Hungarian, a Finno-Ugric language, is known for its complexity and unique structure, distinct from most other languages in Europe. It’s the official language of Hungary and spoken by Hungarian communities in neighboring countries and around the world. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Hungarian, enabling you to navigate a variety of social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Szia” (informal, singular) / “Sziasztok” (informal, plural)
• Good morning – “Jó reggelt”
• Good afternoon – “Jó napot”
• Good evening – “Jó estét”
• Goodbye – “Viszlát”

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “A nevem [név].”
• This is [name]. – “Ő itt [név].”
• I am from [country]. – “[Ország]-ból jöttem.”
• I live in [city/place]. – “[Város/hely]ben élek.”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Hol van a(z) [hely]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Hogyan jutok el a(z) [helyre]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Erre van a(z) [hely]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Megmutatnád a térképen?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Sajnálom, nem értem.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Megismételnéd, kérlek?”
• I mean… – “Azt akarom mondani, hogy…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Mit jelent ez a(z) [szó]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Később találkozunk”
• Take care – “Vigyázz magadra”
• Have a good day – “Legyen szép napod”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Szeretnék egy szobát foglalni.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Megkaphatom a menüt, kérlek?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Vegetáriánus vagyok.”
• The bill, please. – “A számlát, kérem.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Mennyibe kerül ez?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Van ez másik méretben?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Csak nézelődöm, köszönöm.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Fizethetek kártyával?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Gyönyörű vagy.” / “Jóképű vagy.”
• I miss you. – “Hiányzol.”
• I love you. – “Szeretlek.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Szeretnél velem randizni?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Segítség!”
• Call the police! – “Hívja a rendőrséget!”
• I need a doctor. – “Orvost kell hívnom.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Hol van a legközelebbi kórház?”

These phrases provide a solid foundation for basic communication in Hungarian. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Hungarian media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of Hungarian.