Mini language lesson #12: Hungarian abbreviations used in texting

As we all know, we don’t always follow the strict grammatical rules when texting. In fact, the point of texting is to be short and brief. This is why languages developed a type of texting/chatting vocabulary, which is a key to understand natives once you’re friends with them. Therefore, we put together a small guide to Hungarian abbreviations used in texting and slang.

Keep in mind that we are not linguists in any way, we’re just as dazzled by the curiosities of the Hungarian language as foreigners are. So this series doesn’t aim to explain the etymology of words, it’s more a fun take on our language. We try to bring Hungarian closer to you with witty learning cards made by Daily magyar, a language-enthusiast person, whose posts give an insight into the complexity of the Hungarian grammar. But don’t worry, it’s all done in an easy-going way, so that it can make learning fun.

Most of the following abbreviations are characterised by missing letters or syllables, which is a common way of shortening words. Some of them work by assimilating two consonants when pronouncing a word (t+sz → c), while others include numbers in creative ways.

We wouldn’t say that all of these are used in texting by everyone, but younger generations certainly prefer abbreviations. Plus, it’s always good to know about the informal language due to the popularity of texting and chatting.

szvsz, sws → szevasz – hey

sztem → szerintem – in my opinion

nm → nincs mit – you’re welcome

nemtom → nem tudom – I don’t know

asszem → azt hiszem – I believe (that, ..)

naon → nagyon – very (much)

szal → szóval – so

valszeg → valószínűleg – probably

lécci → légyszi – please
légyszi → légy szíves – please

teccik → tetszik – I like it/her/him

mien? → milyen? – what? what kind of?
ien → ilyen – such; this; this kind of
oan → olyan – such; that; that kind of

am → amúgy – anyway; by the way
azé → azért – therefore

h → hogy – that; so; so that

hv? → Hogy vagy? – How are you?

mind1 → mindegy – irrelevant; unimportant; nevermind
mmint → mármint
1) that is to say; in other words; thus; so
2) or better said (making corrections to what one previously said)

m, mer → mert – because
má → már – already; yet
mé? → miért? – why?

v → vagy – or
vhol → valahol – somewhere
vhogy → valahogy – somehow
vmikor → valamikor – sometime
vmi → valami – something
vki → valaki – somebody

vaok → vagyok – I am
vaunk → vagyunk – we are

meek → megyek – I go; I am going (to)
meünk → megyünk – we go; we are going (to)

tali → találka; találkozó – meeting

1edül → egyedül – alone
5let → ötlet – idea
7vége → hétvége – weekend

b+ → baszd meg – fuck you

qva → kurva
1) whore; bitch
2) very (used in slang)
[e.g.: Kurva nagy háza van! – His house is fucking/very big!]

Ce: bm

Source: Daily News Hungary