Wait, what fox? A foreigner’s guide to Hungary’s most confusing conversations

Fox Animal Cute
Photo: Pixabay

Have you ever been told to “just look for the fox”, only to realise, ten minutes later, it was a car? In this witty and insightful letter, an expat shares a hilarious (and painfully relatable) miscommunication that reveals a deeper truth about life in Hungary. From vague directions to cryptic phrases, Hungarian conversation can feel like decoding a riddle. But don’t worry: you’re not alone. This story dives into the cultural quirks behind it all, and why, sometimes, knowing the language still isn’t enough.

Author: Phil Trasolini

“Here’s a true story.

We were visiting someone’s home for the first time. The street numbers were confusing (read: non-existent), and we couldn’t find the house. My wife called the host for help. In Hungarian, the woman said: “Csak keresd a rókámat.” Which translates to: “Just look for my fox.”

Naturally, we started scanning for anything fox-like. A garden statue. A painting. Maybe she owned an actual pet fox — it’s Hungary, anything’s possible.

After 10 minutes of fruitless fox-hunting, the woman finally came out to find us. That’s when we realized she meant her VW Fox. A car. Cue the collective facepalm.

The Problem? Context.

This is a textbook example of what anthropologist Edward T. Hall called high-context communication. In high-context cultures, people speak with the assumption that everyone else already knows what they’re talking about. Lots of meaning is implied — not explained.

Hungary falls into this camp. Compared to low-context cultures (like Canada, the U.S., or the UK), where we tend to spell everything out — maybe too much — Hungarians lean heavily on shared background knowledge. Which works great… until it doesn’t.

In the case of the mysterious fox, the speaker assumed that:

  • My wife knew she drove a VW Fox.
  • The term “fox” would be understood in that context.
  • Everything else would fall magically into place.

Spoiler: It didn’t.

It’s not just me

I’ve since noticed this kind of vague, context-heavy communication all over Hungary:

  • Instructions from teachers like: “You’ll figure it out somehow.”
  • Bureaucratic paperwork that leaves out steps like how to submit it.
  • Casual phrases like “we’ll see” (majd meglátjuk), which can mean anything from “yes” to “never” to “I hope you forget.”

Even my Hungarian wife — born and raised here — finds herself lost in these moments. So it’s not a foreigner problem. It’s a context problem.

Why is it like this?

According to Hall’s theory in Beyond Culture (1976), high-context communication thrives in places where people share a lot of cultural and social knowledge. You don’t need to say everything, because everyone already knows what’s meant.

But as modern life grows more complex — and more diverse — this style of communication can start to fail. People move, cultures blend, and suddenly the “shared context” disappears.

Hungarian linguist Ágnes B. Lukács has written that Hungarians often “under-inform rather than over-inform” in conversation. That’s polite talk for “they don’t give you all the info you need.”

And it’s not just a quirk of language. It’s cultural. Hungarians tend to be modest, indirect, and maybe even a little poetic in how they speak. You see it in their idioms, their jokes, even their politics.

Sometimes it’s charming. Sometimes it’s like trying to do algebra with half the equation missing.

The consequences

This isn’t about shaming or stereotyping — it’s about understanding why even native Hungarians often miscommunicate with each other. The stakes can range from hilarious to frustrating:

  • Showing up at the wrong building because someone told you “it’s across from the old post office.”
  • Misinterpreting plans because “we’ll see” sounded like a yes.
  • Filing your taxes wrong because the instructions left out a step they assumed you’d know.

And it’s not because people are lazy or dumb. It’s because they assume you know what they mean — when you don’t.

What can be done?

Honestly? Awareness helps a lot. If you’re Hungarian, ask yourself: “Does the other person have the same context I do?” If not, be a little more specific. Say “VW Fox” instead of “my fox.” Spell it out.

And if you’re not Hungarian? Ask follow-up questions. Lots of them. If something seems vague, it probably is.

Most of all, embrace the chaos. Hungary is a beautiful, weird, wonderful place — and yes, sometimes it communicates like it’s writing a riddle. But at least the food’s good.

Final thought

Living in Hungary has taught me that language and communication are not the same thing. You can speak perfectly and still not be understood. Or say something weird, and somehow it makes perfect sense.

So the next time someone tells you to look for a fox — ask them what kind.”

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