
Read the full guide: Lát or néz, hall or hallgat: see or look, hear or listen in Hungarian?
How do you say "watch TV" in Hungarian?
Tévét néz, with an indefinite object: Este tévét nézünk. For a specific film or match watched to the end, use megnéz: Megnéztük a meccset.
Read the full guide: Lát or néz, hall or hallgat: see or look, hear or listen in Hungarian?
What is the difference between hall and hallgat?
Hall is "hear", hallgat is "listen": Hallom a zenét, de nem hallgatom. Without an object hallgat also means "keep quiet", and with -ra/-re it means "heed".
Read the full guide: Lát or néz, hall or hallgat: see or look, hear or listen in Hungarian?
What is the difference between jön and megy?
Jön is movement toward the place the speaker treats as "here", megy is movement away from it. Because "here" is normally where you are, Hungarian says megyek when English says "I'm coming" to the person waiting for you.
Read the full guide: Jön or megy, hoz or visz: how do you say come, go, bring and take in Hungarian?
How do you say "I'm coming" in Hungarian?
When you set off toward someone who has called or invited you, say Megyek! To "Are you coming with us?" (Jössz velünk?) the answer is Igen, megyek veletek!
Read the full guide: Jön or megy, hoz or visz: how do you say come, go, bring and take in Hungarian?
What is the difference between hoz and visz?
Hoz is "bring", carrying something toward "here"; visz is "take" or "carry", away from it. A host asks a guest to hozz bort, while the guest says viszek bort.
Read the full guide: Jön or megy, hoz or visz: how do you say come, go, bring and take in Hungarian?
What is the difference between mond and beszél?
Mond reports the words and takes them as its object: Azt mondta, hogy késik. Beszél is the activity of speaking, with the partner in -val/-vel, the topic in -ról/-ről and the language in -ul/-ül: Beszéltem vele a tervről.
Read the full guide: Mond or beszél: which Hungarian verb means say, tell, speak or talk?
How do you say "talk to someone" in Hungarian?
Use beszél with the instrumental: Beszéltem az orvossal, "I talked to the doctor". The dative -nak/-nek goes with mond, for the person you tell something to.
Read the full guide: Mond or beszél: which Hungarian verb means say, tell, speak or talk?
How do you say "tell me" in Hungarian?
For a fact or an answer, Mondd meg! or Mondd!; for a story or an experience, Mesélj!; for "let me know", Szólj! Formally: Mondja meg, Meséljen, Szóljon.
Read the full guide: Mond or beszél: which Hungarian verb means say, tell, speak or talk?
What is the difference between csinál and tesz?
Csinál is the everyday "do" and "make a thing": Mit csinálsz?, Ebédet csinálok. Tesz means "put" (Tedd az asztalra!), "make + adjective" with -vá/-vé (boldoggá tesz), and a more formal "do" for deeds.
Read the full guide: Csinál or tesz: which Hungarian verb means do, make or put?
How do you say "What are you doing?" in Hungarian?
Mit csinálsz? to one person you say te to, Mit csinál? formally. Tesz is not used for this question.
Read the full guide: Csinál or tesz: which Hungarian verb means do, make or put?
Can tesz mean "make"?
Yes, when "make" means "cause to be": the result goes into -vá/-vé, as in lehetővé tesz, "make possible". It cannot mean "make" an object: a cake or a chair is csinál or készít.
Read the full guide: Csinál or tesz: which Hungarian verb means do, make or put?
What is the difference between kell and muszáj?
Both mean "must, have to" with an infinitive. Kell is neutral, conjugates (kellett, kellene) and can also mean "to be needed" with a noun. Muszáj is more informal and stronger, never changes form (muszáj volt) and cannot take a noun.
Read the full guide: Kell or muszáj: how do you say must, have to and need in Hungarian?
How do you say "I have to go" in Hungarian?
Mennem kell, or more insistently Muszáj mennem. For "I have to leave", with the prefix el-: El kell mennem or Muszáj elmennem.
Read the full guide: Kell or muszáj: how do you say must, have to and need in Hungarian?
How do you say "must not" in Hungarian?
Use nem szabad (Nem szabad elfelejtened, "You mustn't forget") or, on signs and in rules, tilos. Nem kell means "you don't have to".
Read the full guide: Kell or muszáj: how do you say must, have to and need in Hungarian?
What is the difference between ül and leül?
Ül means "be sitting", a state: A széken ül. Leül means "sit down", the movement from standing to sitting, and takes a where-to case: Leül a székre.
How do you say "Sit down, please" in Hungarian?
To someone you say te to: Ülj le! Formally: Üljön le! The prefix le goes after the verb in commands.
What is the past tense of fekszik?
Feküdt ("he or she lay"), feküdtem ("I lay"). The infinitive is feküdni and the command feküdj; forms like *fekszett do not exist.
What is the difference between él and lakik in Hungarian?
Lakik means to have your home somewhere: Szegeden lakom. Él means to be alive, and with a place it presents where your life happens: Berlinben él. Only él can mean "be alive" on its own.
Read the full guide: Él or lakik: how do you say "to live" in Hungarian?
How do you say "Where do you live?" in Hungarian?
To someone you call te: Hol laksz? Formally, to Ön: Hol lakik? The answer uses the same verb: Budapesten lakom.
Read the full guide: Él or lakik: how do you say "to live" in Hungarian?
Is it lakom or lakok?
Both exist. Lakom is the traditional, neutral form and the safe one in writing and formal speech; lakok is very common in everyday speech.
Read the full guide: Él or lakik: how do you say "to live" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between azt hiszem and szerintem?
Szerintem works for every kind of opinion. Azt hiszem fits a guess based on what you know (Azt hiszem, holnap moziba megyek), but not a matter of taste: say Szerintem szép, not Azt hiszem, szép.
Read the full guide: Gondol or hisz: how do you say "I think" in Hungarian?
What does azt hittem mean?
"I thought", with the sense that you were wrong: Azt hittem, hogy zárva van, "I thought it was closed". Every past form of azt/úgy hisz carries that reading.
Read the full guide: Gondol or hisz: how do you say "I think" in Hungarian?
How do you say "What do you think?" in Hungarian?
Mit gondolsz? or simply Szerinted? To ask about a topic: Mit gondolsz erről a filmről? The study advises against Azt hiszed?, which can suggest the other person is mistaken.
Read the full guide: Gondol or hisz: how do you say "I think" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between kap and vesz?
Kap is "get" when something is given to you: Kaptam egy ajándékot, "I got a present". Vesz is "get" when you buy or take it yourself: Vettem egy ajándékot, "I bought a present".
Read the full guide: Kap, vesz or szerez: how do you say "to get" in Hungarian?
What does megkap mean?
"To receive", with the sense that something expected has arrived: Megkaptad a levelemet?, "Did you get my letter?" After nem the prefix moves: Nem kaptam meg.
Read the full guide: Kap, vesz or szerez: how do you say "to get" in Hungarian?
How do you say "I don't get it" in Hungarian?
Nem értem. "Get" here means "understand", which is ért. It is in the definite form because the "it" is understood.
Read the full guide: Kap, vesz or szerez: how do you say "to get" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between akarok and szeretnék?
Akarok is "I want", a firm intention. Szeretnék is "I would like", softer and the usual choice for requests. Ma akarok nyerni is a resolve to win; Ma szeretnék nyerni is a hope.
Read the full guide: Akar or szeretne: how do you say "I want" in Hungarian?
Is akar rude in Hungarian?
No. It is neutral for plans: Orvos akarok lenni. It only sounds demanding when you use it to ask a stranger for something, as in Egy kávét akarok to a waiter.
Read the full guide: Akar or szeretne: how do you say "I want" in Hungarian?
How do you order a coffee politely in Hungarian?
Kérek egy kávét is the everyday order. Kérnék egy kávét and Egy kávét szeretnék kérni are softer. Add legyen szíves for a formal "please".
Read the full guide: Akar or szeretne: how do you say "I want" in Hungarian?
How do you say "usually" in Hungarian?
Use szokott with an infinitive, conjugated for the person: Hétfőnként úszni szoktam, "I usually swim on Mondays".
Read the full guide: Szokott: how do you say "usually" and "used to" in Hungarian?
Why is szokott in the past tense if it means present?
It is an irregularity of this one verb. The habitual sense uses only the past-tense forms, and in current standard Hungarian they describe a present or general habit. Szoktam means "I usually", not "I used to".
Read the full guide: Szokott: how do you say "usually" and "used to" in Hungarian?
How do you say "used to" in Hungarian?
Use the plain past with régen or korábban: Régen mindenhová gyalog jártam, "I used to walk everywhere". Szokott volt + infinitive also means "used to", but Wiktionary labels it dated.
Read the full guide: Szokott: how do you say "usually" and "used to" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between tanul and megtanul?
Tanul is the process of studying, whether or not it works. Megtanul means the learning succeeded: Tanultam a verset is "I was learning the poem", Megtanultam a verset is "I've learned it by heart".
How do you say "I teach English" in Hungarian?
Angolt tanítok. Add the pupils in -nak/-nek: Angolt tanítok a gyerekeknek. The verb stays indefinite because angolt is the object.
How do you say "I'm learning Hungarian"?
Magyarul tanulok is common in everyday talk, and Magyart tanulok or Magyar nyelvet tanulok is unambiguous. With a school in the sentence, use the accusative, because magyarul can then mean "in Hungarian".
Everyday Hungarian
How do you count to 10 in Hungarian?
Egy, kettő, három, négy, öt, hat, hét, nyolc, kilenc, tíz. When counting aloud, "two" is always kettő.
What is the difference between két and kettő?
Két is used directly before a noun (két kávé) and inside larger numbers (kétszáz). Kettő stands alone or takes suffixes (kettőt, kettőkor).
Why is it "két alma" and not "két almák"?
In Hungarian the number already signals plurality, so the noun stays singular after any numeral or quantity word. The verb agrees with the singular noun too: Két alma van az asztalon.
What does "fél három" mean in Hungarian?
It means 2:30. Hungarian quarter expressions count toward the next hour, so "half three" in Hungarian is half of the way to three o'clock.
How do you say "What time is it?" in Hungarian?
Hány óra van? or Mennyi az idő? To be polite to a stranger, start with Elnézést, ("Excuse me").
How do you say "at 3 o'clock" in Hungarian?
Háromkor or három órakor. The suffix -kor means "at" and has no vowel harmony variants.
How do you write the date in Hungarian?
Year first, then month, then day, with a full stop after the year and the day: 2026. szeptember 27. or 2026. 09. 27.
Are Hungarian days and months capitalized?
No. Hétfő, kedd, január, február and the rest are written in lowercase unless they begin a sentence.
How do you say "on Monday" in Hungarian?
Hétfőn. Other days take -n/-on/-en/-ön too (kedden, szombaton), but "on Sunday" is simply vasárnap.
What is the difference between Ön and maga in Hungarian?
Both are formal "you" with third-person verbs. Ön is neutral and official, suitable everywhere; maga is more personal and colloquial and can sound either warm or brusque depending on tone.
How do you say "How are you?" formally in Hungarian?
Hogy van? (to one person) or Hogy vannak? (to several). The informal versions are Hogy vagy? and Hogy vagytok?
What does "Csókolom" mean?
It literally means "I kiss (your hand)" and is a respectful greeting for hello and goodbye, used mainly by children to adults and toward older women.
Why do Hungarians put their last name first?
Hungarian orders names from the general to the particular, family then individual, just as dates go year, month, day. In English-language contexts, most Hungarians reverse their names.
What does -né mean in a Hungarian name?
It means "wife of". Kovács Jánosné is the wife of Kovács János, and Kovácsné Tóth Anna is Anna Tóth married to a man named Kovács.
How do you say Mr and Mrs in Hungarian?
"Mr" is úr, placed after the name: Kovács úr. There is no exact equivalent of "Mrs/Ms"; common options are the given name with formal verbs, hölgyem in direct address, or a professional title such as doktornő.
How do you ask a yes/no question in Hungarian?
Use normal statement word order and change the melody: raise the pitch on the second-to-last syllable and drop it on the last. Beszélsz angolul?
What is the difference between hol and hová?
Hol asks where something is; hová (or hova) asks where something is going. Hol vagy? but Hová mész?
What does -e mean at the end of a Hungarian verb?
It is the question particle, roughly "whether". It is standard in indirect questions (Nem tudom, jön-e.) and sounds formal in direct ones (Jön-e?).
What is the difference between nem and ne in Hungarian?
Nem negates statements and questions (Nem megyek.), while ne negates commands, wishes and subjunctive clauses (Ne menj!).
Does Hungarian use double negatives?
Yes, they are required. With a negative word like senki or semmi, the verb must also be negated: Nem láttam senkit. ("I didn't see anyone.")
Why is it "nincs" and not "nem van"?
The third-person present of van has a dedicated negative form, nincs (plural nincsenek). Other persons and tenses use nem normally: nem vagyok, nem volt.
How do you say "me too" in Hungarian?
Én is when you are the subject (Éhes vagyok. Én is.), Nekem is when the sentence puts you in the dative (Tetszik. Nekem is.), and Engem is when you are the object (Meghívtak. Engem is.).
Read the full guide: How do you say "me too" in Hungarian: én is or nekem is?
What is the difference between "én is" and "nekem is"?
The case. Én is is "I too" as a subject; nekem is is "to me too", used with verbs where the person is in the dative, such as tetszik, kell and van for "have".
Read the full guide: How do you say "me too" in Hungarian: én is or nekem is?
How do you say "me neither" in Hungarian?
Replace is with sem and keep the case: Én sem, Nekem sem, Engem sem. To Nincs időm the reply is Nekem sincs.
Read the full guide: How do you say "me too" in Hungarian: én is or nekem is?
What is the difference between már and még in Hungarian?
Már means a change has already happened ("already"), még means the earlier state is still going on ("still"). Már itt vagyok is "I'm already here"; Még itt vagyok is "I'm still here".
Read the full guide: Már or még: how do you say already, still, yet and no longer in Hungarian?
What is the difference between még nem and már nem?
Még nem means "not yet": it has not happened, but it is expected. Már nem means "no longer": it was true and has stopped. Azt még nem értem is "I don't understand that yet"; Azt már nem értem is "I don't understand that any more".
Read the full guide: Már or még: how do you say already, still, yet and no longer in Hungarian?
How do you say "yet" in Hungarian?
In a question, már: Ettél már?, "Have you eaten yet?" After a negative, még: Még nem, "Not yet". "Yet" meaning "nevertheless" is mégis.
Read the full guide: Már or még: how do you say already, still, yet and no longer in Hungarian?
What is the difference between de and hanem in Hungarian?
Hanem follows a negated element and gives the correct one in its place: Nem kávét kérek, hanem teát. De joins two facts that are both true: Finom, de erős. A negative first clause alone does not call for hanem: Nem vagyok éhes, de egy kávét megiszom.
Read the full guide: De or hanem: which "but" do you use in Hungarian?
How do you say "not only ... but also" in Hungarian?
Nemcsak ... hanem ... is, with is right after the added item: Nemcsak angolul beszél, hanem németül is.
Read the full guide: De or hanem: which "but" do you use in Hungarian?
What does pedig mean?
After the first element of a clause it means "while, whereas": Péter a házban van, Juli pedig a kertben. At the start of a clause it means "although, and yet": Eljött, pedig mondtam neki, hogy ne jöjjön.
Read the full guide: De or hanem: which "but" do you use in Hungarian?
What is the difference between nagyon and sok in Hungarian?
Nagyon means "very" and measures degree, so it goes with adjectives and verbs of feeling (nagyon szép, Nagyon tetszik). Sok means "much" or "many" and measures amount, so it goes before nouns (sok ember), and as sokat with verbs of doing (sokat dolgozik).
Read the full guide: Nagyon or sok: how do you say very, much, many and a lot in Hungarian?
How do you say "a lot" in Hungarian?
"A lot of" before a noun is sok (sok pénz). "A lot" after an action verb is sokat (sokat eszik). "A lot" with a feeling is nagyon (Nagyon szeretem).
Read the full guide: Nagyon or sok: how do you say very, much, many and a lot in Hungarian?
Is it sok ember or sok emberek?
Sok ember, with a singular verb: Sok ember jött. If you want a plural verb, use sokan: Sokan jöttek.
Read the full guide: Nagyon or sok: how do you say very, much, many and a lot in Hungarian?
What is the difference between ha and amikor in Hungarian?
Amikor means "when" as a point in time: Amikor gyerek voltam, "When I was a child". Ha means "if", and it also translates "when" or "once" for a future event you expect: Ha meglátod a parkot, fordulj jobbra.
Read the full guide: Ha or amikor: how do you say "when" and "if" in Hungarian?
Can ha mean "when" in Hungarian?
Yes, for a future event the rest of the sentence depends on: Ha mindenki kész, továbbindulunk, "When everyone's ready, we'll move on". It never means "when" for a single event in the past; that is amikor.
Read the full guide: Ha or amikor: how do you say "when" and "if" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between mikor and amikor?
Mikor asks the question: Mikor indulsz?, "When are you leaving?", and also introduces indirect questions (Nem tudom, mikor jön). Amikor introduces a time clause in a statement. Using mikor in that role is informal.
Read the full guide: Ha or amikor: how do you say "when" and "if" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between minden and az összes?
In most sentences none: minden diák and az összes diák both mean "all the students", with a singular noun. Az összes always takes the article and refers to a known set, so it takes the definite verb as an object; minden takes the indefinite and is the word for general statements like Minden kezdet nehéz.
Why is it mindent látok but mindet látom?
Mindent means "everything" in general and is an indefinite object. Mindet means "all of them", a group already mentioned, and is a definite object, as Wiktionary's usage note for minden states.
What is the difference between mind and mindegyik?
Both mean "all of them" or "each of them" and both take the definite verb (Mindet megnézem, Mindegyiket megnézem). Mindegyik can also stand before a noun (mindegyik képen, "in every picture"); mind cannot, but it can follow a plural subject (A diákok mind átmentek).
What does hát mean in Hungarian?
Two things. The noun means "back" (the body part). The particle means "well", "so" or "of course" depending on where it stands and how it is said: Hát, ez van is "Well, that's how it is"; Nincs hát! is "Of course it isn't!"
Is hát rude or bad Hungarian?
No. Research cited in a 2023 study for learners names it the most frequent discourse-organising word in spontaneous Hungarian speech, and the study argues that each use carries meaning. It belongs to speech, so leave it out of formal and academic writing.
What does "Meg hát!" mean?
"Of course (I did)!" as a short answer to a question with a prefixed verb, such as Megoldottad? The prefix answers yes and the stressed hát adds that the answer is obvious.
Why is there no "van" in "Péter tanár"?
In the third person present, Hungarian omits van when the predicate is a noun or adjective. It reappears in other persons (tanár vagyok) and tenses (tanár volt).
How do you say "I have" in Hungarian?
Use van with a possessive suffix: Van egy kutyám ("I have a dog"). The negative is Nincs kutyám.
What is the difference between van and vannak?
Van is singular ("is"), vannak plural ("are"). After a number the singular is used: Van két jegy.
What is the difference between mert and hiszen?
Mert gives the reason neutrally: Becsuktam az ablakot, mert fáztam. Hiszen gives a reason the speaker treats as obvious, "after all": Itt vagyok, hiszen megígértem, hogy eljövök! The answer to a miért? question is mert.
Read the full guide: Mert, hiszen or ugyanis: how do you say "because" in Hungarian?
What does ugyanis mean?
"As, because", in the sense "you see, the thing is". It draws attention to the cause, often a surprising one, and can come after the first word or phrase of its clause: Elkéstem. A busz ugyanis húsz percet késett.
Read the full guide: Mert, hiszen or ugyanis: how do you say "because" in Hungarian?
What does hiszen mean at the start of a sentence?
On its own it expresses realisation, like English "why" or "hey": Hiszen ez nem is nehéz!, "Why, this isn't even difficult!" With de it insists: De hiszen ott voltam!
Read the full guide: Mert, hiszen or ugyanis: how do you say "because" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between nő and asszony?
Nő is the neutral word for any woman. Asszony means a married, divorced or widowed woman, and az asszony is colloquial for "the wife". For a woman whose marital status you do not know, use nő.
Read the full guide: Nő, asszony or hölgy: which Hungarian word for "woman" should you use?
What does hölgy mean?
"Lady": the formal, polite word, partner of úr ("gentleman"). Hölgyem is "madam" in direct address, and Hölgyeim és uraim is "Ladies and gentlemen".
Read the full guide: Nő, asszony or hölgy: which Hungarian word for "woman" should you use?
How do you say "wife" in Hungarian?
Feleség: a feleségem, "my wife". Neje means "his/her wife" with the possessive built in, and az asszony is a colloquial "the wife".
Read the full guide: Nő, asszony or hölgy: which Hungarian word for "woman" should you use?
What is the difference between piros and vörös?
Piros is the everyday, brighter red. Vörös is generally a darker red with connotations of passion and danger, and it is fixed in names and compounds such as Vöröskereszt and vörösbor. Many nouns can take either word.
Read the full guide: Piros or vörös: what is the difference between the two Hungarian words for red?
Is red wine piros or vörös in Hungarian?
Vörös: red wine is vörösbor, written as one word, and its opposite is fehérbor (white wine).
Read the full guide: Piros or vörös: what is the difference between the two Hungarian words for red?
How do you say red hair in Hungarian?
Use vörös: vörös haj, and a red-haired person is vörös hajú.
Read the full guide: Piros or vörös: what is the difference between the two Hungarian words for red?
What is the difference between régi and öreg?
Régi means old as in "not new", for things and for how long something has lasted. Öreg means old as in "not young", chiefly for people and animals. An old house is régi ház; an old man is öreg ember.
Read the full guide: Régi, öreg or idős: which Hungarian word for "old" do you use?
How do you say "my old friend" in Hungarian?
For a friend of many years, a régi barátom. Az öreg barátom means "my elderly friend".
Read the full guide: Régi, öreg or idős: which Hungarian word for "old" do you use?
Is öreg rude in Hungarian?
Wiktionary gives öreg no register label and lists it as a synonym of idős. The words it labels offensive are vénember and tata, and vénasszony "possibly offensive".
Read the full guide: Régi, öreg or idős: which Hungarian word for "old" do you use?
What is the most common mistake in Hungarian?
Mixing up definite and indefinite conjugation (látok vs látom) is the error learners make longest. Plurals after numbers and wrong local cases are also very common.
Is it Budapestben or Budapesten?
Budapesten. Budapest and most Hungarian towns take the surface cases: Budapesten, Budapestre, Budapestről.
Why is "két almák" wrong?
After a number, Hungarian nouns stay singular because the number already expresses plurality: két alma.
How do you say "cheers" in Hungarian?
Egészségedre! to one person you call te, Egészségére! to one person you call Ön. To a group: Egészségetekre! (informal) or Egészségükre! (formal). Egészségünkre! is "to our health".
Read the full guide: Egészségedre or egészségére: how do you say "cheers" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between egészségedre and egészségére?
Only the "your". Egészségedre uses the informal te possessive -ed; egészségére uses the third-person -e, which is how Hungarian says formal "your" (Ön, maga).
Read the full guide: Egészségedre or egészségére: how do you say "cheers" in Hungarian?
How do you say "bless you" in Hungarian?
The same word: Egészségedre!, or Egészségére! to someone you call Ön. The person who sneezed answers Köszönöm.
Read the full guide: Egészségedre or egészségére: how do you say "cheers" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between elnézést and bocsánat?
The relationship. Elnézést is used in more formal relationships, with strangers and people of higher status; bocsánat is typical between people who are close, and for small harms. Only elnézést works as "excuse me" before a question to a stranger.
Read the full guide: Elnézést or bocsánat: how do you say "sorry" and "excuse me" in Hungarian?
How do you say "excuse me" in Hungarian?
Elnézést! To ask a stranger something, start with it: Elnézést, hol van a pályaudvar? If you did not hear something, say Tessék?
Read the full guide: Elnézést or bocsánat: how do you say "sorry" and "excuse me" in Hungarian?
Is bocs rude?
No, but it is colloquial. Bocs and bocsi are friendly short forms of bocsánat for people you call te. Do not use them with a stranger or a boss.
Read the full guide: Elnézést or bocsánat: how do you say "sorry" and "excuse me" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between otthon and itthon?
Both mean "at home". Use itthon when you are at home as you speak (Itthon vagyok) and otthon when you are somewhere else (A férjem otthon van, said at work). This is the usage note Wiktionary gives under both words.
Read the full guide: Otthon, itthon or haza: how do you say "home" and "at home" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between otthon and haza?
Otthon is where you are: "at home". Haza is where you go: "(to) home". So you are otthon but you go haza: Otthon vagyok, Megyek haza.
Read the full guide: Otthon, itthon or haza: how do you say "home" and "at home" in Hungarian?
How do you say "I'm going home" in Hungarian?
Hazamegyek or Megyek haza. In a negative or a question the prefix splits off: Nem megyek haza, Mikor mész haza?
Read the full guide: Otthon, itthon or haza: how do you say "home" and "at home" in Hungarian?
What is the difference between megint and újra?
Both mean "again" and both allow the "state is back" reading. The difference is tone: Wiktionary notes that megint may easily sound annoyed, especially in már megint. Újra has no such note, and it can also be a prefix (újraolvas, "reread").
Read the full guide: Megint, ismét or újra: how do you say "again" in Hungarian?
Is ismét formal?
Yes. Wiktionary labels ismét "formal or literary", and its thesaurus says "slightly formal". It is also the root of ismétel, "to repeat".
Read the full guide: Megint, ismét or újra: how do you say "again" in Hungarian?
What does már megint mean?
"There you go again" or "not again!": an "again" that expresses annoyance. Már megint késik a busz is "The bus is late again", said by someone who is fed up.
Read the full guide: Megint, ismét or újra: how do you say "again" in Hungarian?
Comparisons
Are Hungarian and Finnish related?
Yes. Both are Uralic languages, descended from a common ancestor spoken several thousand years ago. The relationship is distant and is proven by regular sound correspondences and shared grammar, not by obvious similarity.
Can Hungarians understand Finnish?
No. There is no practical mutual intelligibility; a Hungarian hearing Finnish may recognise only a handful of words. Finnish and Estonian are much closer to each other.
What is Hungarian's closest relative?
Khanty and Mansi, two small Ugric languages spoken in western Siberia. Together with Hungarian they form the Ugric branch of the Uralic family.
Is Hungarian a Turkic language?
No. Hungarian is a Uralic language, related to Finnish, Estonian, Khanty and Mansi. It borrowed a number of words from early Turkic languages, but its core vocabulary and grammar are Uralic.
Why do Hungarian and Turkish look so similar?
They share a structural type: agglutinative word building, vowel harmony and no grammatical gender. Such features can arise independently and do not prove a common ancestor.
What Hungarian words come from Turkic?
Well-attested early loans include alma (apple), búza (wheat), árpa (barley), kecske (goat), disznó (pig), bika (bull), ökör (ox) and tyúk (hen).
Is Hungarian similar to English?
No. They belong to different language families, and Hungarian grammar works very differently. The shared Latin alphabet and a number of international loanwords are the main points of contact.
What is the hardest part of Hungarian for English speakers?
Usually the definite conjugation, the case system with its many suffixes, and word order driven by focus. None of these has a close English equivalent.
Does Hungarian have a verb "to have"?
Not in everyday use. Possession is expressed with van ("there is") plus a possessive suffix: Van egy autóm ("I have a car").
How long does it take to learn Hungarian?
The US Foreign Service Institute estimates about 1100 class hours (44 weeks of intensive study) for English speakers to reach professional working proficiency. Basic conversation is reachable much sooner with regular study.
What should I learn first in Hungarian?
Pronunciation and spelling, vowel harmony, the present tense, "to be", the accusative with the definite conjugation, and the most common location cases, together with survival phrases.
Is Duolingo enough to learn Hungarian?
On its own, no. Duolingo's Hungarian course is useful for vocabulary and a daily habit, but you will need a grammar resource for explanations and a tutor, class or partner for speaking.