100 Common Hungarian Words for Beginners
Master the 100 most common Hungarian words every learner needs. Essential vocabulary for couples learning Magyar together with pronunciation.
100 Common Hungarian Words Every Beginner Needs
Building a solid vocabulary foundation is essential for learning Hungarian. These 100 words are the building blocks you'll use in everyday conversations with your partner and their family.
Phrase to Learn
Igen / Nem
Yes / No
[ EE-gen / nem ]
The two most important words in any language! Master these first.
Basic Greetings and Courtesy
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Szia | Hi/Bye (informal) | SEE-yah |
| Helló | Hello | HEL-loh |
| Viszlát | Goodbye | VEES-laht |
| Jó reggelt | Good morning | yoh REG-gelt |
| Jó estét | Good evening | yoh ESH-tayt |
| Jó éjszakát | Good night | yoh AY-sah-kaht |
| Köszönöm | Thank you | KUR-sur-nurm |
| Kérem | Please/You're welcome | KAY-rem |
| Bocsi | Sorry (informal) | BO-chee |
| Elnézést | Excuse me | EL-nay-zaysht |
Formal vs Informal
Hungarian has two forms of "you" - "te" (informal) and "ön/maga" (formal). Use informal with your partner and friends, but switch to formal with their parents initially until invited to use informal address.
Pronouns
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Én | I | ayn |
| Te | You (informal) | teh |
| Ő | He/She | ur |
| Mi | We | mee |
| Ti | You (plural) | tee |
| Ők | They | urk |
Essential Verbs
Pronunciation: EN-nee
"Szeretnék enni."
Pronunciation: IN-nee
"Mit szeretnél inni?"
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Menni | To go | MEN-nee |
| Jönni | To come | YURN-nee |
| Tudni | To know | TOOD-nee |
| Akarni | To want | AH-kar-nee |
| Beszélni | To speak | BEH-sayl-nee |
| Csinálni | To do/make | CHEE-nahl-nee |
Numbers 1-20
| Number | Hungarian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egy | edj |
| 2 | Kettő | KET-tur |
| 3 | Három | HAH-rom |
| 4 | Négy | naydj |
| 5 | Öt | urt |
| 6 | Hat | hot |
| 7 | Hét | hayt |
| 8 | Nyolc | nyolts |
| 9 | Kilenc | KEE-lents |
| 10 | Tíz | teez |
| Number | Hungarian | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tizenegy | TEE-zen-edj |
| 12 | Tizenkettő | TEE-zen-ket-tur |
| 15 | Tizenöt | TEE-zen-urt |
| 20 | Húsz | hooss |
Family Words
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Anya | Mother | AH-nyah |
| Apa | Father | AH-pah |
| Feleség | Wife | FEH-leh-shayg |
| Férj | Husband | fayrj |
| Gyerek | Child | DYEH-rek |
| Fiú | Son/Boy | FEE-oo |
| Lány | Daughter/Girl | lahny |
| Nagymama | Grandmother | NAHDY-mah-mah |
| Nagypapa | Grandfather | NAHDY-pah-pah |
| Testvér | Sibling | TESHT-vayr |
Family is Everything
Hungarian families are typically close-knit. Learning family vocabulary shows respect for your partner's heritage and helps you connect with their loved ones. Grandparents often play a significant role in family life.
Time Words
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Ma | Today | mah |
| Holnap | Tomorrow | HOL-nop |
| Tegnap | Yesterday | TEG-nop |
| Most | Now | mosht |
| Később | Later | KAY-surbb |
| Reggel | Morning | REG-gel |
| Délután | Afternoon | DAY-loo-tahn |
| Este | Evening | ESH-teh |
| Éjszaka | Night | AY-sah-kah |
| Hét | Week | hayt |
Question Words
Pronunciation: mee
"Mi ez?"
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Ki? | Who? | kee |
| Hol? | Where? | hol |
| Mikor? | When? | MEE-kor |
| Miért? | Why? | MEE-ayrt |
| Hogyan? | How? | HO-dyan |
| Mennyi? | How much? | MEN-nyee |
| Melyik? | Which? | MEH-yeek |
Common Adjectives
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Jó | Good | yoh |
| Rossz | Bad | ross |
| Nagy | Big | nahdy |
| Kicsi | Small | KEE-chee |
| Szép | Beautiful | sayp |
| Új | New | ooy |
| Régi | Old | RAY-gee |
| Könnyű | Easy | KURN-nyoo |
| Nehéz | Difficult/Heavy | NEH-hayz |
| Fontos | Important | FON-tosh |
Food and Drink Basics
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Víz | Water | veez |
| Bor | Wine | bor |
| Sör | Beer | shurr |
| Kenyér | Bread | KEH-nyayr |
| Hús | Meat | hoosh |
| Sajt | Cheese | shoyt |
| Gyümölcs | Fruit | DYOO-murlch |
| Étel | Food | AY-tel |
| Vacsora | Dinner | VAH-cho-rah |
| Reggeli | Breakfast | REG-geh-lee |
Places
| Hungarian | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Ház | House | hahz |
| Otthon | Home | OT-ton |
| Bolt | Shop/Store | bolt |
| Étterem | Restaurant | AYT-teh-rem |
| Utca | Street | OOT-tsah |
| Város | City | VAH-rosh |
| Ország | Country | OR-sahg |
Useful Phrases with Common Words
Pronunciation: BEH-sayls AHN-go-lool
"Elnézést, beszélsz angolul?"
Pronunciation: SEH-ret-naym
"Szeretném a számlát, kérem."
Practice Tips
- Learn in pairs - Study with your partner and quiz each other
- Use flashcards - Write Hungarian on one side, English on the other
- Label your home - Put sticky notes on objects with their Hungarian names
- Daily practice - Use at least 5 new words each day in conversation
Vowel Harmony
Hungarian has a beautiful feature called vowel harmony. Words with back vowels (a, á, o, ó, u, ú) take different suffixes than words with front vowels (e, é, i, í, ö, ő, ü, ű). This is why learning patterns matters!
Start with the greetings and family words - you'll use these immediately with your partner's family. Building vocabulary is a journey, and every word you learn brings you closer to fluent conversations in Hungarian.
Related Articles
- Hungarian Baby & Pregnancy Vocabulary: Essential Words for Expecting Couples - Useful next-step vocabulary for family life and conversations about children.
- 50 Hungarian Date Night Vocabulary Words to Impress Your Partner - Build on everyday words with romantic phrases for outings and plans.
- 50 Hungarian Greetings and Farewells to Melt Your Partner's Heart - Learn the first and last words you'll use in Hungarian conversations.
- Hungarian Moving In Together: Essential Household Vocabulary for Couples - Expand into home and shared-living vocabulary.
- 55 Hungarian Pet Names and Terms of Endearment to Melt Your Partner's Heart - Add affectionate words and nicknames to your daily Hungarian.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I remember the gender of Hungarian family words?
Hungarian doesn't use grammatical gender like many other languages, which is great news! This means words like 'anya' (mother) and 'apa' (father) don't require memorizing gendered articles. Focus on pronunciation and usage instead. Couples can quiz each other on family vocabulary without worrying about gender.
What's the best way to practice using these words in sentences?
Create simple sentences about your daily life. For example, 'Én eszem kenyeret' (I eat bread) or 'Ő iszik vizet' (He/She drinks water). Start with basic sentence structures and gradually increase complexity. Partners can correct each other's grammar and pronunciation in a supportive way.
Are there any common mistakes English speakers make with Hungarian pronunciation?
Yes, Hungarian has sounds that don't exist in English, such as 'ty' and 'gy'. Pay close attention to pronunciation guides and listen to native speakers. Practice these sounds regularly to improve your accent. Couples can record each other speaking and provide feedback.
How can I use these common words to start a conversation with a Hungarian speaker?
Start with simple greetings like 'Szia' (Hi) or 'Jó napot' (Good day). Then, ask basic questions like 'Hogy vagy?' (How are you?) or 'Mi a neved?' (What's your name?). Keep the conversation simple and focus on clear communication. Practicing these interactions with your partner builds confidence.
What are some resources for hearing these words spoken by native Hungarian speakers?
Look for online dictionaries with audio pronunciations, such as Wikiszótár. YouTube channels that teach Hungarian often include vocabulary lessons. Language exchange apps can also connect you with native speakers. Listen together and imitate the pronunciation.
