Hungarian words that are also used in English – part II.
Hungarian is not a widely spoken language, however, there are some words that are used even in English. Check out these Hungarian words that were borrowed by the English language!
If you are interested in the topic, have a look at our previous article here!
What is Dobosh?
According to hungarianpod101.com, Dobosh or Dobos torte is a Hungarian word that is also used in English. Dobosh is a Hungarian cake named after pastry chef József Dobos, who invented it in 1884. This is a Hungarian sponge cake with seven layers of thin cake filled with rich chocolate buttercream, topped with caramel, and sometimes coated with ground hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts, or almonds. It is a traditional Hungarian cake. In addition, it is elegant and fit for any occasion. If you enter a confestionery in Hungary, you will probably find a Dobos cake there.
If you would like to try it out at home, here is the recipe by thespruceeats.com.
An itsy-bitsy Hungarian
Itsy-bitsy is often used by English speakers but not many know that it originates from Hungarian. Just like teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy is an adjective and means not great in size, amount. According to Cambridge Dictionary, this word is also used in the US as itty-bitty. The UK word itsy-bitsy is pronounced /ɪt.siˈbɪt.si/ , while the US one is pronounced /ˈɪt̬.iˈbɪt̬.i/.
A common Hungarian dog
Vizsla is a Hungarian hunting dog breed. As zooplus.hu writes, with its muscular, harmonious body structure, this dog is reminiscent of its ancestors, the German Shorthair and the French Vizla. Traces of the breed’s ancestors can be found in writings and illustrations from the 14th century. The ancestors of the breed came to other European countries with the Hungarian migrating tribes. The ancestors of the Hungarian Vizsla date back to the 19th century. From the end of the 20th century, they successfully participated in the competitions of “leading” dogs.
These dogs are not only friendly, but also very sensitive. Overall, they are lively and happy animals, therefore, they are the favourite breed of many Hungarians.
Source: hungarianpod101.com, thespruceeats.com, Cambridge Dictionary, zooplus.hu
I lived in the UK for 55 years and never heard the word Dobos used once except by my late mother who was Hungarian and her London based Hungarian friends. Oh, and in the one and only Hungarian patisserie in London, Louis in Hampstead.