Language schools provide top quality Hungarian and culture immersion programs to all people wishing to learn Hungarian in Hungary. Students come from many top universities and professions from around the globe and share a sincere desire to learn Hungarian for family, personal or professional reasons.
About Hungarian
Hungarians speak Hungarian (Magyar), a language remotely related to Finnish and Estonian languages from the North and the East and not at all related to any of its neighbours, much less English. It may sound somewhat similar to and borrows heavily from German (the ö and the ü, for example)and Russian and the other Slavic languages (the y is a soft sign in Hungarian), there is NO relation with them at all.
Pointing out the seeming similarity may upset or even anger locals even though Hungarian does have a rather large German and Slavic vocabulary. The Hungarian language is actually closer to Asian descent than that of any other European country. For example, when introducing themselves, they say their surname before their given name as they do in Asia. There is no other language in any part of Europe that sounds at all like Hungarian, except for Finnish and Estonian language.
Many foreigners think that the Hungarian language is close to German–in fact it is not, so if people do not speak German, there is no use to try to speak loudly/clearly/slowly; they will not understand what was said.
Is Hungarian Difficult to Learn?
English-speakers tend to find most everything about the written language tough going, including a number of unusual sounds like gy (often pronounced like the d in during or as the j injury) and ű (vaguely like a long English e as in me with rounded lips), as well as agglutinative grammar that leads to fearsome-looking words like hozzáadottérték-adó (value-added tax) and viszontlátásra (goodbye).
On the upside, it is written with the familiar Roman alphabet (if adorned with lots of accents), and–unlike English–it has a phonemic orthography. This means that if you learn how to pronounce the 30 letters of the alphabet, you willll be able to pronounce almost every Hungarian word with near perfection.
Remember, one difference in pronunciation or even vowel length can lead to misinterpretation. Attempting anything beyond the very basics will gain you a great deal of respect. Diphthongs are almost-nonexistent in Hungarian (except foreign words, which Hungarian has many).
Other Languages Spoken in Hungary
Since English is now obligatory in schools, if you address people in their twenties, possibly carrying a schoolbag, you stand a good chance that they will speak English well enough to help you out.
However, due to Hungary’s history, the older generation had less access to foreign language tuition, so your chances are worse. Just a minor part of the hungarien speaks Russian, which was obligatory in the communist era (although a number of Hungarians are quite happy to forget it) so try it only as a last resort. The other is German, which is understood in areas frequented by German tourists (mostly near lake Balaton and the west, around Sopron) and partly because of Hungary’s historical ties to Austria and later with East Germany.
Basically, in Hungary, you will have a much better chance finding someone speaking a foreign language in larger cities, especially in those with universities such as Budapest, Szeged, Pécs, and Debrecen. In rural areas the chance is rather low.
Popular Places to Study in Hungary
Most language schools offering classes to international students are in the larger cities, and also the student towns:
- Budapest
- Debrecen
- Miskolc
- Szeged
- Pécs
- Győr
- Nyíregyháza
- Kecskemét
- Székesfehérvár
- Szombathely
Group and private classes are available to book, whilst you can also study online.
Study in Budapest
While Berlin is the undisputed must-visit destination of the New Europe, and Prague is famous for its combination of high culture and cheap beer, it’s easy to overlook Budapest. This is one of the best value for money capitals to study in Europe, and there are lots of places to see in your free time.
The Hungarian capital spanning the Danube is cited as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with a plethora of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the second oldest underground railway in the world (after London’s Metropolitan line). On one side of the river is the castle district offering historic churches, museums, a host of interesting buildings and stunning panoramic views, while on the other side lays the commercial heart of the modern city with grand shopping streets, elegant cafés and beautiful parks.
The ‘City of Spas’ is also famous for its outstanding Art Nouveau medicinal baths, the world’s largest thermal cave system, second largest synagogue and third largest parliament building. No great beaches here, but if heritage and sightseeing are your thing, Budapest will deliver everything you could wish for, and more.
Basic Hungarian Words and Phrases
Here are some easy to learn common phrases which will give you an introduction to the language (English/Hungarian/How to pronounce):
Szia – Hello (see-yaw)
Hogy vagy? – How are you? (haw-j vah-j)
Minden ok – Everything’s ok (min-den oh kay)
Mennyibe kerul? – How much is it? (Men-yee-beh ker-ool)
Jo reggelt/napot/estét: Good morning/afternoon/evening (yoh reg-gelt/nah-poht/esh-tet)
Jó éjszakát: Good night (yoh ey-sa-kat)
Egészségedre! – Cheers! (Ag-esh-sheg-ad-reh)
Nem beszélek magyarul – I don’t speak Hungarian (nem bass-ale-lack ma-ja-rule)
Beszélsz angolul? – Do you speak English? (bass-ale-ss on-goh-lool)
A számlát kérem! – The bill, please! (aw sam-lat keh-rem)
Köszönöm – Thank you! (keu-seu-neum)
Igen/nem – Yes/no (ee-gen/nehm)