3 things foreigners absolutely dislike about Hungarians

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We can all agree that Hungarians can be quite challenging from time to time. Sometimes, it is hard to understand someone due to cultural differences. We have compiled a list of things that foreigners hate the most about people from Hungary. However, these stereotypes do not apply to everyone. Thus, they should not be taken too seriously.

What do foreigners think about Hungarians?

As Promotions notes, there is a myriad of stereotypes surrounding the Hungarian nation. Some of them are good, while others are based on rather negative experiences. The perception of Hungarians in the eyes of foreigners has certainly been a long-standing concern for many. It is almost impossible to judge ourselves from our points of view.

However, the experiences of tourist guides and foreigners paint a pretty clear picture of Hungarians. Most foreigners dislike the following things about Hungarians the most: lack of foreign language skills, excessive sincerity and pessimism. Let’s take them one by one!

Lack of foreign language skills

Some people think that Hungarians are not rude, but the lack of a common communication channel leaves the “being rude” impression on other people. Dívány writes about a case in which a foreign couple wanted to buy some things in a supermarket in the centre of Budapest, but their mission failed at the checkout. They could not speak any language that the cashier would understand. Unfortunately, foreigners still won’t understand the Hungarian words when they are spoken louder and more articulately. The tourists, aware of their situation, sadly waddled away and the cashier just said out loud:

We are Hungarians, we should speak Hungarian, isn’t that right?

However, we should also note that nowadays more and more people (especially the younger generations) in Hungary speak English and other languages. In bigger towns, you should be able to get by without a problem, not to mention Budapest. In addition, it would be nonsense to expect tourists to learn the language even if they are visiting the country for a couple of days.

Excessive sincerity

Honesty is a virtue. It fuels friendships and relationships, as they are based on trust. However, sometimes sincerity can be too much. Some foreigners have noted that people in Hungary are overly honest, which can be quite hurtful sometimes. Even when you ask a Hungarian “How are you?”, they usually start telling you the truth instead of saying “I’m doing well, thank you”, they might start talking about their workplace issues or health problems.

Pessimism

Naturally, it is a highly generalised idea that all Hungarians are pessimistic, as attitudes can vary widely among individuals. However, like any nation, Hungary has its own cultural, historical, and social factors that may influence the general outlook of some of its people. One potential factor contributing to a perception of pessimism could be the country’s history. Hungary has faced various challenges throughout its history, including foreign occupation, wars, economic struggles, and political upheavals. These experiences can shape the collective psyche of a nation and may influence attitudes toward the future.

Positive traits

To end the article on a positive note, we should not forget about the more pleasant traits either. Many foreigners have noted that Hungarians are punctual. However, this might be quite relative as well. In addition, others have also observed that most Hungarians are very polite. Most people in Hungary are also great hosts, cooking dinner and offering pálinka to their guests, and doing everything they can to make them feel at home, in general.

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