• Hungarian forint
  • Budapest
  • Police news
  • HelloMagyar
TOP5+1 interesting facts about the Hungarian languageTOP5+1 interesting facts about the Hungarian languageTOP5+1 interesting facts about the Hungarian languageTOP5+1 interesting facts about the Hungarian language
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • News To Go
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Important
  • This is how Hungary could be kicked out of the EU

  • BREAKING: Explosion at a family house, one policeman died in Hungary

  • Another airline to fly to Budapest for Christmas

Support us
Kitti Tordai Kitti Tordai · 24/06/2022
· Special Hungary

TOP5+1 interesting facts about the Hungarian language

As one of the world’s most melodic languages, Hungarian can surprise us in many ways. Do you know what is the most important unique characteristics of the language, how many people speak it worldwide and why we will speak Hungarian in heaven? Hereby, we reveal all the answers.

Among the world’s most difficult languages

Despite the fact that Hungarian has no similarity with any other languages, it is not the most difficult language in the world. Still, it is among the world leaders in terms of difficulty. According to some linguists, it is ranked among the TOP3, while other sources define it as the seventh most difficult language after Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Estonian, and Finnish.

Its most important characteristic

The Hungarian language – spoken by 13 million people worldwide – has a very high compression capability. This means that long sentences can be expressed only in a few words – reported by A Világ Titkai. By way of example, you can describe your feelings and emotions with simple words like Segíthetek? (=Can I help you?); Szeretlek (=I love you); or Hiányzol (=I miss you).

The unique meaning of the word ‘farmer’

In the Hungarian language, the word ’farmer’ has two meanings. Similarly to other English-speaking countries, it can refer to a person who owns or manages a farm. In addition, however, Hungarian is the only language in the world where the word ‘farmer’ is used for jeans as well. Therefore, do not get confused if a Hungarian tells you that “you look great in this farmer”. 😀

Read also: Hungarian slang you should know!

Double number of vowels

In the case of western languages, only seven vowels are used. However, in Hungarian, we can differentiate 14 vowels, both the short and the long versions. These are the followings: a-á, e-é, i-í, o-ó, ö-ő, u-ú, ü-ű.

The third most melodic language in the world

According to the Italian linguist, Giuseppe Mezzofanti (18th-19th century) – who wrote in 58 languages ​​and spoke in 103 tongues – Hungarian is the third most melodic language in the world. It is only preceded by Italian and Greek in the TOP3 – reported by Magyarorszagom.

+1 Why we will speak Hungarian in heaven?

The complexity of the Hungarian language was included in a charming joke as well that was told by Pope Francis’ during his visit to Budapest last year. As Eduard Habsburg, German-Hungarian Catholic writer and ambassador of Hungary revealed, Pope Francis began his visit to Budapest with a kind joke, saying “Why will we speak Hungarian in heaven?” And the answer is: „Because it takes an eternity to learn it!”

writing essay
Read alsoTips to improve your Hungarian spelling!

Source: avilagtitkai.com, magyarorszagom.hu

If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
Hungary language rank useful DNH
Share

Hot news

  • Attention! One of the biggest Hungarian banks is facing a shutdown for several days!

  • Hungarian FM: Global health-care cooperation must be totally depoliticized

  • Fidesz re-elects Kocsis parliamentary group leader

  • A popular spa at Lake Balaton may disappear

  • PM Viktor Orbán: This year they will try to break us

  • Italy is furious at a Hungarian driver who parked illegally

1 Comment

  1. Mario says:
    25/06/2022 at 12:03

    In Castillan Spanish too the word vaquero refers to both a farmer and jeans.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Must read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Contact us

About us

Copyright rules

Privacy policy

Advertise with us

© 2023 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved! | Server and development by Svigelj Levente E.V
Attention! One of the biggest Hungarian banks is facing a shutdown for several days!

Attention! One of the biggest Hungarian banks is facing a shutdown for several days!

Read More

Hungarian FM: Global health-care cooperation must be totally depoliticized

Read More
Fidesz re-elects Kocsis parliamentary group leader

Fidesz re-elects Kocsis parliamentary group leader

Read More
A popular spa at Lake Balaton may disappear

A popular spa at Lake Balaton may disappear

Read More
PM Viktor Orbán: This year they will try to break us

PM Viktor Orbán: This year they will try to break us

Read More
Italy is furious at a Hungarian driver who parked illegally

Italy is furious at a Hungarian driver who parked illegally

Read More
Hungary, Moldova archives sign cooperation agreement

Hungary, Moldova archives sign cooperation agreement

Read More
This is how Hungary could be kicked out of the EU

This is how Hungary could be kicked out of the EU

Read More
Minister: Hungary taking over rotating presidency of CEEPUS education scheme

Minister: Hungary taking over rotating presidency of CEEPUS education scheme

Read More
Hungarian FM: UN should spend less on bureaucracy

Hungarian FM: UN should spend less on bureaucracy

Read More
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Have you read it?