Learning a few Hungarian words can be a great way of making new friends and understanding the culture better. While the younger generations often speak English these days, it’s always appreciated when a foreigner tries to learn Hungarian phrases and words.
Hungarian is a very complex and descriptive language and there are many words that can’t be translated into a single word in other languages.
I will also teach you some basic Hungarian words for everyday use, but first, let’s learn some unique words that Hungarians use.
Szerelem
If you date a Hungarian girl or guy, you’ll probably hope for Szerelem, which means romantic love. There are many words to describe love in the Hungarian language, for example, szeretet, which is used to describe the feeling of love towards something.
The word szerelem is only used for your partner to describe that wonderful romantic love.
Kolbászolni
This is one of my favorite words in Hungarian, not only because I love Kolbász (Hungarian sausage), but more so because of the meaning of this word.
It just makes me laugh every time I hear it, and Kolbászolni is used to describe a person who is either standing at one place doing nothing, or someone who’s walking slowly with no specific destination.
The literal meaning of Kolbászolni is what I find most amusing as it basically means “to be sausaging around”.
Zsír
Zsír literally means fat but is used as Hungarian slang for expressing that something is cool.
Tutyimutyi
Someone who’s a Tutyimutyi is a person who has a weak will and fears every action. It’s not something that is labeled in a positive way, and it describes someone who is always scared of making mistakes, and they are often unable to take action.
Magyar
This is one of the most common Hungarian words that foreigners don’t understand, and you will see it everywhere. So what does Magyar mean? It’s simply the name for Hungarians in the Hungarian language.
So, everything that is Hungarian will include the word Magyar, for example, The Hungarian language in Hungarian would be Magyar Nyelv and the local name for Hungary is Magyarország, which literally means land of Magyars.
Photo: Zoltan Tarlacz/Shutterstock
Szépség
Another word that might come in handy if you’re dating a Hungarian, szép means pretty, and szépség can be used to describe someone as a good-looking person in an informal way.
You will also see this word for beauty saloons as Szépségszalonok, which might be useful to know too.
Egészségedre!
If you’re going to a party or dinner with some Hungarians, someone might make a toast or say cheers before you drink. In Hungarian, you would say Egészségedre! and raise your glass.
It means to your health, but can also be used when someone sneezes and you want to say bless you.
Photo: Barb Elkin/Shutterstock
Kérem
Kérem means please, and it’s a polite thing to say, and can be compared to the German “bitte”. It’s used when you want something. For example, when you want the check at a restaurant, you can say A számlát, kérem, which means “the check, please”.
Puszi
When you walk around in Hungarian cities such as Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc or other bigger cities where people interact often, you’ll likely hear someone saying Szia, puszi, either when greeting each other or when they hang up on the phone.
Puszi means kiss and szia means hello, but can also be used when saying bye in an informal way to friends and family. It’s pronounced like “See-yaah pussy” which obviously can make English speakers burst into a laugh.
However, in Hungary, it’s common to say this when greeting or saying goodbye to friends in real life or on the phone.We actually have a similar expression in Sweden where we say Puss Puss when hanging up the phone, it basically means kiss kiss.
Elvágyódás
If you know the world wanderlust, the Hungarian word Elvágyódás is kind of similar, and it describes that feeling that you want to get away from where you currently are at the moment.
Photo: PKpix/Shutterstock
Nebáncsvirág
If you easily get offended while traveling around Hungary, someone might say that you’re Nebáncsvirág, which basically is used to describe a person who is easily offended.
Nos
Nos is a filler word in Hungarian, which means something like “well …”.
Hiányérzet
This is another Hungarian word that describes a feeling which has no translation in English. Hiányérzet is the feeling that you have forgot something but you can’t really name what you’re missing.
For example, if you pack for a trip and you’re sure that you forgot something while you’re on your way to the airport, then Hiányérzet is appropriate to use to describe what you’re feeling.
Photo: Ollyy/Shutterstock
Baszdmeg
If you’re spending time with Hungarians, you’ll hear them say Baszdmeg from time to time, and while the literal meaning is quite vulgar, it’s more commonly used to express anger and frustration.
The literal translation of Baszdmeg is f**k you, but it can also mean “damn it”. Baszdmeg is the most common Hungarian curse word.
Lófaszt!
The literal translation of Lófaszt is “Horse d*ck” but you can also use it for saying Bullshit!
Seggfej
Seggfej is the Hungarian translation for A**hole.
Funny Words in Hungarian
There are many Hungarian words that can sound funny to a foreigner. One of the best examples of this is the word Puszi, which is English is either referring to the female vagina or to describe someone as a coward.
In Hungarian however, Puszi means to kiss, and can be used when you part ways with a friend or hang up the phone when talking to a friend. Legjobb is another word that might make you think about some kind of job with your legs, but it simply means that something is the best.
- Felpaprikázott = Peppered up
- Fogpiszkáló = toothpick
- Puszi! = kiss
- Ürüfülkürt = Eustachian tube of a mutton
- Legjobb = Best
Photo: Undrey/Shutterstock
Beautiful Hungarian words
- Szeretlek = I love You
- Édesség = Sweetie
- Kedvesem = My dear
- Aranyom = Honey
Long Hungarian Words
Hungarian words are known for being some of the longest compared to other languages. This is partly because it’s not really a single word, but rather a description of who, what, when, etc put together into one word.
In English, it’s common to separate words to describe what’s happening or what you’re referring to. But Hungarian words include this by adding parts in the beginning or by the end of the word, which results in more letters per single word.
- Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért = For your continued behavior as if you could not be desecrated
- Mézeskalácssütés = Baking of Gingerbread
- Legeslegnagyszerűbb = Most wonderful
Basic words in Hungarian
Now that you have learned some more advanced Hungarian words, it’s time to get back to the basics. These basic words in Hungarian can be used almost every day by tourists and expats.
| English | Hungarian |
| Hi/Hello | Szia/Szervusz! |
| Goodbye | Viszontlátásra/Viszlát |
| Yes/No | Igen/Nem |
| Thank you | Köszönöm! |
| You’re welcome | Szívesen! |
| I’m sorry/Excuse me | Bocsánat |
| Big/small | Nagy/Kicsi |
| Good | Jó |
| Bad | Rossz |
| Morning | Reggel |
| Afternoon | Délután |
| Evening | Este |
| Natt | Éjszaka |
| Beautiful | Gyönyörű/Szép |
| Ugly | Csúnya/Rút |
| Easy | Könnyű |
| Difficult | Nehéz |
| Beer | Sör |
| Coffee | Kávé |
| Water | Víz |
| Wine | Bor |
Translate Hungarian words into English
Translating basic words in Hungarian is usually doable with Google Translate, which can be downloaded to your phone to use offline.
However, it’s not recommended to translate longer sentences because it’ll likely not turn out correct due to the difference in sentence making compared to English.
How to learn Hungarian words
Duolingo can be downloaded for free if you want to learn some basic Hungarian for your trip.
Another suggestion is to join a Facebook group about Hungary or find a language group with volunteers that want to practice their English in exchange for teaching some Hungarian.
Photo: David MG/Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions about words in Hungarian
What is the longest word in Hungarian?
Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért is considered to be the longest Hungarian word, and it has 44 letters.
How do you greet someone in Hungary?
If you greet a stranger in Hungary, you would either wish them a good day by saying Jó napot kivánok, but you could also say Szervusz or use the more informal Szia. In Hungary, it’s also common to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, on the left side.
What is the Hungarian word for cheers?
When you make a toast or want to say cheers in Hungarian, you can say Egészségére! and raise your glass.
What is the Hungarian word for happiness?
Boldogság is the Hungarian translation for happiness.
Want to learn more Hungarian words? Leave a comment below!
FAQs
What is the hardest Hungarian word? ›
- magánnyugdíjpénztár. (n) private pension fund.
- bakancszokni. (n) socks for boots.
- használtruha-kereskedés. (n) second hand clothing store.
- liszteszsák. (n) flour bag.
- mézeskalácssütés. (n) baking of gingerbread.
- cukroszacskó (n) sugar bag.
- rizsszem. (n) grains of rice.
- uzsiszsák. (n) snack bag.
- Szia! “Hello.” ...
- Jó reggelt! “Good morning.” ...
- Jó napot! “Good afternoon.” ...
- Jó éjszakát! “Good night.” ...
- Mi a neved? “What's your name?” ...
- Én (name) vagyok. “I'm [name].” ...
- Örvendek. “Nice to meet you.” ...
- Hogy vagy? “How are you?”
According to him, the 10 most beautiful Hungarian words are láng [flame], gyöngy [pearl], anya [mother], ősz [Autumn], szűz [virgin], kard [sword], csók [kiss], vér [blood], szív [heart], sír [grave, cry].
What is the longest word in the world Hungarian? ›Hungarian. Eltöredezettségmentesítőtleníttethetetlenségtelenítőtlenkedhetnétek, with 67 letters is the longest word in the Hungarian language and approximately means "you could defragmentation defragmenting impenetrability defragmentation".
What is harder Arabic or Hungarian? ›While some might suggest Arabic or Cantonese, I would suggest that Hungarian (or Magyar, as the natives sometimes refer to it) is hands-down the most difficult language for an English speaker to learn.
What is the longest Hungarian word with 44 letters? ›2 Answers. Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért, with 44 letters is one example of a long word in the Hungarian language and means something like "for your [plural] continued behaviour as if you could not be desecrated".
What do Hungarians say before they eat? ›Jó étvágyat!
“Enjoy your meal!” Hungarians always say 'jó étvágyat” to each other before they start devouring their meal.
Hungarians call their country Magyarország, derived from Magyars which likely refers to the most promi- nent Hungarian tribe known as the “Megyer “. King Stephen I (997-1038), defeated various tribes, implementing Christiani- ty, and ultimately founding the Hungarian state.
How do Hungarians greet? ›Greetings between women tend to be a handshake or, if close to one another, a kiss on each other's cheeks (once on each side, starting with the left side). Men generally will shake hands with a woman if she extends her hand first. If they are relatives or friends, a hug and/or kiss on each cheek is common.
What is the most Hungarian thing? ›- RUBIK'S CUBE.
- BALLPOINT PEN.
- VITAMIN C.
- ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE.
- CARBONATED WATER.
- WORD & EXCEL.
- PREZI.
- SAFETY MATCH.
Who is the most beautiful girl in Hungary? ›
This year, the most beautiful Hungarian girl is Virág Koroknyai who won the title of Miss World Hungary on Sunday afternoon. Virág has already been on a beauty contest when she was a child. When she was 12 years old she won the title of Miss Europe on the Miss World beauty competition.
How do you express love in Hungarian? ›I love you in Croatian: Volim te! I love you in Hungarian: Szeretlek!
Is Hungarian one of the hardest languages? ›Unlike most European languages, which belong to the Indo-European language family, Hungarian is a Uralic language. It is spoken as a native language by 13 million people, most of whom live in Hungary. It's a famously difficult language for English speakers to learn, with complex grammar and pronunciation.
What is the Hungarian 44 letter word? ›🇭🇺 With no English equivalent, Hungary's longest word is the 44 letters long phrase: Megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért - “for your [plural] continued behavior, as if you could not be desecrated”.
What is the 1 longest word in the world? ›Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. In most English dictionaries, the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest one you are going to find at a whopping 45 letters long. This word refers to a lung disease caused by silica dust.
What is Hungarian language most similar to? ›In fact, Hungarian comes from the Uralic region of Asia and belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group, meaning its closest relatives are actually Finnish and Estonian.
Are Hungarians good at math? ›Hungary is such a powerhouse when it comes to mathematics and mathematics education. Hungarian mathematicians, including Polya and Paul Erdős, have contributed significantly to mathematics and its teaching. They have a long tradition of teaching mathematics, and they are proud of their traditions.
What is the hardest language in the world? ›1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons.
What English word has 189,819 letters? ›1. methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylalanyl… isoleucine. You'll notice there's an ellipsis here, and that's because this word, in total, is 189,819 letters long, and it's the chemical name for the largest known protein, titin.
What English word has 189000 letters? ›The longest English word is also the longest word in the world, with almost 190,000 letters. It is the chemical name for titin, the largest protein known.
What is the 189,819 letter word in English? ›
| Word | Letters |
|---|---|
| methionylthreonylthreonylglutaminylalanyl...isoleucine | 189,819 |
| methionylglutaminylarginyltyrosylglutamyl...serine | 1,909 |
| lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsano...pterygon | 183 |
| pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis | 45 |
Hungarian breakfast generally is an open sandwich with bread or toast, butter, cheese or different cream cheeses, túró cheese or körözött (Liptauer cheese spread), cold cuts such as ham, liver pâté (called májkrém or kenőmájas), bacon, salami, mortadella, sausages such as kabanos, beerwurst or different Hungarian ...
What is the most common Hungarian breakfast? ›In Hungary, a typical breakfast may consist of fresh bread, cold sausage type minced meat products (such as kolbász or szalámi), some vegetables or jam. Lunch is the main meal of the day, usually consisting of three courses: soup is followed by a main dish and a dessert.
What do Hungarians say when you sneeze? ›| Language | Usual responses and notes |
|---|---|
| Hebrew | לבריאות (livri'oot or labri'oot) |
| Hungarian | Egészségedre! / Egészségére! (If a person sneezes while another is speaking, Hungarians also say sometimes "Igaz is" confirming that the person who was just speaking was telling the truth) |
| Igbo | Ndo |
The term "vlach" (Hungarian olah ) derives from the association of these Gypsies with the old Romanian principality of Wallachia. The Hungarian word cigany (Gypsy) is found in the Hungarian language from the Middle Ages and is cognate with terms for Gypsies in other European languages such as German zigeuner.
What is a unique tradition in Hungary? ›One of the most colourful Hungarian folk traditions is the custom of Easter. At Easter, girls paint or dye eggs and prepare traditional festive dishes. On Easter Monday, they dress up in festive attire and wait for the boys to visit them and sprinkle them with water or some perfume.
Who are the Hungarians descended from? ›Their original composition probably included Iranian and Turkish people, while other populations were already present in the territory (Avars, Slavs, Germans). Some of the Hungarian ethnic groups claim to be descendants of ancient Magyars settlers (such as the Orség), others of Huns, Turks or Iranians.
How do you show respect in Hungary? ›- Hungarians often pride themselves on using proper etiquette and expect others to do the same.
- Calling someone by their first name before being invited to do so is considered rude.
- Many Hungarians find whistling, humming or singing in public impolite.
- Always cover your mouth when yawning.
EGÉSZSÉGEDRE! - Cheers! in hungarian | EGÉSZSÉGEDRE!
Why can't you clink glasses in Hungary? ›Hungary. Unless you want to be considered offensive, don't clink your glass during a toast. The rule is supposedly linked to the 1849 executions of Hungary's 13 Martyrs of Arad. Legend has it a group of Austrian generals celebrated by clinking their beer glasses as the Hungarian revolutionaries perished.
What American city has the most Hungarians? ›
The total number of people with ethnic Hungarian background is estimated to be around 4 million. The largest concentration is in the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area in Northeast Ohio.
What animal is Hungary known for? ›The Official National (State) Animal of Hungary. While Hungary lacks a single national animal or symbol, it is often represented culturally by the Turul, a mythological bird of prey that originated at some point in the Middle Ages as a clan symbol. The bird appears to resemble a falcon or a hawk.
What is the most known Hungarian food? ›Goulash (Gulyás)
If you ever visit Hungary or go to a Hungarian restaurant, it will be impossible to avoid goulash. This is because goulash is one of the most popular Hungarian dishes around. Goulash is a hearty and warm stew filled with beef, paprika, onions, and potatoes.
Ethnic Hungarians are very genetically diverse so it differs alot (I will do full phenotype) but generally have small eyes, Dark Brown/ Brown/Hazel eyes wavy/curly hair Black/Brown hair Brachycephalic small in height strong bones can seem over weight or muscly high cheek bones.
Does Hungary have natural beauty? ›Hungary is a country of immense beauty. It proudly boasts 10 national parks, 145 minor nature reserves, and 35 landscape protection areas.
Who is considered the prettiest girl? ›According to the golden ratio of facial beauty, she is the most beautiful girl in the world. According to a study conducted by Dr.Julian DeSilva, supermodel Bella Hadid has the most perfect face with beauty test score of 94.35%, followed by singer Beyonce and actress Amber Heard.
What is the Hungarian term of endearment? ›- “honey“ / “sweetie” – édesem. Since there is no specific Hungarian word for “sweetheart,” you could use édesem for that too.
- “baby“ / “babe“ – baba, bébi.
- “my love“ – szerelmem. ...
- “my heart“ – szívem.
- “my precious“ – drágám.
- “my treasure“ – kincsem.
- “my shortie“ – kicsim.
- “my kitty“ – cicám.
Flirting - Complimenting
You're gorgeous! Gyönyörű vagy! You're funny! Vicces vagy!
Kedvesem / drágám - “my dear” You can use kedvesem or drágám to say “my dear” in Hungarian.
What is the most hardest word to say? ›- Rural. ...
- Sixth. ...
- Sesquipedalian. ...
- Phenomenon. ...
- Onomatopoeia. ...
- Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. ...
- Worcestershire.
Is Hungary one of the hardest languages to learn? ›
Most Americans probably don't know this, but Hungarian is one of the most difficult languages an English speaker can learn, as well as one of the most rewarding. As it so happens, Hungarian is also a rare language to encounter in the United States.
What does Ezüsthíd mean? ›The term for the reflection of the moon on the other hand is “ezüsthíd” which literally means silver bridge.
What is the rarest word to say? ›- Deliquescent. Adjective: Becoming liquid, or having a tendency to become liquid.
- Flabbergast. Verb: Surprise someone greatly.
- Flimflam. ...
- Floccinaucinihilipilification. ...
- Limerence. ...
- Loquacious. ...
- Obdurate. ...
- Omnishambles.
The shortest word is a. Some might wonder about the word I since it consists of one letter, too. In sound, a is shorter because it is a monophthong (consists of one vowel), while I is a diphthong.
What is the #1 longest word in English? ›Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest word entered in the most trusted English dictionaries.
What language is most like Hungarian? ›In fact, Hungarian comes from the Uralic region of Asia and belongs to the Finno-Ugric language group, meaning its closest relatives are actually Finnish and Estonian.
What makes Hungarian so hard to learn? ›Hungarian
It's a famously difficult language for English speakers to learn, with complex grammar and pronunciation. In the Hungarian language, there are 14 vowels with slight differences in pronunciation. Hungarian consonant clusters also have unexpected pronunciations when compared to English.
zs (pronounced like the “s” in pleasure) cs (pronounced like the “ch” in chock) dz (pronounced like the “ds” in fads) dzs (pronounced like the “dg” in edge)
How is ch pronounced in Hungarian? ›The digraph ch also exists in some words (technika, monarchia) and is pronounced the same as h. In names, however, it is pronounced like cs as well as like h or k (as in German) (see below).