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The Hungarian National Anthem

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In this article, we are going to introduce you to the Hungarian national anthem, the song that is the heart of any nation. This one, however, is known for its melancholy and dour tone. Despite all this, it is important to know as part of the Hungarian culture, to truly understand this complex nation.

For this reason, we are going to show you the full Hungarian anthem lyrics in English, so you’ll be able to understand the whole song. It must be noted, however, that due to the old age of the piece, some of the words in the text are no longer grammatically correct! Will you spot which ones?

Now, we are going to cover not only the lyrics but also the history of the piece and nation, as well as occasions when you might hear the Hungarian national anthem playing.

If you are ready to dive deeper into Hungarian culture and understand their past, let’s go

Kids Singing with Their Hands on Their Heart

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Lyrics
  2. History
  3. Occasions
  4. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

1. Lyrics

In this section, we are going to show you the full Hungarian anthem lyrics in English so that you can understand it all – more or less, as the text is old Hungarian and, thus, has some old English. For this reason, bear in mind that some words are either not used anymore in today’s Hungarian language or are spelled differently.

As you will notice, the Hungarian anthem is rather sad, so prepare yourself to be moved. We highlighted the first verse for you, as only this one is usually sung, for example, at sports events, since the song is rather slow to match the melancholy of the text.

Isten, áldd meg a magyart
Jó kedvvel, bőséggel,
Nyújts feléje védő kart,
Ha küzd ellenséggel;
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbünhödte már e nép
A multat s jövendőt!

“God, bless the Hungarian
With joy and abundance.
Reach out to him with a protective arm
When he fights with foes;
Doom is whom he long has been fighting
Give him a merry year,
This nation has been twisting slowly in the wind
Because of the past and the future!”

“Abundance” – Bőség
“To twist slowly in the wind” – Megbűnhődni

Hungarian Flag

Őseinket felhozád
Kárpát szent bércére,
Általad nyert szép hazát
Bendegúznak vére.
S merre zúgnak habjai
Tiszának, Dunának,
Árpád hős magzatjai
Felvirágozának.

“You bring up our ancestors
To the sacred shores of Carpathia,
A beautiful homeland won by you
By the blood of Bendegúz.
And where the foams roar
Of the Tisza and the Danube,
The heroic fetus of Árpád
Shall blossom.”

“Homeland” – Haza
“To blossom” – Felvirágozni

Értünk Kunság mezein
Ért kalászt lengettél,
Tokaj szőlővesszein
Nektárt csepegtettél.
Zászlónk gyakran plántálád
Vad török sáncára,
S nyögte Mátyás bús hadát 
Bécsnek büszke vára.

“For us in the fields of Kunság
Thou wavedst a calyx for us,
On the vineyards of Tokaj
You have dripped nectar.
Our banner you often planted
On the wild Turkish battlements,
And Mátyás moaned his sad war
The proud castle of Vienna.”

Hajh, de bűneink miatt
Gyúlt harag kebledben,
S elsújtád villámidat
Dörgő fellegedben,
Most rabló mongol nyilát
Zúgattad felettünk,
Majd töröktől rabigát
Vállainkra vettünk.

“O, but for our sins
Wrath was kindled in thy bosom,
And thou hast fired thy thunderbolts
In thy thundering clouds,
Now the Mongol arrow of a robber
Thou hast wrought upon us,
And from the Turks, a yoke
We have taken on our shoulders.”

“Yoke” – Rabiga

Hányszor zengett ajkain
Ozman vad népének
Vert hadunk csonthalmain
Győzedelmi ének!
Hányszor támadt tenfiad
Szép hazám kebledre,
S lettél magzatod miatt
Magzatod hamvvedre!

“How often did his lips chant
Of the wild people of Ozman
On the heaps of bones of our war
A song of triumph!
How often did thy son rise
Upon the bosom of you, my fair country,
And for thy fetus’ sake
Thy fetus to thy ashes!”

Bújt az üldözött s felé
Kard nyúl barlangjában,
Szerte nézett s nem lelé
Honját a hazában,
Bércre hág és völgybe száll,
Bú s kétség mellette,
Vérözön lábainál,
S lángtenger fölette.

“The hunted one cowered
In the hollow of his sword,
He looked around and found no
Home in the homeland,
He rides to the valley of the valley,
And he’s in despair,
At his feet blood flow,
And a sea of flame above him.”

“Blood flow” – Vérözön
“Sea of flame” – Lángtenger

Vár állott, most kőhalom,
Kedv s öröm röpkedtek,
Halálhörgés, siralom
Zajlik már helyettek.
S ah, szabadság nem virúl
A holtnak véréből,
Kínzó rabság könnye hull
Árvánk hő szeméből!

“A castle stood, now a heap of stones,
Delight and joy used to fly around,
Death’s thunder, death’s wail
Replaced them now.
And, ah, liberty is no more
From the blood of the dead,
The tears of tortured bondage
From the warm eyes of our orphan!”

Szánd meg Isten a magyart
Kit vészek hányának,
Nyújts feléje védő kart
Tengerén kínjának.
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbünhödte már e nép
A multat s jövendőt!

“God have mercy on the Hungarian
Whose being struck by disasters,
Reach out to him with a protective arm
Doom is whom he long has been fighting,
Give him a merry year,
This nation has been twisting slowly in the wind
Because of the past and the future!”

“Doom” – Bal sors

Which words do you think are spelled differently nowadays? Let us know in the comments and write their up-to-date form as well!

Hunyad Castle

2. History

The Hungarian national anthem (called “Himnusz”) was first a poem written by Ferenc Kölcsey on 22 January 1823. Its subtitle was “A magyar nép zivataros századaiból”. Later, after February 1844, Ferenc Erkel wrote a song for the text, and there the Hungarian national anthem was born.

However, the song debuted only a few months later, on 2 July 1844, in the National Theater in Budapest, and became the “official anthem” of the mutilated but independent country around 1918-1919, following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

The Hungarian national anthem has numerous references to the unfortunate history of the Hungarians. The narrative begins with conquering the country. “Bendegúz,” the father of the Hun prince Attila, is a reference to the idea that the Hungarian people returned to the Carpathian Basin as the descendants of the Huns, i.e., they took possession of the territory as their rightful inheritance. The reference to the “Árpád hős magzatjai” (The heroic fetus of Árpád) evokes the image of the past of the nobility, the members of which defend their homeland with arms are the descendants and heirs of the conquerors.

The successful historical period ended with the reign of Mátyás who conquered Vienna in 1485, and most of the Austrian provinces also submitted to him. The period of punishment for discord is not sharply separated from the period of prosperity since the “Most rabló mongol nyilát” (Now the Mongol arrow of a robber) refers to the Tatar invasion of 1242-1243, while the “Majd töröktől rabigát” (And from the Turks, a yoke) refers to the period of conquest in the 16-17th centuries. The end of the 5th stanza and stanzas 6-7 generally refer to events of the 16-17th centuries – partisanship, fratricidal warfare, civil war.

The lyrics move on to depicting, generally again, the Habsburg rule, when the Hungarian became a persecuted alien in his own country, saying “Szerte nézett s nem lelé Honját a hazában,” (He looked around and found no Home in the homeland). Some have suggested that the line “Vár állott, most kőhalom’ (A castle stood, now a heap of stones) refers to the order by Lipót I in 1702 to blow up the castles in Hungary. The ‘old glory’ was lost, the ancestors died in vain for the country, and the Hungarian became a ‘poor waif’ in his homeland.

Hungarian National Pin with Imitating the Flag

3. Occasions

The Hungarian national anthem is played mostly in schools, before sporting events, and TV. It is linked to important national holidays and celebrations such as:

    20 August, commemorates the foundation of the state, but the truth is that the state was not founded on 20 August. On this day in 1083, King Stephen, the founder of Hungary was canonized. So, the Hungarian state, the kingdom, had already existed for 83 years when the coronation of Stephen took place in 1000. 

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the Top 5 Important Dates During the Hungarian Calendar Year.

The Hungarian national anthem is always played before team sports events as well, like football (soccer), but also after individual sports events when the athlete won the competition. We can also hear the anthem on the TV, for example, after the countdown to New Year’s.

See our vocabulary list of National Unity.

Athletes on a Podium

4. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

We hope you enjoyed this little insight into Hungarian culture through the Hungarian national anthem. If you still have any questions or you did not understand some of the lyrics because of the old language, let us know.

It must be emphasized that an anthem is the core of every nation, so if you have serious plans in Hungary, it is good to know at least its content, i.e., what it is about. Of course, it is even better to be able to sing it, at least the first verse, but that is just a big cherry on top of your learning journey.

You can find more studying materials like this article on the HungarianPod101 website, but besides blog articles, you will find free vocabulary lists or videos and audio to ease language learning. Not to mention the supportive community that would be behind you, helping you all the way.

Join our community and be a HungarianPod101 member today!

Which Hungarian word spelling from the anthem is outdated nowadays, and how is it written now? Let us know below.

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian

30+ Hungarian Classroom Words and Phrases

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We brought you 30+ Hungarian classroom words and phrases as these are very important for Hungarian language learning. These are especially useful if you are taking a Hungarian class in Hungary, as they will help you understand basic conversation in a classroom setting as well as be understood by others around you. However, you will also find some sentences that can be used in everyday life, not just in class. Even more so, chances are you will hear many of them every day when visiting the country.

In this article, we will cover classroom greetings first, then learn to understand instructions from a teacher, especially if they are a Hungarian native speaker, and ask for clarifications from them as well as your study peers. Afterward, we will move to explanations of absence or being late, talking about your favorite subject, and checking for school supplies. All of these are useful Hungarian classroom phrases, so read them carefully.

Check out our basic Hungarian classroom phrases vocabulary list.

Once you have read this article a few times and memorized the key expressions we will list below, you will be able to understand basic dialogues and instructions in a Hungarian school setting. Is that not exciting?

Whenever you are ready, we can start. Let’s learn some basic classroom phrases in Hungarian.

Top 5 Hungarian classroom phrases.

3 Students Taking a Test Behind Each Other

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Use Classroom Greetings
  2. Understand Instructions from Teachers
  3. Ask for Clarifications from Teachers and Classmates
  4. Explain Absence and Tardiness
  5. Talk about Favorite Subjects
  6. Check for School Supplies
  7. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian Language

1. Use Classroom Greetings

One of the most common phrases that students use in the classroom is greetings. In fact, Hungarian classroom greetings are the first phrases you would hear or say when entering the classroom. So, we wanted to teach you a few of these first. To help you better understand each of these common classroom phrases in Hungarian, we made them into small conversations that are likely to happen in real life.

Here is how to introduce yourself to a new class.

“Good morning, teacher (woman).” – Jó reggelt, tanárnő!

“Hello, Patrick. How are you?” – Szervusz, Patrik! Hogy vagy?

“Good morning, teacher (man).” – Jó reggelt, tanár úr!

“Hi, Sylvie! How was your weekend?” – Szia, Szilvi! Hogy telt a hétvégéd?

You have to address teachers formally. Here are some other Hungarian formal greetings.

“Hi (more people).” – Sziasztok!

“Hi! Do you want to sit next to me?” – Szia! Akarsz ma mellém ülni?

“See you tomorrow, [classmate name].” – Holnap találkozunk, [osztálytárs neve].

“Yes. But don’t forget your book tomorrow.” – Igen. De holnap ne felejtsd el a könyvedet!

“Good-bye, teacher (woman).” – Viszont látásra, tanárnő!

“Bye (more people). I wish everyone a nice afternoon.” – Sziasztok! Mindenkinek kellemes délutánt kívánok!

“Good-bye, teacher (man).” – Viszont látásra, tanár úr!

“Bye (more people). You all did well today.” – Sziasztok! Ma mindannyiótok nagyon jól teljesített!

2. Understand Instructions from Teachers

When you are taking a class, it is crucial that you know Hungarian classroom command phrases because it is important to be able to follow the teacher’s instructions whenever a new task comes up. However, it can very easily be a case that basic classroom phrases in Hungarian are needed, which are not necessarily related to a task but are just general instructions to you as a student. Here we collected the most frequently occurring phrases that teachers use in the classroom.

“Please, open your books on page [ordinal number].” – Kérlek, nyissátok ki a könyveiteket a [sorszám] oldalon.

“What page number? I didn’t hear properly.” – Hányadik oldalon? Nem hallottam rendesen.

“Listen carefully.” – Hallgassatok figyelemmel!

“I can’t. People are loud in the hallway.” – Nem tudok. Hangosak az emberek a folyosón.

“Be quiet.” – Légy csendben!

“But I have a cold. I sneeze occasionally.” – De meg vagyok fázva. Néha tüsszentek.

“Is there any question?” – Van kérdés?

“No, everything was clear to me.” – Nem, minden érthető volt számomra.

“Read this sentence out loud.” – Olvasd fel hangosan ezt a mondatot!

“Do I have to? I’m insecure.” – Muszáj? Szégyenlős vagyok.

“Speak up.” – Beszélj hangosabban!

“I can’t really. I have a sore throat.” – Nem igazán tudok. Fáj a torkom.

“Sit down (whole classroom).” – Üljetek le!

But we just stood up.” – De csak most álltunk fel.

Teacher Smiling at Her Students

3. Ask for Clarifications from Teachers and Classmates

Our classroom Hungarian vocabulary list cannot miss clarification phrases. The ones listed below will be your best friend, especially when starting out, i.e. when you’re new in the class. This is because new students usually need a bit more time to be accustomed to the new setting and teacher, and to be able to pick up the pace. Therefore, Hungarian school phrases asking for clarification could not be missed from this HungarianPod101 article. Let’s see them!

How to ask questions in class?

“I don’t understand.” – Nem értem.

“Where did you fall behind?” – Hol maradtál le?

“Could you repeat it, please?” – Meg tudná ismételni, kérem?

“Of course, but pay more attention next time.” – Természetesen, de legközelebb figyelj jobban!

“I have a question.” – Van egy kérdésem.

“Can it wait a bit?” – Tudsz várni egy kicsit?

“What did the teacher say?” – Mit mondott a tanár?

“I didn’t hear it either.” – Én sem hallottam.

“What is the homework?” – Mi a házi feladat?

“We have to write an essay about our morning routine.” – Esszét kell írnunk a reggeli rutinunkról.

“Did I understand it well that…?” – Jól értettem, hogy…?

“I think yes. I understood the same.” – Szerintem igen. Én is így értelmeztem.

4. Explain Absence and Tardiness

It can happen to all of us that we are late for something or someone has to wait for us. However, in a classroom setting, with the obligations of a student, it is trickier to overlook absence and tardiness. But with the right Hungarian classroom words and phrases, you can politely explain the reason behind them and save yourself some trouble. Here is how to do it:

“I’m not feeling well. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend school today.” – Nem érzem jól magam. Ma nem fogok tudni iskolába menni.

“Alright but ask for the homework for someone.” – Rendben, de kérd el a házi feladatot valakitől!

“I have a doctor’s appointment next week, so I’ll be late from class next week.” – Orvoshoz van időpontom, ezért késni fogok óráról a jövő héten.

“Sure, no problem but bring a doctor’s note for next class.” – Rendben, nem gond, de hozz magaddal orvosi igazolást a következő órára!

Here is how to make an appointment with a Hungarian dentist.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to put gas in my bike.” – Elnézést a késésért. Meg kellett tankolnom a biciklimet.

“Very funny. You’ll have to work extra hard today.” – Nagyon vicces. Ma extra keményen kell majd dolgoznod.

Running late again in Hungary? Check this out.

“I don’t have my homework with me. My dog ate it.” – Nincs nálam a házi feladatom. A kutyám megette.

“Oh, really? What a pity. Then, you will get double homework today to make sure lest it happens again.” – Ó, tényleg? De kár! Akkor ma dupla házi feladatot kapsz, nehogy megint megtörténjen.

Click for some believable excuses for being late.

“I didn’t study for the test because I had to work late yesterday.” – Nem tanultam a dolgozatra, mert késő estig kellett dolgoznom tegnap.

“Alright, understandable. You can retake it tomorrow.” – Rendben, érthető. Holnap újraírhatod.

Click for test preparation tips.

Empty Classroom with Chairs

5. Talk about Favorite Subjects

We all have our favorite subjects that we like better than others. And we often love to talk about them because they are our passion or simply because we are good at them. In this section, with the right phrases that students use in the classroom to talk about their favorite subjects, you can also do the same. All you have to do is read them a couple of times, take notes, and practice pronouncing them. So, are you ready to learn classroom phrases in the Hungarian language with which you can describe and talk about your favorite subject in school? Let’s go then!

“My favorite subject is history.” – A kedvenc tárgyam a történelem.

“No way! Seriously? Mine too.” – Ne! Komolyan? Az enyém is!

“What is your favorite subject?” – Neked mi a kedvenc tantárgyad?

“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it.” – Nem tudom. Nem igazán gondoltam bele.

“Do you like math too?” – Te is szereted a matekot?

“Oh, no! I hate it. I’m too bad at it.” – Ó, nem! Én utálom. Túl rossz vagyok benne.

“I hate chemistry, it’s boring.” – Utálom a kémiát, unalmas.

“Are you kidding me? It’s the most interesting thing I have ever learnt about.” – Viccelsz velem? A legérdekesebb dolog, amiről valaha tanultam.

“I’m not good at literature.” – Nem vagyok jó irodalomból.

Really? Do you want me to help you?” – Tényleg? Szeretnéd, hogy segítsek?

3 Books with an Apple on Top

6. Check for School Supplies

School supplies are essential in every classroom, but usually, students have to provide them for themselves. So, if you forget something, you can ask a classmate or the teacher to borrow something. But it’s only possible to do if you know the right Hungarian classroom words and phrases. In this section, we will introduce those supplies that are most likely to be needed.

Our word of the day: “calculator” – számológép 

See some must-have school supplies in a language-learning classroom.

“Can I borrow your pen?” – Kölcsön kérhetem a tolladat?

“Sure. I have to others.” – Persze. Nekem van még két másik.

“I lost my calculator.” – Elhagytam a számológépemet.

“How will you write the text?” – Hogy fogod megírni a dolgozatot?

“Do you have a sharpener?” – Van hegyeződ?

“No. I lost it a few days ago.” – Nem, elvesztettem egy pár napja.

“Did you bring your textbook?” – Elhoztad a tankönyvedet?

“Of course, as always.” – Természetesen, mint mindig.

“I have a new eraser.” – Új radírom van.

“Wow, great. Me too. It smells like strawberry.” – Wow, nagyszerű! Nekem is. Eper illata van.

Plain Notebook with Blue Background

7. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian Language

We hope you enjoyed these common Hungarian classroom phrases and that you will be able to use them with ease with a native Hungarian speaker when the time comes. Do not forget, however, that practice makes perfect, so even though you took the first step towards learning the Hungarian language, reading this blog article just once will not do the trick. Give it another 2-3 reads, make notes and create your own Hungarian vocabulary list with unfamiliar words or phrases and recall them every now and then.

Let’s recap what we have learned now and what Hungarian school phrases you can widen your vocabulary with:

–       Hungarian classroom greetings

–       Instructions from teachers

–       Asking for clarifications

–       Explaining absence or being late

–       Talking about your favorite subject

–       Checking for school supplies

If you feel like there is any gap left in your knowledge, either let us know or ask away in the comments or check out our blog for other extensive Hungarian vocabulary articles.

To maximize your Hungarian language learning, we offer you not only blog articles but also free Hungarian vocabulary lists, and if you are a Premium Member, many more! Our features exclusive to members include Hungarian lessons with audio and visual learning materials too.

Be a Premium HungarianPod101 member today!

One final question for those who have finished the article: How would you say “I’m sorry I’m late, I lost my eraser”? Post your answer in the comments section!

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20 Common Hungarian Restaurant Phrases

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If you would like to learn about common Hungarian restaurant phrases, you are at the right place. We know that food is important, and chances are when you are visiting Hungary, you will not always cook your own meal at your place but also discover the culinary secrets of the country. As you should. So, with that in mind, we wrote this article so that you will know useful Hungarian restaurant phrases, such as how to ask for the bill in Hungarian. We will cover dining phrases in Hungarian for before, during, and after dining, so that you have the full picture of how to order food in Hungarian.

Close-up of a Chefs Hand Preparing Food

Excited yet? You should be because after reading this article, you will not have any problems in Hungarian restaurants, and you will hopefully leave with not only a full stomach but a full heart and a great experience too.

So, should we start learning about Hungarian restaurant phrases? If you are ready, let’s go!

Click for a conversation about ordering.

You may also want to go over the names of popular Hungarian foods, common beverages, and dining utensils!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Before Dining
  2. During Dining
  3. After Dining
  4. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

1. Before Dining

A Couple Being Shown Their Table in a Nice Restaurant

Dining in a restaurant does not just start there. You have to choose the place of course and then make a reservation, negotiating the date and number of people to be expected. In this section, we will cover the most essential restaurant phrases in Hungarian that you would use before actually arriving and eating in the restaurant of your choice. So, let’s see what they are.

Click for Hungary’s best restaurants of 2021.

“Before I reserve a table, I’d like to know if you offer vegan options.” – Mielőtt asztalt foglalok, szeretném tudni, hogy vegán opciójaik vannak-e.

“Of course. We have a separate menu full of vegan meals.” – Természetesen. Külön menü lapunk van tele vegán ételekkel.

“Great. In this case, when do you have free tables available?” – Nagyszerű! Ez esetben mikorra vannak szabad asztalaik?

“I’d like to reserve a table for two on Saturday, May 7th at 5pm, please?” – Szeretnék asztalt foglalni két főre, május 7., szombatra, délután öt órára.

“Of course. We have two tables available. Would you like to sit by the window or near the kitchen?” – Természetesen. Két szabad asztalunk van. Az ablak mellett vagy a konyha közelében szeretnének ülni?

“By the window is fine.” – Az ablak mellett megfelel.

“Alright, perfect. We’ll be waiting for you.” – Rendben, tökéletes! Várni fogjuk Önöket!

Listen to a conversation of reserving a table in Hungarian.

“A table for 4, please.” – Egy asztalt szeretnék 4 főre, kérem!

“Unfortunately, we only have tables for 2 people on that day.” – Sajnos csak két főre vannak asztalaink aznap.

“I understand. No problem. Maybe next time.” – Értem. Semmi probléma. Talán legközelebb.

Listen to possible solutions when discussing how many people the reservation is for.

“Do you have a free table on the terrace for tonight?” – Van szabad asztaluk a teraszon ma estére?

“Yes. We have one table left there. For 2 people.” – Igen. Egy asztalunk maradt ott. Két főre.

“Wonderful. That’s exactly what I need. Could we come at 7pm?” – Remek! Pont, amire szükségem van! Tudnánk hét órára érkezni?

“Of course. I can reserve the table until 9pm.” – Természetesen. Az asztalt kilenc óráig tudom lefoglalni.

“How long would we have to wait?” – Milyen hosszan kellene várakoznunk?

“Our Saturday nights are usually busy. It’s around 30 minutes until the food is served.” – A szombat estéink általában elég forgalmasak. Körülbelül 30 perc, míg kihozzák az ételt.

“Alright, that’s not too bad. I’d like to get a table for two.” – Rendben. Az annyira nem vészes. Két főre szeretnék asztalt.

“Is 8pm suitable?” – A nyolc óra megfelel?

“Perfect.” – Tökéletes!

“Is it possible that our table be in the non-smoking area?” – Lehetséges, hogy az asztalunk a nem dohányzó részlegen legyen?

“Absolutely.” – Abszolút.

“Wonderful, thank you.” – Csodálatos, köszönöm!

A conversation about whether you can smoke in a restaurant or not.

A Couple Ordering Food in a Restaurant

2. During Dining

Next up, useful Hungarian restaurant phrases for when already in the restaurant and dining. After you have made reservations, arranged the time and number of people, and got to the restaurant, it is time to sit down and order. In this phase of the eating out process, it is very important to have basic restaurant vocabulary and template sentences. However, it is just as important to study the menu in Hungarian and read everything carefully. Unfortunately, every menu is different, but we can definitely help you with useful Hungarian restaurant phrases you could use when in Hungary.

If you need some inspiration as to what to order, here are the top 50 most popular Hungarian dishes you must try when in the country.

“Could we get the menu please?” – Kérhetnénk a menüt, kérem?

“I’m sorry you haven’t got it. I will bring two in a few seconds.” – Elnézést kérek, hogy még nem kapták meg. Másodperceken belül visszatérek kettővel.

“Thank you, that’s very kind.” – Köszönjük, ez nagyon kedves.

“Here you go, madam. Let me know when you’ve decided on the drinks and I’ll take your order.” – Tessék, hölgyem. Szóljanak, ha már döntöttek az italokról és felveszem a rendelésüket.

“Actually, we already know. I’d like to get a mojito and to my friend, a cosmopolitan, please.” – Igazából már tudjuk is. Én egy mohitot kérnék, a barátomnak pedig egy cosmopolitant, legyen szíves!

“Great! I will be back with your drinks in a few minutes.” – Nagyszerű! Néhány percen belül jövök is az italaikkal.

Listen to a conversation about ordering in Hungarian.

“Could you tell me what’s the chef’s special, please?” – El tudná mondani, mi a séf ajánlata?

“Certainly. It is duck breast with orange sauce. It’s very delicious.” – Persze. Kacsamell narancsszósszal. Nagyon finom.

“Great That’s my favorite. I’d like to order that.” – Nagyszerű! Az a kedvencem. Ezt szeretném rendelni.

“Excellent choice.” – Remek választás.

Click to hear how to order lunch at a Hungarian restaurant.

“Excuse me.” – Elnézést!

“Yes, sir? Can I bring you anything?” – Igen, uram? Hozhatok Önnek valamit?

“Yes, I’d like another bottle of wine, please.” – Igen, szeretnék még egy üveg pezsgőt, kérem!

“Of course. I will be back in a few minutes.” – Természetesen. Pár percen belül érkezem.

“I’m allergic to nuts. Could I get the dish without any?” – Allergiás vagyok a mogyoróra. Lehetne, hogy a nélkül kérjem az ételt?

“Of course. Would you like something else instead?” – Természetesen. Szeretne valami mást helyette?

“No, thank you.” – Nem, köszönöm.

“Could I get some more of this tzatziki sauce? It’s very tasty. – Kérhetnék még a tzatziki szószból? Nagyon ízletes.

“I’m very sorry but we just ran out. Could I bring you some yoghurt or mayonnaise instead?” – Nagyon sajnálom, de épp most fogyott el. Hozhatok esetleg joghurtot vagy majonézt helyette?

“Yes, yoghurt would be great, thank you.” – Igen, a joghurt remek lenne, köszönöm!

“Could I get some more napkins? – Kérhetnék még szalvétát?

“Of course, here you go, madame. If you’d like some more, you can get them at the bar anytime.” – Persze, tessék, hölgyem. Ha szeretne még, a bárból bármikor hozhat még.

“The soup is very salty. Is there something we can do about that?” – A leves nagyon sós. Tudunk valamit tenni az ügy érdekében?

“I’m sorry to hear that, sir. I could bring you another bowl if you’d like.” – Sajnálattal hallom, uram. Hozhatok Önnek egy másik tányérral, ha szeretné.

“I’d thank you, yes.” – Azt megköszönném, igen.

“Alright. I will bring it to you in 10 minutes.” – Rendben. 10 percen belül hozom is Önnek.

“What do you recommend as dessert? – Mit ajánl desszertként?

“Our pistachio ice-cream is very popular.” – A pisztáciafagyink nagyon népszerű.

“Great. I love pistachios. We’ll try that.” – Remek! Imádom a pisztáciát. Megkóstoljuk!

“Where do I find the restrooms? – Merre találom a mosdókat?

“You go down the corridor and then you will find them to the left.” – Végigmegy a folyosón, és bal oldalra találja majd őket.

Waiter Holding Plates of Food

3. After Dining

Lastly, we are going to cover those Hungarian words and phrases in restaurant settings that are common in Hungary. For example, you would want to know how to ask for the bill in Hungarian, right? Well, we are going to learn that together now. With that and others, our list of Hungarian restaurant phrases will be complete, and you will be able to go to a restaurant in Hungary with confidence and order food with ease. Sounds good? Let’s get into the last part of this article then, finishing off this study session.

“Can I pay with euros?” – Tudok euróval fizetni?

“Yes, you can. Let me come back with another bill with the total in euros.” – Igen, tud. Hadd jöjjek vissza egy másik számlával, amin euróban van a végösszeg.

“Perfect. Thank you.” – Tökéletes, köszönöm!

“Is it possible to box my leftovers?” – Volna lehetőség rá, hogy becsomagolják a maradékot?

“For sure. We’ll charge a little extra for the boxes though. Is that okay?” – Persze. De felszámoljuk a doboz árát. Így is megfelel?

“Yes, it’s fine. Thank you.” – Igen, megfelel. Köszönöm!

“Could we talk to the chef? We’d like to congratulate him/her. Our dinner was fantastic.”Beszélhetnénk a séffel? Szeretnénk neki gratulálni. A vacsoránk fantasztikus volt.

Wonderful. She/he will be very happy. Let me call him/her for you.” – Ragyogó! Nagyon boldog lesz. Hadd hívjam ide őt Önökhöz.

“Could I get the bill, please?” – Kérhetném a számlát?

“Of course. Would you like to pay by cash or card?” – Természetesen. Készpénzzel vagy kártyával szeretne fizetni?

“By card.” – Kártyával.

“Alright, I’ll bring the POS terminal.” – Rendben, hozom is a POS terminált.

Listen to how to ask for the bill in Hungarian.

“Can we pay the bill separately?” – Tudjuk külön fizetni a számlát?

“Yes, but unfortunately, only is you pay by cash. Is that a problem?” – Igen, de sajnos, csak ha készpénzzel fizetnek. Ez problémát jelent?

“No, it’s not.” – Nem, nem jelent.

Before we finish off, we must talk about tipping etiquette in Hungary. Sometimes the service fee is included in the bill automatically, sometimes, it is not. If it is the latter, people usually tip between 10-15%. However, the most common tips are between 10-12%.

Check out the Hungarian dining etiquette too.

If you do not feel like going to a restaurant, for whatever reason, check out apps and shops that offer home delivery.

A Couple Having Dinner in a Restaurant

4. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

You got to the end of our common Hungarian restaurant phrases article, congrats! Hopefully, you know more about how to reserve tables, how to order food in Hungarian, or how to ask for the bill in Hungarian. We have learned lots of other expressions for before, during, and after dining that hopefully will help you during your time in the country.

However, if you still feel unsure about your knowledge, there are lots of study materials on the HungarianPod101 website, where you can even sign up to be a full-time member of our family, supported by top-notch, additional study materials and strong, helpful community.

Join the HungarianPod101 family today!

Do you know how to ask for the bill in Hungarian? Comment below!

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How to Improve Hungarian Conversation Skills

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At some point in your learning journey, you might raise the question of how to improve Hungarian conversation skills. Well, you came to the right place for that. We know how crucial it is to be able to have a comeback, so to say, in every possible situation when in Hungary. That is why we created this Hungarian conversation skills guide for you to master the language.

Below, you will find phrases and lines as well as tips to improve Hungarian conversation skills. Not only that, but we will show you how easy it is to engage in a conversation with a Hungarian local. We will show you basic and easy phrases, but you will see that these are very useful and common in Hungary.

Before we start, let’s quickly outline what we will learn about today. We collected Hungarian reaction phrases, filler words, as well as common questions and answers that you might encounter during your visit to the country. In the end, we will even give you a few easy tips on how you can improve your Hungarian conversation skills in the best and easiest way.

Ready? Let’s jump into it then!

A Group of Friends Talking

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Learn Hungarian Conversation Starters
  2. Make Your Own Language Profile
  3. Learn Hungarian Reactions
  4. Learn Hungarian Filler Words
  5. Learn Common Questions and Answers
  6. How to Improve Speaking Skills
  7. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

1. Learn Hungarian Conversation Starters

How to improve your Hungarian speaking skills? Well, the first step is to start a conversation. It does not matter if it is someone you know or a person with whom you have not interacted, you have to walk up to them with some kind of meaning. For this, we gathered a few phrases for you to improve your Hungarian conversation skills by learning how to address a person and start a dialogue with them.

How to start a conversation with a stranger?

“Hi. Do I know you?” – Szia! Ismerlek (téged)?

“I don’t think so.” – Nem hiszem.

“We have a nice, sunny weather, no?” – Szép, napos időnk van, nem?

“Yes, absolutely.” – De, abszolút!

“You look familiar. Where have we might met?” – Ismerősnek tűnsz. Hol találkozhattunk?

“It must have been at Peter’s New Year’s Eve party.” – Péter szilveszteri buliján lehetett.

“Can I ask for your help with the preparation for the exam?” – Kérhetném a segítséged a vizsgára való felkészülésben?

“Sure, happy to help.” – Persze, szívesen segítek.

“Could you tell me where I can find the sales department?” – Meg tudná mondani, mere találom az értékesítési osztályt?

“Sure, I’m going there too, let’s go together.” – Persze, én is oda megyek. Menjünk együtt!

See a discussion about a sales report.

2. Make Your Own Language Profile

After having started the conversation, you need to keep it going somehow. So, make your own language profile, kind of like a mini autobiography of you. This way, you would be ready for any introductory situation where you have to tell something about yourself to people you have never met before. It is much easier to have a ready-made template in your head already, to avoid awkward situations of silence because nothing comes to your mind due to nervousness.

Here are some examples of what you could say about yourself in just one sentence. However, if you are bold, you can come up with additional sentences and share more information about yourself.

Here are a few tips on what else you could add to your introduction.

Just do not forget to practice speaking Hungarian before a real-life situation.

“Hi, guys! My name is Peter, I’m a 30-year-old male, and I work as an accountant.” – Sziasztok! A nevem Péter, egy harmincéves férfi vagyok, és könyvelőként dolgozom.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Maria, a 26-year-old mother-of-two. I work in the hospital and I love being in the nature.” – Üdv mindenkinek! Mária vagyok, egy 26 éves kétgyermekes anya. A kórházban dolgozom, és szeretek a természetben lenni.

“Hello! I’m Valeria, I am 54 years old. I have two kids and a grandchild. I love knitting and teasing my husband.” – Helló! Valéria vagyok, 54 éves. Két gyermekem és egy unokám van. Imádok kötni és a férjemmel szórakozni.

Here is a short Hungarian conversation about introduction.

Two People a Girl and a Guy Talking

3. Learn Hungarian Reactions

Another major and, thus, must-to-learn part of Hungarian conversations (be it with a person you do or do not know) is being able to react to what Hungarian people say to you. For this reason, we present to you… Hungarian conversation skills for reactions to certain situations.

When you want someone to know you have copied and understood what they told you or are surprised and want to express this, developing speaking skills in Hungarian is very important.

You can see the Hungarian reaction phrases in bold below:

“I told you… I can’t go to the party tonight because I’m having dinner with my family.” – Mondtam neked… Nem tudok a buliba menni, mert a családommal vacsorázom.

“I see…” – Értem…

See a few funny example sentences regarding a family reunion.

“Whatever you do, just please don’t tell them this embarrassing story.” – Bármit csinálsz, csak el ne mondd nekik ezt a kínos sztorit!

“Gotcha!” – Vettem!

“I’ve never been to the Parisian Disney Land. And I’m almost 50 years old.” – Még sosem voltam a párizsi Disney Land-ben. Pedig majdnem 50 éves vagyok.

Seriously? Are you kidding me? We have to go!” – (Most) komolyan? Szórakozol velem? El kell mennünk!

“I have a date tonight with that cute girl from work.” – Randim van ma este azzal az aranyos lánnyal a melóból.

“That’s awesome!” – Király!

“I shouldn’t have come in just a jacket when it’s snowing outside.” – Nem kellett volna csak egy dzsekiben jönnöm, amikor odakint esik a hó.

“That’s right.” – Így van!

Here you can always check the current, accurate weather in Hungary.

“I got the job!” – Megkaptam az állást!

“Amazing!” – Csodás!

“Nobody wants to leave their bed on winter mornings.” – Senki sem akar kikelni az ágyból téli reggeleken.

“How true…” – Milyen igaz…

“I just saw the two of them kissing in the mall! Finally!” – Épp az imént láttam őket smárolni a plázában! Végre!

“This cannot be true!” – Ez nem lehet igaz!

How to improve your Hungarian speaking skills even more? Click for 7 ways to improve your speaking skills.

People Talking at a Party

4. Learn Hungarian Filler Words

Hungarian filler words are another crucial component of Hungarian conversations, especially when you want to avoid long pauses in the discussion or when you simply just cannot find the right words right away. For such situations, filler words come into place and to the rescue. A great way to improve your Hungarian conversation skills is to learn to manage such situations when silence needs to be filled.

Check out what the most common Hungarian filler words are:

“Thingy” – Izé

“I mean, I think I’m gonna take off.” – Izé, azt hiszem, most elhúzok.

“Well” – Nos

“What’s it called…” – Hogy is hívják…

“I mean” – Úgy értem…

“So-called” – Úgynevezett

“I was like…” – Én meg így…

“He didn’t want to lend me his PS, and I was like, dude, are you serious?” – Nem akarta kölcsönadni a PS-ét, én meg így, haver, most komolyan?

See our article about the topic for more Hungarian filler words.

To Girl-Friends Are Talking and Smiling

5. Learn Common Questions and Answers

A powerful skill in every language is knowing how to ask questions. They are essential for Hungarian as well because, especially at the beginning of your language learning journey, there will be times when you do not understand something completely and need re-iteration or reassurance on a given matter. And that is okay! Do not be afraid to ask, that is how you learn and evolve!

However, you need to know how to answer a question as well in case someone directs a question to you. So, the best way to improve your Hungarian conversation skills is to be ready for both scenarios.

See how Hungarian questions are built.

Below, you will find mini conversations where you can see and learn the roles of both parties.

“Where are you from?” – Hová valósi vagy?

“I’m from Hungary.” – Magyarországról származom.

“I was born in Budapest.” – Budapesten születtem.

“How are you?” – Hogy vagy?

“I’m great, thanks. And you?” – Én nagyszerűen vagyok, köszi. És te?

“Fine. What about you?” – Megvagyok. Veled mi újság?

“How did you learn this language?” – Hogy tanultad meg ezt a nyelvet?

“My dad is German, but my mom is Hungarian, so she thought me when I was little.” – Apukám német, de anyukám magyar, szóval ő tanított meg, amikor kicsi voltam.

“Why are you learning this language?” – Miért tanulod ezt a nyelvet?

“I wanted to challenge myself.” – Szerettem volna próbára tenni magam.

“My partner is Hungarian, so I’m learning it because of her.” – A párom magyar, szóval miatta tanulom.

“What do you do?” – Mit dolgozol?

“I’m a firefighter. And you?” – Tűzoltó vagyok. És te?

“I don’t work currently, I’m unemployed.” – Most épp nem dolgozom. Munkanélküli vagyok.

Old Person and a Young Person in Suits Talking

6. How to Improve Speaking Skills

Finally, we would like to give you some tips to improve your Hungarian conversation skills. Because it is nice to have example sentences and templates, but you have to memorize them somehow and also come up with your own sentences. Not to mention that you have to practice speaking in Hungarian too, to make sure your conversations will go as smoothly as possible.

So, without further ado, here are the 5 best ways to improve Hungarian conversation skills:

1)    Think of an everyday scenario and write down a few words that come to your mind in connection with it

2)    Practice speaking Hungarian with a native friend

3)    Act out scenes by yourself and play the role of all parties

4)    Listen to audio files about everyday conversations. When you level up, you can try conversations on more advanced topics

5)    Practice with and learn from a personal tutor whose focus is only on you

Here are a few other tips on how you can improve your speaking skills. The article talks about the English language, but you can apply the tips to Hungarian and your own language learning journey as well.

7. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Goals in Learning Hungarian

Awesome! Now you must have lots of impeccable Hungarian conversation skills! Let’s recap what kind of phrases and lines we have learned in this article. First, we advised you to make your own language profile for an easier introduction to new people and even showed you a few introductory sentences you could use as templates. Then, we covered Hungarian reactions and filler words, as well as common questions and possible answers to them. We have also learned about conversation starters that you could use with someone you have not met before, and lastly, we listed a few tips to improve your Hungarian conversation skills.

Do not forget, however, that you need to practice speaking Hungarian to truly master these phrases and to speak out loud with confidence.

You can further improve your language skills and practice Hungarian with our many free vocabulary lists, or you could sign up even to be a family member and gain access to many useful study materials that could help you along your learning journey. These include audio recordings of casual – or specific-topic – conversations in Hungarian with transcription, as well as the help of a personal tutor, and many more.

Sign up today!

Let’s see how you improved your Hungarian conversation skills. How would you introduce yourself in Hungarian? Comment below!

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40+ Useful Advanced Hungarian Phrases

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We previously published blog posts on the most useful beginner and intermediate phrases in Hungarian. This article on advanced Hungarian phrases is the final installment in this series. 

In this article from HungarianPod101, you’ll learn the most useful phrases and sentence patterns at the advanced level. Keep in mind that you will encounter a few difficult Hungarian words and grammatical concepts here, but that’s the point! If you’re still unsure of your Hungarian level, we recommend reading through the two articles we linked to above; this will give you a better idea of where you are. 

Do you feel ready to take on more advanced phrases? Then let’s outline what you’ll learn today.

  • Useful phrases for academic writing
  • Power phrases for your resume
  • Smart phrases for business meetings
  • Advanced idioms, sayings, and proverbs for everyday usage

Are you ready to bring your Hungarian knowledge to the next level? Let’s get started then!

A Man in a Gray Cardigan Studying in a Library

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
  2. Power Phrases for Your Resume
  3. Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings
  4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
  5. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing

Are you thinking of starting a program at a Hungarian university? Or do you want to read sophisticated Hungarian articles in the academic and business spheres? Then this section is for you. Here, you’ll see the most common advanced Hungarian phrases for academic writing so that you can both recognize them and use them yourself in writing or speech.

  • First of all, babies should not watch too much TV.”

    Először is, a csecsemőknek nem szabadna túl sok TV-t nézniük.

  • Considering that research papers refute this, your statement is incorrect.”

    Figyelembe véve (azt), hogy tanulmányok cáfolják ezt, az állítása helytelen.

In the sentence above, please note that the noun állítása is the polite form of állítás (“statement”). If you were having a friendly, casual debate, you would say állításod

  • According to XYZ, dogs can relieve anxiety.”

    XYZ szerint, a kutyák könnyíthetnek a szorongáson.

  • Moreover, they can give further moral support to humans.”

    Sőt, további morális támaszt tudnak nyújtani az embereknek.

  • In order to live a happier life, we must appreciate the little things in life.”

    Annak érdekében, hogy boldogabb életet éljünk, muszáj értékelnünk az apró dolgokat az életben.

  • As a result of their misbehavior, they got expelled from the school after three months.”

    A helytelen viselkedésük eredményeképpen, három hónap után elbocsájtották őket az iskolából.

  • In other words, teaching jobs are very important.”

    Más szóval, a tanári munka nagyon fontos.

  • Furthermore, schools should teach children more practical things that will prepare them for life.”

    Továbbá, az iskoláknak praktikusabb dolgokat kellene tanítaniuk a gyerekeknek, hogy felkészítsék őket az életre.

  • Similarly, workplaces, too, should be more tolerant of people from different cultural backgrounds.”

    Hasonlóképpen, a munkahelyeknek is toleránsabbnak kellene lenniük az eltérő kulturális háttérrel rendelkező emberekkel szemben.

  • Conversely, there is no scientific evidence supporting this theory.”

    Ellenben, nincs tudományos bizonyíték, ami ezt a feltevést bizonyítaná.

Three College Students Taking Notes

2. Power Phrases for Your Resume

Are you considering getting a job in Hungary? What a wonderful idea! However, bear in mind that not many Hungarians speak English well, so you might want to submit your curriculum vitae in Hungarian. If you want to make sure that you stand out as the best candidate, it’s important to not only provide a Hungarian CV but also to use the right words and power phrases to help your resume shine. 

If you don’t yet have the advanced Hungarian vocabulary for that, don’t worry a bit—that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this section. 


  • “I work in teams with pleasure, but I can manage projects on my own as well.”

    Szívesen dolgozom csapatban, de önálló projektek megoldására is képes vagyok.

  • “I take responsibility for the tasks I have been entrusted with.”

    Felelősséget vállalok a nekem kiosztott feladatok elvégzéséért.

  • “I respect deadlines, as I know my work ethic has an impact on my colleagues too.”

    Tiszteletben tartom a határidőket, hiszen tudom, hogy a munkamorálom a kollégáimra is hatással van.

  • “I adjust easily but am also open to trying out new methods of working.”

    Tudok alkalmazkodni, de nyitott vagyok új munkamódszerek kipróbálására is.

  • “I am a team player, and I get along well with people.”

    Csapatjátékos vagyok és jól kijövök az emberekkel.

  • “I am capable of problem-solving and handling delicate situations appropriately.”

    Képes vagyok a problémák megoldására, és a konfliktusok megfelelő módon történő kezelésére.

  • “I think that, based on my previous work experiences, I am fit for this position.”

    Úgy gondolom, hogy előző munkatapasztalataim alapján nekem való ez a pozíció.

  • “During my years at university, I developed a practical approach to projects.”

    Egyetemi éveim alatt, praktikus szemléletet alakítottam ki a projektek felé.

  • “I believe I have the personal qualities that could be beneficial for the company and this team.”

    Úgy hiszem, megvannak bennem azok a személyiségjegyek, melyek kedvezőek lennének a cégnek és ennek a csapatnak.

  • “I possess a strong knowledge of computer fundamentals.”

    Erős számítógépes alapismeretekkel rendelkezem.

  • “I am able to make sound decisions in the absence of detailed instructions, as well.”

    Képes vagyok helytálló döntéseket hozni részletes instrukciók hiányában is.

  • “I have good judgment in selecting the proper mode of communication among colleagues.”

    Jó ítélőképességgel rendelkezem a megfelelő kommunikációs mód kiválasztását illetően a kollégák közt.

  • “I utilize a variety of analytical techniques to solve problems.”

    Számos analítikai technikát alkalmazok problémák megoldásához.

  • “I am always ready to provide strong evidence of specific accomplishments.”

    Mindig készen állok arra, hogy erős bizonyítékot mutassak be egy adott elért eredményről.

An Up-close Shot of Part of a Resume

3. Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings

Have you ever been sitting in a business meeting but didn’t have the right words to express yourself? Well, to help you avoid this in your new Hungarian workplace, we have collected several advanced phrases in Hungarian that are frequently used in business settings. 

    ➜ If you feel like these advanced Hungarian phrases aren’t enough, you can visit any of our other business-related lessons. We recommend starting with A Hungarian Business Presentation.

  • “Good morning. Thank you all for coming here today.”

    Jó reggelt! Köszönöm, hogy eljöttek ma.

  • “Hi everyone. I’m Peter. I’ll keep this meeting short as I know we all have lots of things to do. First, let’s introduce ourselves.”

    Sziasztok! Péter vagyok. Rövidre fogom ezt a megbeszélést, hiszen tudom, hogy mindannyiunknak rengeteg dolga van. Először is mutatkozzunk be egymásnak.

  • “I’ve called this meeting in order for everyone to understand what each department is working on at the moment.”

    Azért hívtam össze ezt a megbeszélést, hogy mindenki megértse, min dolgoznak az egyes ügyosztályok mostanában.

  • “Let’s get started.”

    Vágjunk (is) bele!

  • “Could you please repeat that? I didn’t quite hear what you said.”

    Megismételné, kérem? Nem igazán hallottam, mit mondott.

  • “That’s a great point.”

    Nagyszerű meglátás!

  • “Excuse me for interrupting you, but shouldn’t we talk about the previous month first?”

    Elnézést kérek, hogy félbeszakítom, de először nem az előző hónapról kellene beszélnünk?

  • “Excuse me. Unfortunately, I have to leave earlier because of another meeting.”

    Elnézést kérek, de sajnos hamarabb kell elmennem egy másik megbeszélés miatt.

  • “That brings me to the end of my presentation. Thank you for your attention.”

    Ezzel elértünk a prezentációm végére. Köszönöm a figyelmet!

  • “Does anybody have any questions?”

    Van valakinek bármi kérdése?

Would you like to learn additional phrases and expressions related to the business world? Then head over to our listening exercise Preparing for a Hungarian Business Meeting!

A Group of People Discussing Something at a Table

4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

Idioms, sayings, and proverbs are part of our everyday lives, and they vary from culture to culture. Here, you will learn advanced Hungarian phrases related to anything and everything. These are idioms and sayings that Hungarians love to use on a daily basis, so we advise you to memorize at least a few of them. 

  • “Break a leg.” [Literally: “(I wish you) a broken arm and leg.”]

    Kéz és lábtörést!

  • “Hang in there.” [Literally: “(I wish you) perseverance.”]

    Kitartás(t)!

You’re likely to hear this advanced Hungarian saying at least twice a day! Locals love to use this expression, especially at work. 

  • “Slow and steady wins the race.” [Literally: “Walk slowly, and you will live longer.”]

    Lassan járj, tovább élsz!

  • “This ship has sailed.”

    Ez a hajó elúszott.

  • “Kill two birds with one stone.” [Literally: “(To kill) two flies with one hit.”]

    Két legyet egy csapásra!

Make sure to visit our blog post on the top Hungarian proverbs and idioms for even more inspiration!

The Word idioms Spelled Out Using Wooden Letter Blocks

5. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’ve now seen more than 40 advanced Hungarian conversational phrases for a variety of contexts. To make the patterns and expressions stick in your mind, make sure to come back to this page from time to time and read through them again. We also advise you to go back and take notes if you haven’t already.

To summarize, we presented you with:

  • Useful phrases for academic writing
  • Power phrases for your resume
  • Smart phrases for business and meetings
  • Advanced idioms, sayings, and proverbs for everyday usage

If you would like to learn more advanced Hungarian phrases—and about the Hungarian language in general—join the HungarianPod101 family. You can find lots of free study materials on our website, such as vocabulary lists, audio and video lessons, example conversations, articles similar to this one, and more. With a Premium PLUS subscription, you even get a personal tutor! If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend creating your free lifetime account and heading over to our Level 5 pathway for advanced Hungarian lessons designed to help you excel. 

Which of these advanced Hungarian phrases did you find the easiest? Let us know in the comments below.

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30+ Basic Intermediate Hungarian Phrases

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The key to successful language learning is to be aware of your level. If you start learning Hungarian words and phrases that are too advanced for you, it will increase the likelihood that you’ll give up after a while. Our aim at HungarianPod101.com is to provide study materials for learners of all levels. We previously posted an article about beginner Hungarian phrases [link], so we recommend you start there if you’re new to the game. 

In this article, however, you’re going to learn several intermediate Hungarian phrases that will help you sound more like a native speaker. These phrases are ideal for learners who are ready to cross over from the beginner level to the intermediate level. If you feel ready for our list of intermediate Hungarian phrases and expressions, let us outline what you’ll learn about today. 

  • Talking about past events
  • Making and changing plans
  • Explaining and listing reasons
  • Making recommendations and complaints
  • Reaction phrases for everyday conversations
  • Etiquette phrases for both social and business settings

Sound good? Let’s jump into it!

A Woman in a Blue Cardigan Holding a Book and a Pen

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Talking About Past Events
  2. Making and Changing Plans
  3. Explaining and Listing Reasons
  4. Making Recommendations and Complaints
  5. Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations
  6. Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
  7. How HungarianPod101 Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

1. Talking About Past Events

Using the past tense in Hungarian is super easy. Unlike many other languages, such as English and French, we have only one past tense. In this section, we’ll show you how the past tense works by introducing you to intermediate Hungarian words and phrases for talking about past events. You can use them when talking to your friends or coworkers about a wild Friday night or other memorable experiences.

  • “We had fun at the party last night.”
    Jól szórakoztunk a partin tegnap este.
  • “I started going to the gym three years ago.”
    Három éve kezdtem edzőterembe járni.
  • “That was the best day of my life. My child was born.”
    Ez volt életem legszebb napja. Megszületett a gyermekem.
  • “I used to have a cat named Creme.”
    Volt egy macskám, akit Krémnek hívtak.
  • “I got invited to a house party in Los Angeles last year.”
    Tavaly meghívtak egy házibuliba Los Angeles-ben.

2. Making and Changing Plans

Imagine not being able to make a dinner party because something came up, and not knowing how to inform your Hungarian friends. Lucky for you, these next Hungarian phrases for intermediate learners will help you make and change plans. Knowing how to do this is crucial, as punctuality is important to Hungarians. We advise that you take a close look at these phrases and try to memorize as many as you can.

  • “Do you want to have lunch together this Tuesday?”
    Szeretnél együtt ebédelni ezen a kedden? [informal]
  • “Would you like to have lunch together this Tuesday?”
    Volna kedve együtt ebédelni ezen a kedden? [formal]
  • “Can I bring my boyfriend/girlfriend to the party?”
    Elhozhatom a barátomat/barátnőmet a buliba?

In the sentence above, you can replace barátomat/barátnőmet with párom (“partner”) in order to sound more “grown-up.”

  • “Unfortunately, I can’t make it to the dinner party because my sister is coming to town.”
    Sajnos nem tudok ott lenni a vacsora partin, mert a nővérem jön a városba.
  • “Would it be a problem if we rescheduled?”
    Gondot jelentene, ha áttennénk az időpontot?
  • “Let’s have a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at two p.m. to discuss the details.”
    Tartsunk egy Zoom meetinget szerdán délután kettőkor, hogy megbeszéljük a részleteket!

The sentence above will come in handy at your workplace, especially nowadays in the time of home offices and remote working.

  • “Where would you like to go after the cinema?”
    Hova szeretnél menni a mozi után?

You can visit our free vocabulary list Talking About Your Plans to learn more useful phrases along with their pronunciation.

A Woman and a Man Sitting in a Movie Theater

3. Explaining and Listing Reasons

These next intermediate Hungarian phrases will be useful in both your private life and your professional life. Giving reasons and explaining decisions is a huge part of everyday life, so learning how to do so in Hungarian is essential. 

Did you have a heated argument with a Hungarian friend of yours? Hit them back with logical reasoning! 

Must you tell your Hungarian boss why your project will perform better than they think? Explain it with ease! 

With the following intermediate phrases for Hungarian conversations, all this (and more) is possible. 

  • “I wrote this because I thought you would like it.”
    Azért írtam ezt, mert azt gondoltam, tetszene neked.
  • “I believe it was the right decision. That’s why I don’t understand your fury.”
    Úgy gondolom, ez volt a helyes döntés. Ezért nem értem a haragodat.
  • “If you had told me the truth, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
    Ha elmondtad volna az igazat, most nem lennénk itt.
  • “I decided to choose this job for three reasons. First, the salary is really good. Second, it’s close to my house. Lastly, I love this field of business.”
    Három okból választottam ezt a munkát. Először is, a fizetés nagyon jó. Másodszor, közel van a házamhoz. Végül pedig, imádom ezt az üzleti területet.
  • “Although you already said no, I would like to explain my point of view.”
    Habár már nemet mondtál, szeretném elmagyarázni az én nézőpontomat.

A Group of People Discussing Something at a Table

4. Making Recommendations and Complaints

Making recommendations to friends and complaining about poor service are both crucial parts of everyday life in Hungary. If you’ve ever wanted to recommend a book to a Hungarian friend or complain about dry chicken at a restaurant, keep reading! The following intermediate Hungarian phrases will help you make recommendations and complaints with ease. 

  • “You should read this. This is the best fantasy book I’ve ever read.”
    Ezt el kellene olvasnod. Ez a legjobb fantasy könyv, amit valaha olvastam.

Visit our lesson At a Hungarian Bookstore to hear a conversation between a seller and a customer in a bookstore.

  • “We loved that hotel. We would go back there again anytime!”
    Imádtuk azt a szállodát. Bármikor visszamennénk oda!
  • “The customer service is very poor there. Don’t go to that pub.”
    A kiszolgálás nagyon rossz ott. Ne menjetek abba a bárba!
  • “The bread is completely dry. Could you give me a fresh slice, please?”
    A kenyér teljesen száraz. Tudna nekem egy friss szeletet hozni, kérem?
  • “The food is excellent here. You should try it next time.”
    Az étel kiváló itt. Legközelebb ki kellene próbálnod!

Need some more complaint phrases? Then visit our free vocabulary list!

A Man Holding Up a Plate at a Restaurant while Expressing Disgust

5. Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations

If you visit or live in Hungary, engaging in everyday conversations is inevitable. To boost your confidence and help you make a good impression on others, we’ve compiled below a few intermediate conversational Hungarian phrases. We have also included a few sample dialogues using these reaction phrases so that you can see how they might be used in real life. 

  • “Awesome!” – Király!
  • “Really?” – Tényleg?
  • “Seriously?” – Komolyan?
  • “I’m not kidding.” – Nem viccelek.
  • “Mind-blowing!” – Eszméletlen!

Here are some sample dialogues for you: 

A “We had fun at your party last time.” – Jól éreztük magunkat tegnap a bulidban.
B: “Awesome! I’m glad you could make it.” – Király! Örülök, hogy el tudtatok jönni!

A: “Did you really see him at the mall?” – Tényleg láttad őt a plázában?
B: “I’m not kidding. He was checking out engagement rings.” – Nem viccelek. Eljegyzési gyűrűket nézegetett.

A: “No way! Really?” – Ne már! Komolyan?
B: “I swear. It was huge!” – Esküszöm! Fantasztikus!

    ➜ Do you need some help with your Hungarian pronunciation? Then make sure to visit our lesson on how to speak like a local!

6. Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings

We saved the easiest part for last. In this section, you’ll find intermediate Hungarian words and phrases for both social and business settings. The following expressions are common etiquette phrases that you can memorize and use anytime during a Hungarian conversation.

  • “Enjoy!”
    Jó étvágyat!

Not sure how to eat Hungarian food? Don’t be shy. Ask! (Or visit our dedicated lesson…)

  • “Make yourself at home.”
    Érezd otthon magad!
  • “Let me know if you have any questions.”
    Szólj, ha bármi kérdésed van!
  • “Welcome to our team.”
    Üdvözlünk a csapatban!
  • “Drive safe.”
    Vezess óvatosan!

A Man Explaining Something to Two Women at the Workplace

7. How HungarianPod101 Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals 

This marks the end of our article. We hope we were able to familiarize you with the most common intermediate words and phrases in Hungarian and that you’ll be using them confidently every day. 

Do you remember everything we covered today? We introduced intermediate Hungarian phrases for talking about past events, making and changing plans, explaining and listing reasons, and making recommendations and complaints. We also showed you some reaction phrases and other expressions for smooth social/business interactions. 

Even though we covered a lot today, don’t forget that practice makes perfect. Even if you think you understood and memorized everything, come back to this article every now and then—maybe even take notes—so that the intermediate Hungarian vocabulary can truly sink in.

If you would like to expand your knowledge, join the HungarianPod101 family. Here, you can find lots of audio content, helpful videos, example conversations, and more—not to mention a supportive group of fellow language learners.

Which intermediate Hungarian phrase did you find the most useful? Let us know in the comments!

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The 5 Best Hungarian Podcasts for Learning the Language

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Do you struggle with Hungarian listening exercises or just want to spice up your mundane study schedule? Then you should consider adding podcasts to your routine!

It’s common knowledge that learners of any language—not just Hungarian—find listening exercises rather difficult. Understanding locals, in particular, is quite the challenge because they tend to use slang and their pronunciation often differs from the perfect, precise pronunciation that study books teach you. An effective way to improve your listening comprehension skills is to listen a lot…this is where Hungarian podcasts come in.  

Not only will listening to podcasts in Hungarian help you practice your listening skills, but it’s also a different study method that’s not as boring as more traditional means of study. 

Below, we will list five of the best Hungarian podcasts out there. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or have been learning Hungarian for a while, there’s something here for you—as a matter of fact, the HungarianPod101 podcast is perfect for learners at every level. 

Shall we start? Let’s get going then!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Hungarian
  2. The Best Podcasts for Learning Hungarian
  3. Tricks to Help You Learn Hungarian More Effectively with Podcasts
  4. Keep Learning with the Top Hungarian Podcast: HungarianPod101

1. Benefits of Using Podcasts to Learn Hungarian

We already touched on a couple of benefits in the introduction, but in this section, we’re going to discuss them in more depth. 

You will get used to everyday Hungarian.

It depends on the type of Hungarian podcast, but most of them will give you the opportunity to hear everyday language (including slang). This will help you get familiar with certain terms so you won’t be surprised when visiting the country.

Your listening skills will improve.

By regularly hearing certain words in context, you’ll be better able to identify and understand those words correctly in real-life conversations. This is especially true if you listen to Hungarian podcasts that come with transcripts, as they can help you identify each word right off the bat—you’ll only need to focus on memorizing its pronunciation. 

    → The podcast lessons provided on HungarianPod101.com all come with their own transcripts. Check out our beginner listening exercises to see what we mean! 

You can expand your vocabulary. 

Listening to general Hungarian podcasts will introduce you to a wide variety of vocabulary on different topics, while listening to topic- or field-specific podcasts will help you pick up terminology related to your interests. The more Hungarian podcasts you listen to, the more your vocabulary is likely to improve over time. 

    → Another great way to learn new words? Themed vocabulary lists! See our free vocabulary lists on HungarianPod101.com and start picking up new words right away. 

Podcasts are free of charge.

Probably the biggest incentive to start incorporating Hungarian podcasts into your study schedule is that they’re completely free and accessible to everyone. You can even find Hungarian podcasts on Spotify, so there’s literally no reason why you can’t start listening right away.

Which of these reasons resonates most with you? Have you already experienced the benefits of learning Hungarian with podcasts? Let us know in the comments.

A Black-Haired Guy in a Beige T-shirt Wearing Headphones

2. The Best Podcasts for Learning Hungarian

Below is our list of the five best Hungarian-language podcasts. We’ve tried to create a collection that includes podcasts on different topics, so you’ll surely find something to your taste.

Podcast #1: Balázsék

This Hungarian news podcast is the most listened to in Hungary, not just because of its lively and humorous hosts but also because it’s broadcasted every weekday morning on the radio. You must be an advanced Hungarian learner in order to understand what they’re saying, as they use lots of slang and speak very fast. But once you understand what they’re talking about (news, culture, and recent issues in Hungary and around the world), you will laugh a lot listening to them.

If you’re interested, you could also find other Hungarian podcasts covering politics and the news.

Podcast #2: Lelkifröccs

Lelkifröccs is a Reformed Christian podcast that deals with everyday issues related to spiritual and church life in a light, accessible way. This unique Hungarian-language podcast is hosted by Péter Pál Czeglédi, a Reformed pastor from Dunaújváros. He covers a range of topics, from marriage to Satan. You will need to be an intermediate Hungarian learner for this one; the hosts do not speak that fast in the podcast, and the vocabulary used is not unusual. 

Podcast #3: Special Broadcasting System (SBS)

We recommend this Hungarian podcast for upper-intermediate learners who would like to listen to a podcast that covers anything and everything. SBS covers world events as well as issues and hot topics in Hungary. Besides news, they also talk about cultural matters such as music, literature, and many more.

A Woman Speaking into a Microphone for a Radio News Channel

Podcast #4: Párnacsata

Párnacsata translates to “pillow fight,” which is a very accurate name for this Hungarian podcast. The hosts talk about very diverse topics, but they manage to stay within the boundaries of the lifestyle and fitness categories. Some of their episodes deal with moral dilemmas, how our phones control us, and healthy relationships. We recommend this podcast for intermediate Hungarian learners. 

Podcast #5: HungarianPod101

Finally, if you don’t want to go too far in your search for great Hungarian podcasts, you can find plenty of audio lessons you’ll love right here! The biggest advantage of HungarianPod101’s audio lessons is that we have listening exercises for Hungarian learners at every level, so you’ll most definitely find the audio files best suited to you.

    → You can get a taste of what we have to offer by checking out our free lessons!

Official HungarianPod101 Image Featuring a Girl with Headphones On

3. Tricks to Help You Learn Hungarian More Effectively with Podcasts

In this last section, we’ve listed some tricks and tips to help you make the most of studying with Hungarian podcasts. If you take our advice, nothing can stop you from thriving in your Hungarian listening exercises, and you’ll be able to easily carry out a conversation with any local who comes your way.

Make sure you are someplace quiet.

While listening to podcasts is a great boredom-killer when commuting, it might not be the best idea when using them for language learning purposes. When you’re listening to a Hungarian-language podcast, make sure to filter out as much noise as possible so you can hear every word clearly.

Try to search for Hungarian podcasts with transcripts.

This way, you can read the transcript before listening, follow along with the conversation, and even assess the conversation and what you managed to understand from it. You can also practice reading out loud once you have heard the pronunciation from the podcast.

Listen to different kinds of podcasts.

To broaden not only your vocabulary but also your vision, ideas, and opinions of the world, it is important to listen to different kinds of podcasts in Hungarian. For example, a good combination might include listening to a Hungarian news podcast, one about the economy, one about politics, and maybe a cooking or lifestyle podcast as well. Of course, there are also special podcasts for learning Hungarian—like the HungarianPod101 podcast!

Take notes.

Whether it’s something interesting you heard or a new word, it is good to take notes while listening to a Hungarian podcast. Later, you can run through your notes and review keywords, essential phrases, and maybe even facts about Hungarian culture and society. You never know when having these things stored in your memory will come in handy. 

Don’t hesitate to hit “replay.”

If you didn’t quite get something, don’t be afraid to hit that replay button. We’re all here to improve, and we know that practice makes perfect. Always keep trying! Replay the dialogue two or three times, and you’ll most certainly get it in the end.

    → You can listen to our audio files as many times as you want. If you’re ready to start, we recommend heading over to our beginner lessons!

Do you have any other tips? Please share them with us and with your fellow language learners in the comments.

White Earphones

4. Keep Learning with the Top Hungarian Podcast: HungarianPod101

In this article, we have shown you some of the most popular Hungarian podcasts in a variety of categories and explained the benefits of using podcasts to learn Hungarian. To recap, you can expect: 

  • Improved listening skills 
  • A larger vocabulary
  • Free and accessible content

In addition, we shared some tips and tricks on how to learn Hungarian more effectively with podcasts. Remember what they were?

  • Listen someplace quiet
  • Use transcripts when available
  • Give yourself some variety
  • Take notes
  • Hit replay if you need to

If you would like access to tons of audio files, other study materials, and more informational blog posts on different topics, join the HungarianPod101 family. This is a great way to interact with fellow Hungarian learners and get help from real teachers whenever you need it. 

Which of the Hungarian-language podcasts sounds the most exciting to you? Let us know in the comments.

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40+ Easy Hungarian Phrases for Beginners

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This time, we have brought you a list of the most common Hungarian phrases for beginners so that you won’t feel left out, even as a new learner of this beautiful language. Here at HungarianPod101.com, we always make sure to provide study materials for language learners at every level, so everyone can find something that meets them where they’re at.

In this article, you’ll find a list of meaningful Hungarian phrases for beginners, divided into different categories. These categories include: 

  • Greetings and self-introductions
  • Courtesy phrases and social expressions
  • Dining and shopping phrases
  • Phrases for getting help

If, at the end of this article, you feel like something is missing or you have a question about something we covered, feel free to let us know in the comments. We’d be glad to help any way we can!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s jump into our list of basic Hungarian phrases for beginners.

A Guy in a Blue Shirt and a Girl in a Yellow Blouse Drinking Coffee
Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Greetings and Self-introductions
  2. Courtesy Phrases and Social Expressions
  3. Dining and Shopping Phrases
  4. Asking for Help
  5. How HungarianPod101.com Can Help You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

1. Greetings and Self-introductions

Let’s begin with the most commonly used Hungarian greetings and self-introduction phrases. These expressions are the core of everyday communication, and you could hardly spend a minute in Hungary without hearing or needing to use one of them! 

We recommend reading through this section thoroughly to ensure you pick up as many of these phrases as possible. The good thing is that learning them will be no burden to you, as these are considered easy Hungarian phrases for beginners. They contain only a few words, and their pronunciation isn’t very difficult either. 

1 – Greetings

Szia! / Sziasztok!Hi!

Jó napot!Hello.
This simple Hungarian beginner phrase could literally be translated in English as “Good day.” However, unlike its English counterpart, you wouldn’t use this when saying goodbye to someone or exiting a shop; rather, you would use it when greeting someone or entering a shop. 

Also, keep in mind that this phrase is a more formal alternative to the one above. 

Jó reggelt!Good morning. 

Jó estét!Good evening.

Szép napot!Have a good day. 

Szép délutánt!Have a good afternoon. 

2 – Self-introductions

Péter vagyok.I’m Peter.

Péternek hívnak.My name is Peter.

Keep in mind that while both of the phrases above are grammatically correct, we use the first one more often in everyday life. 

Örülök, hogy megismertelek. / Örvendek.Nice to meet you. 

Hogy vagy?How are you? 

Jól vagyok. És te?I’m good. And you? 

Egy kicsit kedvetlen vagyok. És te?I’m feeling a bit blue. And you? 

We hope you’ll end up using the first answer more often, but we wanted to show you another way you might respond to “How are you?” Hungarians are known for often feeling a bit blue, so don’t be afraid to answer honestly. They will sympathize with you.

Hány éves vagy? / Milyen idős vagy?How old are you? 

Huszonegy éves vagyok.I’m 21 years old. 

Hová valósi vagy?Where are you from? 

Kanadából származom.I’m from Canada. 

Mit dolgozol?What do you do? 

Mérnök vagyok.I’m an engineer.

Tanuló vagyok.I’m a student. 

    → If you become closer with the person or need more conversation material, you can find words for describing personality traits here and here.
A Handshake between a Woman and a Man, Only the Hands Are Seen, the Woman Is Handing Her Business Card Over

2. Courtesy Phrases and Social Expressions

Courtesy phrases and social expressions are a crucial part of any culture. Being able to interact with locals the way they “expect” you to can go a long way. Use the following Hungarian phrases for beginners to come across as polite and to make Hungarians swoon at both your knowledge of their language and your social grace. 

Elnézést! / Bocsánat!Pardon.
You could use this basic Hungarian phrase when you bump into someone or want to ask for directions on the street, for example. 

Semmi baj. / Semmiség.That’s okay. 

Nem probléma. / Nem gond.No problem. 

(Nagyon szépen) köszönöm!Thank you (very much). 

(Nagyon) szívesen!You’re (very) welcome. 

(Annyira) sajnálom! / Bocsánat!I’m (so) sorry. 

Megkérdezhetem, hogy…?May I ask…?

Majd találkozunk! / Szia!See you. 

Vigyázz magadra!Take care. 
While the English translation of this phrase tends to be used more casually as a form of “goodbye,” the Hungarian version carries more meaning. Using it implies that you care deeply for the other person and worry over their wellbeing. We use it most often when parting ways with someone for a longer period of time, such as when they’re leaving for a vacation. 

Vigyázz!Watch out. 

A Man in a Suit Holding the Car Door Open for a Woman in a White Dress

3. Dining and Shopping Phrases

There is some overlap between the Hungarian courtesy phrases we saw in the previous section and the most common phrases used for dining and shopping. In addition, you’ll find that some of these expressions could be used in other everyday conversations as well (such as: Elnézést kérek! – “Excuse me.”).


Elnézést kérek!Excuse me. 
This is definitely one of the essential Hungarian survival phrases for beginners, because you’ll be hearing and saying it a lot! You might say this to someone if you’d like a little more space on the bus, need assistance while at the grocery store, or would like the waiter at a restaurant to bring you the bill. 

Kaphatnék…?Can I get…?

Árulnak…?Do you sell…?

Kérem! / Kérlek!Please.
The first version (kérem) is formal, so you would use it with people you don’t know or those who are older than you. The second version (kérlek) is informal, so you would use it with family and friends. 

Mennyibe kerül a(z)…?How much is the…?

Tudok kártyával fizetni?Can I pay by card?

Elfogadnak készpénzt?Do you take cash? 

Elkérhetnénk az étlapot?Can we have the menu? 

Hol tudom lemérni?Where can I weigh it?
In many shops in Hungary, you have to weigh the vegetables or fruits you’d like to purchase yourself. There are scales placed around the fresh food area for this purpose. You could use this simple Hungarian beginner phrase to find them more easily. 

A Shopping Cart Full of Groceries Left Unattended in the Middle of an Aisle

4. Asking for Help

In this section, we’ll introduce you to the most crucial Hungarian survival phrases for beginners: those used to ask for help! If you get lost, need to overcome a language barrier, or fall ill, knowing these phrases and sentence patterns will help you out in a pinch. We recommend memorizing these simple Hungarian beginner phrases before arriving in Hungary. 

Hol van…?Where is…?

Hogy jutok el…?How can I get to…?

Beszél angolul? / Beszélsz angolul?Do you speak English?
The first version (with beszél) is a bit more formal, so you might want to use it with people who are much older than you. But the second version (with beszélsz) is more casual, and you can use it when approaching people closer to your age. 

Csak kicsit beszélek magyarul.I speak only a little bit of Hungarian. 

Hogy mondod, hogy … magyarul?How do you say … in Hungarian?
This Hungarian phrase can be used as an icebreaker when meeting new people or during small talk. It’s always a fun activity to try teaching a foreigner your mother tongue.

Meg tudnád ismételni?Could you repeat it?
Such an important Hungarian phrase that every beginner must know! When you’ve just started learning a language, it can be challenging to understand what locals are saying at native speed. You might need to ask them once or twice to repeat what they’ve just said so that you can fully understand what they’re saying. There is no shame in that! Hungarians will appreciate the effort you’re making to learn their language.

Nem hallottam rendesen.I couldn’t hear it properly. 

Nem értem.I don’t understand. 

Orvosra van szükségem.I need a doctor. 
We hope you won’t need to use this phrase, but it’s one of the most important ones for beginners to learn. In the same vein, we also recommend checking out our vocabulary lists of phrases for talking about injuries and speaking with a doctor

A Young Guy in a Grayish T-shirt Frowning and Scratching His Head

5. How HungarianPod101.com Can Help You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

If you’ve made it this far, congrats! Now you know the most common Hungarian words and phrases for beginners. We did our best to include everything you would need for everyday life in Hungary: greetings and introductions, courtesy phrases, expressions for shopping and dining, and even phrases for use in emergencies. But please let us know if we forgot any essential beginner phrases, and we’ll be sure to provide them for you. 

Don’t forget that practice makes perfect, so even though we’ve tried to keep it basic and easy, you need to make these Hungarian expressions stick. You could try writing them down on flashcards and occasionally reviewing them to see how much you remember. 

In addition, we recommend joining the HungarianPod101 family. This way, you’ll always be able to turn to fellow language learners (or our team of Hungarian teachers) for help and motivation. We provide our students with a variety of lessons and study materials, each one designed to make the learning process both fun and effective. We encourage you to never stop broadening your knowledge! 

Before you go: Which Hungarian phrase for beginners was the easiest for you?

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150+ Advanced Hungarian Words

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Have you read our articles on beginner and intermediate words already? If so, you should be well equipped with the essential words for your daily interactions in Hungary… But what if you don’t want to stop there? 

As promised, here is our article on advanced Hungarian words

Our aim is to familiarize you with the most common advanced Hungarian words in different categories. You’ll learn words and technical terms related to the academic and business worlds, the medical field, and the legal system. In addition, we have included a section dedicated to teaching you more sophisticated alternatives to common Hungarian words. 

As always, we would love to hear from you! Feel free to let us know in the comments if you think any important words are missing or if you have any questions about what we’re about to cover. You can also create a Premium PLUS account to access our MyTeacher service, which will connect you with your own personal Hungarian language tutor. 

If you’re ready to get started with the last installment of this miniseries, let’s jump right into it!

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Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Advanced Academic Words
  2. Advanced Business Words
  3. Advanced Medical Words
  4. Advanced Legal Words
  5. Additional Words for Acing a Hungarian Language Exam
  6. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

1. Advanced Academic Words

You will most definitely need a good number of academic words if, say, you want to study at a Hungarian university. What an adventure that would be! The following list of advanced Hungarian words will help you immensely not only when writing essays or taking tests, but also when composing your thesis at the end of your studies.

However, even if you don’t plan to pursue higher education in Hungary, knowing a few academic words will still come in handy. For example, it’s likely that you’ll bump into one or two of these advanced Hungarian words at your workplace in Hungary or in the local newspaper. 

What if you’re just learning Hungarian for fun as a hobby? Picking up the most common academic words will help you broaden your vocabulary, improve your overall language skills, and allow you to have more engaging conversations with native speakers. 

Let’s take a look! 

“Assessment” – Értékelés
Noun
“Overall” – Összességében
Adverb
“Required” – Szükséges
Adjective
“Debate” – Vita
Noun
“To demonstrate” – Demonstrálni 
Verb
“Controversy” – Viszály
Noun
“Considerable” – Jelentős 
Adjective
“Ambiguous” – Bizonytalan
Adjective

Example sentence:
“We’ve received a considerable number of complaints in connection with the assignment.”
Jelentős számú panaszt kaptunk a feladattal kapcsolatban.

“Academic” – Akadémiai
Adjective
“To eliminate” – Kiiktat
Verb
“Hereby” – Ezennel  
Adverb
“Finite” – Véges / Befejezett
Adjective
“Thus” – Tehát
Adverb
“To coincide” – Egybeesni / Egybevágni
Verb

Example sentence:
“Thus, we must improve our teaching methods.”
Tehát muszáj javítanunk a tanítási módunkon. 

“Preliminary” – Előkészítő
Adjective
“To attain” – Megszerezni
Verb
“Forthcoming” – Közeledő 
Adjective
“To denote” – Jelölni
Verb
“Sphere” – Szféra
Noun
“Whereby” – Miáltal
Adverb
“To undergo” – Keresztülmenni
Verb
“Inhibition” – Gátlás / Akadályozás
Noun
“So-called” – Úgynevezett 
Adjective
“To hinder” – Meggátolni / Akadályozni
Verb

Example sentence:
“Excessive partying hinders high performance in school.”
A mértéktelen bulizás akadályozza a magas iskolai teljesítményt. 

“Albeit” – Habár
Conjunction
Virtually” – Tulajdonképpen
Adverb
“Structure” – Struktúra
Noun
“Structure” – Struktúra
Noun
“Hypothesis” – Feltételezés / Feltevés
Noun
“Principle” – Alapelv
Noun

Want to learn even more essential vocabulary? Then visit our Vocab Builder for Academia!

A Girl in a Hoodie in Front of Her Laptop Taking Notes in Her Notebook

2. Advanced Business Words

No list of advanced Hungarian vocabulary words could be complete without some business words. Studying economics in Hungary? Great! You’ll love this list and will find your studies much easier once you have these business- and economics-related words down. Not to mention how your teachers will appreciate that you know such nuanced Hungarian words as a foreigner.

Not studying in Hungary but want to impress your Hungarian boss? No problem! These advanced Hungarian words and phrases will come in handy not only when writing emails, but also in meetings and conferences with clients. You’ll be able to seal the deal on that long-desired promotion before you know it! 

“Strategy building” – Stratégiaépítés
Noun
“Fiscal year” – Költségvetési év
Noun

Example sentence:
“We have to get this done before the end of the current fiscal year.”
Ezt még a mostani költségvetési év vége előtt be kell fejeznünk. 

“Counteroffer” – Ellenajánlat
Noun
“Sum” – Összeg
Noun
“Conference” – Értekezlet
Noun
“License” – Engedély / Felhatalmazás
Noun
“Margin” – Árrés 
Noun
Stakeholder” – Részvényes
Noun

Example sentence:
“Let’s make sure that our stakeholders are satisfied with the project.”
Menjünk biztosra, hogy a részvényeseink elégedettek a projekttel. 

“Retainer” – Foglaló
Noun
“Feedback” – Visszacsatolás
Noun
“Expansion” – Terjeszkedés
Noun
“Expansion” – Terjeszkedés
Noun
“Merge” – Egyesülés
Noun
“Merge” – Egyesülés
Noun
“Entity” – Entitás
Noun
“Entity” – Entitás
Noun phrase
“Sustainable” – Fenntartható 
Adjective
“To monitor” – Figyelemmel kísérni
Verb

Example sentence:
“The sales department is supposed to monitor the revenue.”
Az értékesítési osztálynak kellene figyelemmel kísérnie a bevételt. 

“Pay raise” – Fizetésemelés
Noun
“Incorporated” – Egyesített
Adjective
“Incentive” – Ösztönző
Noun
“To access” – Elérni
Verb
“Revenue” – Árbevétel
Noun
“To modify” – Módosítani / Változtatni
Verb
“Commission” – Jutalék 
Noun
“Commission” – Jutalék 
Noun
“To assign” – Kiosztani
Verb
“Hierarchical” – Hierarchikus
Adjective

Visit our lesson Talking to a Supplier in Hungarian to listen to a sample business-related conversation.

A Man in a Black Suit Behind a Desk Smiling and Shaking Hands with a Woman

3. Advanced Medical Words

There are a couple of scenarios where you would definitely want to know some advanced Hungarian words related to medicine:

God forbid, but if anything were to happen to you, your travel buddy, or just a random pedestrian while you’re in Hungary, you’ll need to know some medical words. This will allow you to call an ambulance and explain the problem to them, and to know what the injured person’s condition is.

The other scenario is if you want to pursue medical studies. In this case, you would surely need to be familiar with the advanced Hungarian vocabulary list below in order to understand what they’re teaching in lectures and to write your academic essays.

“Acute” – Akut / Heven
Adjective
“Blood donor” – Véradó
Noun
Chickenpox” – Bárányhimlő
Noun
“Dementia” – Demencia / Elmebaj
Noun
“Deaf” – Süket / Siket
Adjective
“Immune system” – Immunrendszer
Noun
“Dehydration” – Kiszáradás 
Noun
“Operation” – Operáció / Műtét
Noun
“Fever” – Láz
Noun
“To eliminate” – Kiiktat
Verb
“Surgery” – Műtét
Noun
“Prescription” – Recept
Noun
“Mental health” – Mentálhigiénia
Noun
“Vein” – Ér
Noun

Example sentence:
“Mental health is just as important as physical health.”
A mentálhigiénia ugyanolyan fontos, mint a fizikai egészség. 

“Complication” – Szövődmény
Noun
“Numb” – Zsibbadt / Érzéstelen
Adjective
“Symptom” – Tünet
Noun
“Injury” – Sérülés
Noun
“X-ray” – Röntgen 
Noun
“Wound” – Seb
Noun

Example sentence:
“Let’s take an X-ray to see if there is a fracture.”
Csináltassunk röntgent, hogy lássuk, van-e törés. 

“Life-threatening” – Életveszélyes
Adjective
“Infection” – Fertőzés
Noun
“Fatal” – Halálos
Adjective
“Illness” – Betegség
Noun
“Cancer” – Rák
Noun
“Fracture” – Zúzódás
Noun
“Procedure” – Beavatkozás
Noun
“Lasting” – Maradandó
Adjective

Example sentence:
“Due to the accident, she has suffered lasting injuries.”
A baleset miatt maradandó sérüléseket szenvedett.

A Doctor Explaining Something to His Patient, Who Is a Blond Woman That Is Smiling and Sitting in a Chair

4. Advanced Legal Words

Again, we hope this never happens, but if you get in trouble with the law while in Hungary—for example, if the police have to get involved—it can be life-saving to know one or two advanced Hungarian words related to the legal system. Of course, these words will also be extremely helpful should you wake up one day and decide to take up the challenge of entering law school. 

But make sure to give yourself a pat on the back, even if you’re just learning these words for fun!

“Convict” – Fegyenc
Noun
“Homicide” – Emberölés
Noun

Example sentence:
“They reported a homicide in our neighborhood.”
Emberölést jelentettek a környékünkön. 

“Judge” – Bíró 
Noun
“Murder” – Gyilkosság
Noun
“Jury” – Esküdtszék
Noun
“Shoplifting” – Bolti lopás
Noun
“Prison” – Börtön
Noun
“To sentence” – Elítél
Verb
“Attorney” – Jogász
Noun
“To sentence” – Elítél
Verb

Example sentence:
“The judge sentenced the accused to five years in prison.”
A bíró 5 év börtönre ítélte a vádlottat. 

“Defendant” – Vádlott
Noun
“Trial” – Kihallgatás
Noun
“To plead” – Kérelmezni
Verb
“Courtroom” – Bírósági tárgyalóterem
Noun phrase
“Verdict” – Ítélet
Noun
“To charge” – Vádolni
Verb
“Justice” – Igazságszolgáltatás
Noun
“To arrest” – Letartóztatni
Verb
“Prejudice” – Befolyásolás
Noun
“Allegation” – Vádaskodás
Noun
“Law” – Törvény
Noun
“Illegal” – Illegális / Törvényellenes
Adjective
“Contract” – Szerződés
Noun
“Plea” – Védőbeszéd
Noun
“Evidence” – Bizonyíték
Noun
“Warrant” – Parancs / Végzés
Noun

Example sentence:
“Based on the evidence in their possession, she is guilty.”
A birtokukban lévő bizonyíték alapján bűnös. 

“Consent” – Hozzájárulás / Beleegyezés
Noun
“Bias” – Elfogultság
Noun

A Judge’s Hands and Papers Are Seen with a Gavel in the Picture

5. Additional Words for Acing a Hungarian Language Exam

Do you ever wonder how many words it takes to be considered advanced in Hungarian? Well, according to experts, that number is anywhere from 4,000 to 10,000. Not quite there yet? Don’t worry! 

The following list of advanced Hungarian words will be a big help to you when taking a Hungarian language exam or attending university in Hungary. 

“Approach” – Megközelítés 
Noun
“Estate” – Állam
Noun

Example sentence:
“This is an interesting approach regarding teaching.”
Ez egy érdekes megközelítés a tanítást illetően. 

“Significant” – Jelentős / Lényeges 
Adjective
“To clarify” – Tisztázni
Verb
“Concept” – Koncepció / Elképzelés
Verb
“Duration” – Időtartam
Noun
“To affect” – Hatással lenni
Verb
“Duration” – Időtartam
Noun

Example sentence:
“The duration of the exam is precisely three hours.”
A vizsga időtartama pontosan 3 óra. 

“In summary” – Összefoglalásképp
Adverb
“Economic” – Gazdasági
Adjective
“Obvious” – Nyilvánvaló
Adjective
“Unified” – Egyesített
Adjective
“Arbitrary” – Önkényes / Önhatalmú 
Adjective
“Exhibition” – Kiállítás
Noun
“Subordinate” – Alárendelt 
Adjective
“Contradiction” – Ellentmondás
Noun
“Restraint” – Korlát
Noun
“Crucial” – Életbevágó / Fontos
Adjective
“Inherent” – Velejáró
Adjective
“Incident” – Eset / Történés
Noun
“To cease” – Abbamaradni / Megszűnni
Verb
“Coincidence” – Véletlen
Noun
“Factor” – Tényező
Noun
“Conclusion” – Összefoglalás
Noun
“To ensure” – Biztosítani valamiről
Verb
“Instance” – Példa / Eset
Noun
“Sufficient” – Elegendő
Adjective
“Benefit” – Előny / Haszon
Noun

Example sentence:
“You have read a sufficient amount of books for the exam. Relax.”
Elegendő mennyiségű könyvet olvastál el a vizsgára. Nyugi. 

“Emphasis” – Hangsúly / Nyomaték
Noun
“Presumption” – Feltételezés / Sejtés
Noun
“Estimate” – Becslés / Becsült érték
Noun
“Consistency” – Következetesség
Noun
“Thorough” – Alapos
Adjective
“Established” – Bevezetett
Adjective
“To exceed” – Túllép / Túlszárnyal
Verb
“Source” – Forrás
Noun
“Discretion” – Diszkréció
Noun
“Particular” – Konkrét / Bizonyos
Adjective
“To imply” – Utalni valamire
Verb
“Labor” – Munkaerő
Noun

Students Behind Desks Taking an Exam

6. How HungarianPod101.com Helps You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

We are so happy that you came along with us on this journey of learning vocabulary words fit for every level of Hungarian, and we hope you’ll stick around. In this article, we introduced you to a variety of advanced Hungarian vocabulary words related to academia, business, medicine, and the legal system. 

    → Want to learn even more and strengthen your skills? Then check out our advanced Hungarian course or any of the other advanced Hungarian learning materials on our website.

We hope you enjoyed this miniseries because we have another one coming. So make sure to check back often. 😉 

Create your free lifetime account on HungarianPod101.com today and continue building your language skills. We provide a number of study materials, including vocabulary lists, video and audio lessons for every level, and several curated lesson pathways. 

Before you go: Which word did you find the most difficult? Did you know any of these already?

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300 Intermediate Hungarian Words to Boost Your Vocab

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In a previous article, we covered the top Hungarian words for beginners in order to lay out a solid foundation for new learners. But if you’ve been learning with us for a while, you might be ready to push past the beginner stuff into new and exciting territory. 

To give you a headstart, HungarianPod101 has compiled this list of háromszáz (300) intermediate Hungarian words you can start practicing right away. This article is geared toward learners who already have a basic knowledge of Hungarian and who have become familiar with the most basic words. 

We’ve categorized our list based on the part of speech and theme. Keep in mind that most of these words are at the lower-intermediate level, though you might find a couple of more advanced words as well. 

Remember: If you find this article too challenging (or not challenging enough), you can explore HungarianPod101.com to find more suitable learning materials for your current level and preferences. Struggling to find the right fit? Feel free to reach out to our team, and we’d be glad to help you find the best lessons and materials for your goals. 

So, are you ready to learn the most useful intermediate Hungarian words now? Awesome! Let’s go.

Hungarian Parliament at Night

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Beginner Vocabulary in Hungarian Table of Contents
  1. Larger Numbers
  2. Nouns
  3. Verbs
  4. Adjectives
  5. Adverbs
  6. Prepositions
  7. Conjunctions
  8. Auxiliary Words and Particles
  9. How HungarianPod101.com Can Help You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

1. Larger Numbers

In our article on beginner words, you got to know the numbers 1-10 in Hungarian (“zero” is nulla, in case you’re wondering). Now it’s time for you to learn the larger numbers, starting from 11 and going up to the millions and billions! 

Keep in mind that, in Hungary, our currency is the HUF (not the EUR). As such, it’s perfectly reasonable for the price of a pair of shoes, for example, to be in the tens of thousands of HUF—yes, you read that right. This makes larger numbers a crucial element to add to your intermediate Hungarian vocabulary, as you’ll likely need to know and use them on a regular basis. 

One important thing we should mention is that while English uses a hyphen for the numbers 21-99, Hungarian only uses them from 2,000 onwards. Let’s see how this works.

Numbers 11-20

“Eleven” – Tizenegy                                          “Sixteen” – Tizenhat

“Twelve” – Tizenkettő                                        “Seventeen” – Tizenhét

“Thirteen” – Tizenhárom                                   “Eighteen” – Tizennyolc

“Fourteen” – Tizennégy                                     “Nineteen” – Tizenkilenc

“Fifteen” – Tizenöt                                              “Twenty” – Húsz

Numbers 30-100

“Thirty” – Harminc                                              “Seventy” – Hetven

“Forty” – Negyven                                              “Eighty” – Nyolcvan

“Fifty” – Ötven                                                     “Ninety” – Kilencven

“Sixty” – Hatvan                                                  “Hundred” – Száz

Wondering how to form numbers like 21 and 45 in Hungarian? It’s simple! All you have to do is place the appropriate number from 1 to 9 after the appropriate “tens” word. For example:

  • “Twenty-one” – Huszonegy
  • “Forty-five” – Negyvenöt

Just like in English! 

The Hundreds

“Two hundred” – Kétszáz                                  “Eight hundred” – Nyolcszáz

“Six hundred” – Hatszáz                                    “Nine hundred” – Kilencszáz

Again, to form the numbers in-between the round hundreds, you just need to place the appropriate number 1-99 after the appropriate “hundreds” word. 

  • “Two hundred and four” – Kétszáznégy
  • “Two hundred and fourteen” – Kétszáztizennégy

Even Bigger Numbers

While English does not use hyphens above 99, Hungarian uses them for all numbers above 2,000 that are not round thousands (such as 3,000 or 10,000). See below.

“Thousand” – Ezer
“Seven thousand and seventy-nine” – Hétezer-hetvenkilenc (7,079)

“Ten thousand” – Tízezer
“Eighty thousand, two hundred and forty-three” – Nyolcvanezer-kétszáznegyvenhárom (80,243)

“One million” – Egymillió
“Seven million, four hundred and ninety thousand, five hundred and thirty” – Hétmillió-négyszázkilencvenezer-ötszázharminc (7,490,530)

“Twelve billion” – Tizenkétmilliárd
“Two billion, six hundred and eighty-five million, three hundred and twenty thousand, four hundred and two” – Kétmilliárd-hatszáznyolcvanötmillió-háromszázhúszezer-négyszázkettő (2,685,320,402)

Colorful Wooden Numbers on a Desk, Close Up

2. Nouns

Nouns are an essential component of every language because no sentence is complete without them. 

At this point in your language learning journey, you probably know a variety of beginner-level nouns and can comfortably use them in your daily conversations. But if you’re ready to branch out and begin talking about more complex topics than your morning routine or pets, you’ll need to learn some practical intermediate-level Hungarian nouns. 

We’ve tried to include a diverse selection of nouns for you to study, but you can also check out our Lower Intermediate course or reach out to your teacher if you’d like to learn more. 

Family

“Mother-in-law” – Anyós                                    “Stepsister” – Mostohatestvér (lány)

“Father-in-law” – Após                                       “Stepbrother” – Mostohatestvér (fiú)

“Daughter-in-law” – Meny                                  “Stepmother” – Mostohaanya

“Son-in-law” – Vő                                               “Stepfather” – Mostohaapa

“Niece” – Unokahúg                                           “Half-sister” – Féltestvér (lány)

“Nephew” – Unokaöccs                                     “Half-brother” – Féltestvér (fiú)

“Nuclear family” – Kiscsalád                             “Childhood” – Gyerekkor

“Extended family” – Nagycsalád                       “Adolescence” – Kamaszkor / Serdülőkor

“Foster family” – Nevelőcsalád                         “Adolescent” – Kamasz / Serdülő

“Single-parent family” – Csonkacsalád             “Adulthood” – Felnőttkor

Work

“Surgeon” – Sebész                                           “Resignation letter” – Felmondólevél

“Detective” – Nyomozó                                      “Contract” – Szerződés

“Accountant” – Könyvelő                                    “Interview” – Interjú

“Linguist” –Nyelvész                                           “Employee” – Alkalmazott / Munkavállaló

“Astronaut” –Asztronauta, űrhajós                      “Occupation” – Foglalkozás

In and Around the City

“City hall” – Városháza                                     “Railway station” – Vasútállomás

“Courthouse” – Bíróság                                     “Airport” – Repülőtér

“Penitentiary” – Javítóintézet                             “Taxi stand” – Taxiállomás

“Private clinic” – Magánklinika                           “Amusement park” – Vidámpark

“Hypermarket” – Hipermarket                            “Subway station” – Metróállomás

“Telephone box” – Telefonfülke                         “Sports center” – Sportközpont / Sportcenter

Cycle path” – Bicikliút                                       “Gas station” – Benzinkút

A Family Having Dinner; Granddaughter, Grandma, and Grandpa Are Seen Around the Table

Office Essentials

“Paper clip” – Gémkapocs                                “Scissors” – Olló

“Correction fluid” – Hibajavító                           “Hole punch” – Lyukasztó

“Envelope” – Boríték                                         “Wastebasket” – Szemeteskosár

“Pushpin” – Rajzszög                                        “Stamp” – Pecsét

“Calculator” – Számológép                                “Magnifier” – Nagyító

Animals

“Giraffe” – Zsiráf                                                 “Stallion” – Csődör

“Gazelle” – Gazella                                            “Sow” – Anyakoca / Anyasertés

“Elephant” – Elefánt                                           “Piglet” – Kismalac

“Lion” – Oroszlán                                                “Goat” – Bakkecske

“Hippopotamus” – Víziló                                     “Billygoat” – Bakkecske

“Blue whale” – Kékbálna                                    “Sheep” – Bárány

“Coyote” – Prérifarkas                                        “Ram” – Kos

“Ostrich” – Strucc                                               “Goose” – Lúd

“Tortoise” – Teknősbéka                                    “Rooster” – Kakas

“Polar bear” – Jegesmedve                               “Fox” – Róka

Fruits, Vegetables & More

“Apple” – Alma                                                   “Plum” – Szilva

“Green apple” – Zöldalma                                  “Passion fruit” – Maracuja

“Peach” – Őszibarack                                         “Cherry” – Cseresznye

“Blackberry” – Szeder                                         “Sour cherry” – Meggy

“Fig” – Füge                                                         “Melon” – Sárgadinnye

“Cauliflower” – Karfiol                                          “Spinach” – Spenót

“Zucchini” – Cukkini                                             “Arugula” – Rukkola

“Brussels sprouts” – Kelbimbó                            “Broccoli” – Brokkoli

“Asparagus” – Spárga                                         “Cucumber” – Uborka

“Sweet potato” – Édesburgonya                          “Mushroom” – Gomba

Image of Three Sheep in Nature, Two of Which Are Lying Down

3. Verbs

Like nouns, verbs are crucial in any language. Learning the intermediate Hungarian verbs listed below will allow you to build upon the vocabulary you learned in our beginner words article, and we’ve hand-picked those verbs you’re most likely to use on a regular basis. 

Work

Would you like to be able to tell your colleagues how you get to work? Check out our vocabulary list for means of transportation in Hungarian.

“To present” – Prezentálni                                “To manage” – Kezelni

“To operate” – Működtetni                                “To invest” – Befektetni

“To call” – Hívni                                                 “To reward” – Jutalmazni

“To arrange” –  Megszervezni                           “To contribute” – Hozzájárulni

“To type” – Gépelni                                            “To write” – Írni

“To manage” – Kezelni                                       “To join” – Csatlakozni

“To cancel” – Lemondani                                    “To burn out” – Kiégni

“To hand in” – Leadni                                          “To carry out” – Kivitelezni

“To take on” – Felvenni valakit                            “To create” – Készíteni

“To fill out” – Kitölteni                                           “To pay” – Fizetni

Emotions

“To love” – Szeretni                                           “To detest” – Gyűlölni

“To like” – Kedvelni                                            “To pity” – Sajnálni

“To admire” – Csodálni                                       “To crave” – Áhítozni

“To envy” – Irigyelni                                            “To desire” – Kívánni

“To hate” – Utálni                                                “To mourn” – Gyászolni

“To tire” – Fárasztani                                           “To bore” – Untatni

A Young Woman Smiling and Holding Flowers to Her Eyes

4. Adjectives

With adjectives, we’re able to describe the world around us. As an intermediate Hungarian learner, you are capable of learning and remembering more complex adjectives, which will allow you to describe objects and feelings more accurately. 

In the lists below, you’ll find intermediate Hungarian words on a range of topics, including patterns, personalities, and emotions.

Patterns

“Floral” – Virágos                                                “Spotted” – Foltos

“Checkered” – Pepita                                          “Dotted” – Pöttyös

“Striped” – Csíkos                                               “Plaid” – Kockás

“Wavy” – Hullámos                                              “Paisley” – Kasmírmintás

“Abstract” – Absztrakt                                         “Tartan” – Skótkockás

Describing Objects

“Wide” – Széles                                                 “Spiky” – Szúrós

“Narrow” – Keskeny                                           “Flat” – Tompa

“Rugged” – Érdes                                               “Oval” – Ovális

“Wooden” – Fa                                                    “Round” – Gömbölyű

“Metal” – Fém                                                      “Smooth” – Sima

Describing People

“Cold” – Rideg                                                    “Laidback” – Laza

“Optimistic” – Optimista                                      “Pessimistic” – Pesszimista

“Evil” – Gonosz                                                   “Shy” – Félénk

“Good-natured” – Jóindulatú                               “Pathetic” – Szánalmas

“Sweet” – Aranyos                                               “Humble” – Szerény

“Creative” – Kreatív                                             “Dramatic” – Drámai

“Hardworking” – Szorgalmas                              “Attractive” – Vonzó

“Honest” – Őszinte                                              “Caring” – Törődő

“Friendly” – Barátságos                                      “Discreet” – Diszkrét

“Calm” – Nyugodt                                                “Generous” – Nagyvonalú

Describing Emotions

As social creatures, we like expressing our emotions to others. This list of intermediate Hungarian words will get you started off on the right foot. 

“Proud” – Büszke                                              “Surprised” – Meglepett

“Confused” – Zavarodott                                   “Confident” – Magabiztos

“Lonely” – Magányos                                         “Excited” – Izgatott

“Frightened” – Rémült                                        “Jealous” – Féltékeny

“Amused” – Szórakozott                                    “Bored” – Unott

Describing the Weather

“Snowy” – Havas                                                “Sleety” – Havas esős

“Bright” – Világos                                                “Showery” – Zivataros

“Misty” – Ködös                                                   “Hailing” – Jégesős

“Freezing” – Fagyos                                           “Gloomy” – Szomorkás

A Puddle Reflecting Buildings while It’s Still Raining

5. Adverbs

Adverbs are words that present additional information about a verb, adjective, or another adverb. These words may not be as vital to the language as nouns and verbs, for instance, but adding them to your intermediate Hungarian vocabulary bank will allow you to more aptly describe the context of actions, states of being, and more. 

Manner

“Thoroughly” – Alaposan                                  “Honestly” – Őszintén

“Thankfully” – Hálásan                                      “Clumsily” – Ügyetlenül

“Casually” – Átlagosan                                      “Cleverly” – Ügyesen

“Bravely” – Bátran                                             “Ruthlessly” – Könyörtelenül

“Loudly” – Hangosan                                         “Cruelly” – Gonoszan

“Angrily” – Haragosan                                       “Passionately” – Szenvedélyesen

“Easily” – Könnyedén                                        “Uncertainly” – Bizonytalanul

“Gently” – Gyengéden                                       “Quickly” – Gyorsan

“Happily” – Boldogan                                         “Dramatically” – Drámaian

“Sadly” – Szomorúan                                         “Playfully” – Játékosan

Time

“So far” – Eddig                                                 “Rarely” – Ritkán

“Lately” – Az utóbbi időben                               “Regularly” – Gyakran

“Recently” – Mostanában                                  “Yet” – Még / Már

“Annually” – Évente                                           “Seldom” – Néha

“Early” – Korán                                                  “Never” – Soha

“Usually” – Általában                                         “Constantly” – Folyamatosan

“Monthly” – Havonta                                          “Before” – Azelőtt

“Daily” – Naponta                                               “Soon” – Hamar(osan)

“Formerly” – Előzőleg                                        “Already” – Már

“Last” – Utoljára

Place

“Everywhere” – Mindenhol                               “East” – Keletre

“Nowhere” – Sehol                                           “Somewhere” – Valahol

“Here” – Itt                                                         “Along” – Végig

“There” – Ott                                                      “Next door” – A szomszédban

“Abroad” – Külföldön                                          “Upstairs” – Fent az emeleten

“Indoors” – Bent                                                  “Downstairs” – Lent a földszinten

“Outdoors” – Kint                                                 “Near” – Közel

“Down” – Lent                                                      “Towards” – Felé

“Right” – Jobbra                                                   “Back” – Hátul

“Left” – Balra                                                        “Front” – Elöl

A Woman in Front of a Gray Wall Holding Up an Alarm Clock and Pointing at It

6. Prepositions

Prepositions are words (or sometimes affixes, in the case of Hungarian) that express the relationship between two elements of a clause or sentence. Keep in mind that many of the prepositional prefixes listed below have a counterpart in English. 

“Around” – Körül                                                 “Through” – Át-

“In” – Be-                                                             “Out” – Ki-

“On” – Rá-                                                           “Above” – Felett

“Under” – Alatt                                                     “Up” – Fel-

“Behind” – Mögött                                               “Down” – Le-

“Next to” – Mellett                                               “Away” – El-

“Between” – Között                                             “Apart” – Szét-

“Opposite” – Szemben                                        “At” – -nál / -nél

“Below” – Alatt                                                     “With” – -val / -vel

“Into” – Bele-                                                       “Within” – Belül

7. Conjunctions

Conjunctions link together two words or phrases (and sometimes even sentences). In our beginner words article, we introduced you to a few of the simpler ones; this time, we’ll show you the most useful intermediate Hungarian conjunctions

“Accordingly” – Aszerint                                   “Consequently” – Következtetésképpen

“Actually” – Igazából                                        “For example” – Például

“Nevertheless” – Mindamellett                         “For this reason” – Ezen okból

“Nonetheless” – Mindazonáltal                        “From here on” – Innentől kezdve

“Moreover” – Sőt                                              “To begin with” – Először is

“However” – Habár                                           “With this in mind” – Ennek következtében

“Although” – Bár                                                “Such as” – Úgy mint

“Besides” – Emellett                                           “Similarly” – Hasonlóképpen

“Nor” – Sem                                                        “In contrast” – Ezzel szemben

“Therefore” – Ennélfogva                                    “Hence” – Így

“Third” – Harmadjára                                           “In conclusion” – Összefoglalásképp

“Thus” – Tehát                                                     “In the meantime” – Időközben

“Whereas” – Míg                                                  “To be specific” – Konkrétumként

“Yet” – Márpedig                                                  “To illustrate” – Szemléltetésképpen

“Further” – Továbbá                                             “As a result” – Eredményképp

“Afterwards” – Azontúl                                         “Equally important” – Hasonló fontossággal

A Man Studying and Taking Notes in the Library

8. Auxiliary Words and Particles

Lastly, let’s see some intermediate Hungarian auxiliary words

“Be” – Lenni                                                 “Would” – -ná/-né
“I am your mother.” –                          “Would you tell me?” –
Az édesanyád vagyok.                       Elmondanád nekem?

“Need” – Kell / Szükséges                           “Mustn’t” – Tilos
“I need to buy bread.” –                      “You mustn’t say yes.” –
Kenyeret kell vennem.                        Tilos igent mondanod.

9. How HungarianPod101.com Can Help You Reach Your Hungarian Learning Goals

If you’ve made it this far, it means that you now know the most common intermediate Hungarian words. You’re now well-equipped to talk about a variety of topics: work, animals, emotions, and the list goes on… As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you might still have.

    → To continue improving your ability to speak and understand Hungarian at the intermediate level, we recommend checking out our Lower Intermediate Hungarian course!

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