5 things to never do in Hungary!

Clinking your pint of beer or joking about who is hungry are two mistakes foreigners make. Many articles mention these but miss other things. No need to worry, though, we are here to help you. Check out five other things that you should not do in Hungary but that nobody mentioned. Until now.

Don’t say Bucharest instead of Budapest

There are some people who say that the Hungarian capital city’s name is Bucharest. That is a problematic thing to say as Bucharest is the capital city of Romania. In 2017, even Snoop Dogg made a mistake. He was in Bogota, Colombia, but checked in from Bogata on Instagram. Bogata is a settlement in Romania, and the mistake made headlines in the country. So, this is a great example of why names matter.

Don’t wear shoes in other people’s houses

In many countries in Europe, including in Hungary, people do not wear shoes in the house. Normally, people take their shoes off, and so do guests. In some cases, guests are offered house slippers to wear. There are exceptions to the rule, though. If someone is ill or old, they do not have to take off their shoes. There are also cases when the host tells guests not to take off their shoes. In that case, it is up to them.

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Don’t greet people with “How are you?”

Greeting people with “How are you?” or similar formulas is common abroad, especially in English-speaking countries. In Hungary, however, this question is meant to genuinely ask what is going on with the other person. It also serves as a conversation starter, especially when people have not seen each other in a while. In Hungary, instead of saying “how are you” back, people always answer the question – sometimes even with details of how they feel and what happened.

Don’t decline food or drinks

Hungarians are proud of their hospitality and creating a welcoming atmosphere for their guests. They love it if their guests enjoy the food and drinks at their homes. It is not unusual for a Hungarian to basically try to find all kinds of delicious things to eat and the best drinks to offer to their guests. Declining what is offered is not really nice, and even if the guest gives them short notice of the upcoming visit, Hungarians will prepare to put something on the table. This means that they might go shopping specifically for the guest, bake something or cook for them. So, next time you are offered food or drink, at least taste it. One thing to know is that Hungarians offer alcoholic beverages as well, but if someone is driving, has to take medicine or simply does not drink at all, they do understand.

Don’t make fun of names, and don’t make mean comments

In Hungary, there are some names that are considered old-fashioned in other countries. Some names may sound unusual, or a name may not originally be a Hungarian name. It is important to know that just because a name is not popular in one country, that does not mean that it is unpopular everywhere. So, if someone has an interesting name, consider the cultural differences.

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