Spice up your Hungarian with some slang expressions
Learning a new language is more than just memorising grammar rules and new vocabulary. In order to achieve a more native-like language competence, you have to learn idioms, proverbs, and slang expressions that constitute an important part of everyday language use and colloquial speech.
Every language is full of creative and funny slang expressions. Perhaps the easiest and best way to learn slang is to watch movies and series in your target language − for example, on Netflix − or read the posts of native speakers on different social media platforms. We have collected some common Hungarian slang expressions.
adom [ʌdɒm]
literal translation: I give
meaning: good/great idea
az ő asztala [ʌz ɜː ʌstʌlʌ] – right up/down one’s alley
literal translation: this is his/her table
meaning: to be in one’s particular speciality, especially suited to someone’s tastes or abilities
beéget (valakit) [bɛeːgɛt (vʌlʌkɪt)]
literal translation: to burn (someone)
meaning: someone puts the other person in an awkward situation
be van sózva [bɛ vʌn ʃɔːzvʌ], zabszem van a fenekében [zʌbsɛm vʌn ʌ fɛnɛkeːbɛn]– have ants in one’s pants
literal translation: to be salted, to have oat grain in his/her bottom
meaning: to not be able to keep still, to be restless
csapassuk [tʃʌpʌʃʊk] – let’s hit it
literal translation: let’s hit it
meaning: let’s begin, let’s do it
elgurult a gyógyszere [ɛlgʊrʊlt ʌ ɟɔːɟsɛrɛ] – out of one’s mind
literal translation: his/her pills have rolled away
meaning: he/she has lost his/her mind, he/she is acting weird
Weird and funny Hungarian expressions
Is Hungarian easy to learn? – here are some videos to help you
ez nem (egy) nagy szám [ɛz nɛm (ɛ)ɟ nʌɟ sɑːm]
literal translation: it’s not (a) big number
meaning: it’s nothing special, it’s not a big deal
felköti a gatyáját [fɛlkətɪ ʌ gʌtjɑːjɑːt] – clean up one’s act
literal translation: to tie up his/her pants
meaning: to change one’s behaviour for the better
király [kɪrɑːj] – dope, lit
literal translation: king
meaning: cool, great, awesome
kutya baja (sincs) [kʊtjʌ bʌjʌ (ʃɪntʃ)] – be alive and kicking, fit as a fiddle
literal translation: not a dog’s problem
meaning: to be in good physical condition, to be active and healthy
nem százas [nɛm sɑːzʌʃ] – looney
literal translation: not a hundred
meaning: someone is crazy
szakad a röhögéstől [sʌkʌd ʌ rəhəgeːʃtɜːl] – crack up
literal translation: someone is tearing from laughter
meaning: to burst into laughter, to cause to laugh out loud
teljesen K. O. vagyok [tɛljɛʃɛn kɑː ɔː vʌɟɒk] – I’m so knackered
literal translation: I am completely K. O. (Knock Out)
meaning: I am very tired or exhausted
Read alsoHow well do you know the English language? – Words that come from Hungarian
Source: Daily News Hungary