Panties, Hazelnut, Pearly – Are these really Hungarian settlement names?!

If we were to type these names into a translator programme, we might not even believe what we see. However, these are existing Hungarian settlements.

We have already collected a few Hungarian settlements with funny names, now we will continue this list.

Lábatlan – Legless
The origin of the name cannot be authentically established. According to tradition, it was named after a knight named György Lábatlan (George Legless), who lost one of his limbs in the war, and then he became the first landowner in the place. According to another version, a footless hermit lived here. According to a third story, a Hungarian king was captured here and handcuffed to a soldier. The soldier cut off his leg so the king could escape. The settlement has been demonstrably existing since the 13th century. The village is famous for its cement factory and paper factory. About 5,000 people live in this settlement in northern Hungary.

Békéscsaba – Peaceful Csaba
Békéscsaba is a mid-sized town at the Hungarian level and a small town at the European level, with a population of 60,000. It has existed since the 1300s, was almost completely destroyed during the Turkish occupation, and had to be rebuilt. The town is famous for its gastronomic specialities, such as Csaba sausages. Previously, the name of the town was Csaba (Hungarian male name), later it became Békéscsaba, as it became the capital of Békés (Peaceful) County.

Bugyi- Panties
The name Panties is of Turkish origin. The word Bud means hun. The settlement for 5.000 people is located near Budapest.

Pornóapáti- Pornóapáti
Pornóapáti is located close to the Hungarian-Austrian border. Its naem is of Slavic origin. It is derrived from the place name Pernovo, its origin is unknown.

Ajka – Her/His Lip
Ajka is 40km from Lake Balaton. Stone Age finds were uncovered around the settlements. Celts, Romans, Franks, and Slavs lived here. The settlement was named after a German Knight named Heiko, who in writing became Eyka, then Ayka and finally Ajka. Ajka became known, among other things, in connection with the 2010 red mud disaster. Its population is roughly 30,000.

Ajak- Lip
Ajak is located in the northeastern part of Hungary. A written record of the settlement has survived as early as 1270. It was depopulated during the Turkish occupation, and then Slovaks and Hungarians living in other areas moved here.

Mogyoród – Your Hazelnut
Mogyoród, with a population of about 7,000, is located less than 20 minutes from Budapest. The meaning of Mogyoród is rich in hazelnuts. In the past, a lot of hazel could be seen in and around the settlement, of which only a few remain today. Mogyoród is also known for its Formula 1 track, the Hungaroring, and the aquapark named Aquarena.

Mezőkövesd – Field, Follow it!
Mezőkövesd is located at the confluence of the Great Plain and the Northern Central Mountains, not far from Miskolc. The settlement was established at the time of the conquest. The settlement, with a population of 16,000, is known for its folk traditions, such as the Matyó embroidery and the Zsóry Bath, discovered on the estate of a former nobleman.

Sonkád- Your Ham
Sonkád is located near the eastern border. It has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. It was devastated by a big fire in the late 1800s.

Hódmezővásárhely – Beaver Field Marketplace
Hódmezővásárhely is the second-largest settlement in Hungary. It is one of the most important cultural and economic centres of the Great Plain. The name of the settlement became final in the 13th century, with the merger of the settlements of Hód and Vásárhely. The name of Vásárhely (marketplace) suggests that the settlement had the right to hold fairs. The word “field” indicates its agricultural character. In 2009, Hódmezővásárhely won “The Settlement of the Year” award, one year later, it received the Hungarian Heritage Award. Among others, Eva Risztov, Olympic champion swimmer was born here.

Csorna – He/She would steal
The village is located in the western part of the country, close to Sopron and Győr. It has been an inhabited settlement since prehistoric times, and Romans also lived in this area. Currently, more than 12,000 people live here. President János Áder was also born in Csorna.

Gyöngyös – Pearly
Gyöngyös got its name from the stream called Gyöngyös flowing through it. According to public discourse, the city was named after Prince Árpád’s daughter, Gyöngy (Pearl).  Near the city with a population of 30,000 is the Kékestető, the highest point in Hungary.

Nagykovácsi – Big Smithy
Nagykovácsi is part of the Budapest agglomeration. The centre of the American International School of Budapest is here. Archaeological finds go back to the Stone Age, Ice Age, and Iron Age. It currently has 5,000 inhabitants.

Érd – Reach It
Remains of the Neanderthal man’s hunting estate were found at the site of Érd. It is located close to Budapest. Hungarians have lived here for over 1,000 years. It has a population of 69,000 people.