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10+ English words that have Hungarian origins, Part 2

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Since last time you seemed interested to learn that Hungarian language and culture had also some effect on the English language, I dug a little deeper and managed to find some more words that are borrowed from Hungarian. Many of the items on this list are actually significant in Hungarian culture and are defining elements of it. Let’s have a look at them.

Before you go any further, you can check out the first part of this article by clicking here. Just a quick clarification that you might need for this article: if something is Hungarikum, it represents Hungary and Hungarian people due to its attribute, uniqueness, or quality.

Gerbaud Café Dobos Cake
Source: facebook.com/GerbeaudCafe/

Dobos torte

“A torte made of multiple thin layers of sponge cake often containing ground hazelnuts, put together with a mocha-chocolate filling, and topped with caramel glaze,” – Merriam Webster Dictionary

“The layered pastry is named after its inventor, Hungarian chef József C. Dobos, a delicatessen owner in Budapest. Dobos cake was first introduced at the National General Exhibition of Budapest in 1885; King Franz Joseph I and Queen Elisabeth (Sisi) were among the first to taste it. The cake soon became popular throughout Europe, both for its durability through shipping and for its unique appearance.” – Collection of Hungarikums

We have already written several articles about this delicacy. We do not know for sure when confectioneries will reopen after the pandemic, but if you crave this delicacy, we also have the original recipe you can try.

Read alsoThe real Dobos Cake that conquered the world

Rubik

Although it is not part of dictionaries, as it is a proper name, many of you might be familiar with this word. If it does not ring a bell, well, I am going to tell you all about it. It comes from none other than Ernő Rubik, the inventor of the world-famous Rubik-kocka, or Rubik’s cube. He invented it around 1975, but he only got the patent after 1977, and it was called ’bűvös kocka’ (magic cube) back then. Shortly after, it was nicknamed Rubik-kocka, and the name stuck. Since then, it has become a kind of brand, and there are many varieties of brain-teasing puzzles under Rubik’s name.

Hungary Rubik's cube lavosball
Read alsoWOW! Hungarians made the new generation of the Rubik’s cube? – Video

Tokay

“A name of a town in Upper Hungary (‘Tokaj’). Also, Tokay (‘Tokaji’) wine, rich sweet wine of an aromatic flavour, made near Tokay in Hungary. Tokay grape is the variety of grape from which Tokay wine is made.” – Oxford English Dictionary

“The Tokaj aszu (or ‘Tokaji aszú’ in Hungarian) is a special wine produced in the Tokaj wine region; it is the nectar of individually hand-picked “aszu” berries botrytized on the vinestock. It is made by bathing the dough in high quality must or wine of the same year from the Tokaj wine region. Following fermentation, it is maturing and refining in oak casks placed in a constant-temperature cellar.” – Collection of Hungarikums

You need to taste it, but until you can get your hands on a bottle, you can read our articles about this Hungarikum.

Tokaj Essencia, wine, Hungary, region, expensive
Read alsoYou must try the special royal Hungaricum: Tokaj!

Sauska Winery View Design Plan Tokaj Bord Architect Studio
Read alsoThis is how the Tokaj wine region will be renewed

Fogas

“An Eastern European fish (Lucioperca sandra) resembling a perch, especially one from Lake Balaton in Hungary that is highly esteemed as food,” – Merriam Webster Dictionary

In Hungarian, it literally means ‘having teeth’, which becomes evident if you look at this fish. It is certainly food you might encounter in establishments near Balaton, but a dish made from this fish is present all over the country, and you can order it in many restaurants. Not everyone likes fish, but it is certainly regarded as one of the best fish in Hungary, right after our next word.

Fogas Sander lucioperca Fish Hal
‘Fogas’ or also referred to as ‘süllő’ depending on its size; the latter is smaller than 1.5 kg Source: Wikimedia Commons / Tiia Monto

‘Halászlé’ or fisherman’s soup

Although ‘fogas’ is very popular in Hungary, ‘halászlé’ or ‘fisherman’s soup’, sometimes ‘fish soup’ as it is referred to in English, has not only become a Hungarikum, but it is almost just as known worldwide as ‘goulash’ is.

Every cook does it differently, but only two kinds became Hungarikums. One is the ‘Tisza’ (river in eastern Hungary) fish soup and the other is the ‘Baja’ (a city in southern Hungary, next to the Danube). They may be different in how you prepare them, but the next word is one ingredient they both need.

fish soup
Read alsoThe big Hungarian fisherman’s soup guide

Paprika

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is a word borrowed from Hungarian. It is a powdered spice that looks deep-orange or red, made by grinding the dried fruits of peppers. In many languages, ‘paprika’ also refers to the plant itself, but not in English. ‘Paprika’ has been part of Hungarian cuisine since the plant’s arrival to the country around the 16th century. It is so characteristically Hungarian that paprika made from the peppers of Szeged and Kalocsa have become Hungarikums. Wow! It is the fourth Hungarikum on this list, which is a coincidence, I swear, but it is an essential ingredient, perhaps even the soul of Hungarian cuisine.

Goulash, soup, traditional, Hungarian, food
Read alsoSecrets of the Hungarian cuisine

Palacsinta

Well, we sure love food, or at least the world recognises us by our foods. After a filling ‘goulash’, you might need something sweet to finish your meal. That is where this dish comes into the picture. “In Hungarian cuisine: a thin pancake eaten as a dessert, often filled with jam, cheese, nuts, or chocolate.” – Oxford English Dictionary

True, it is a pancake, but it might actually be closer to the French ‘crêpe’. Regarding the fillings, there are a lot more than that. Do not get scared, it is not the savoury cheese you might think of. It is a Hungarian ingredient that is only a little similar to cheese or cottage cheese, and it is called ‘túró’. It is a milk product, but it is hard to explain. If we put it in pancakes, we usually sweeten it with some sugar – I personally like a little vanilla flavouring, but while many people add raisins, I avoid that. Now, there are a plethora of other things you can use as fillings. Another one of my favourites is cinnamon with some sugar, but feel free to use pudding, any kind of jam or marmalade, or even Nutella, and there is the famous Gundel ‘palacsinta’.

One more thing. You might have seen it on menus, but there is also a savoury type of this dish that restaurants usually list with appetisers. It is called the ‘Hortobágyi húsos palacsinta’, meaning Hortobágy (a region in eastern Hungary) meat pancake. It contains minced meat, and it is drizzled with sour-cream and paprika gravy.

Read also4 traditional Hungarian dishes with a healthy twist

Forint

“The principal monetary unit of Hungary; a coin of this denomination.” – Oxford English Dictionary. Many of you might have only seen it written in its international code HUF, but it is actually called ‘forint’.

Pengö

In Hungarian, it is written ‘pengő’. It was “the basic monetary unit of Hungary from 1925 to 1946.” – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Read also‘Who’ did we pay with? – the Forint throughout history

Verbunkos

“A borrowing from Hungarian, the ‘verbunkos’ was originally danced by uniformed Hussars to the music of gypsy bands in Hungary in order to attract new recruits to the army. The Hungarian word comes from the German ‘Werbung’, meaning recruitment.” – Oxford English Dictionary

Lassu

From the Hungarian word ‘lassú’, meaning slow. “The slow part of a Hungarian ‘csárdás’ (opposed to friss).” – Oxford English Dictionary

Friss

“Less commonly ‘friszka’, is the fast section of a ‘csárdás’ (contrasted with lassú).” – Merriam Webster Dictionary

The word also means ‘fresh’ in Hungarian.

hungarian flag hungary
Read also10+ English words that have Hungarian origins

Haiduk

Borrowed from the Hungarian ‘hajdú’ or ‘hajdúk’ (plural). A ‘haiduk’ is a type of peasant irregular infantry found in Central and Southeast Europe from the early 17th to mid-19th centuries (originally, in Hungary, they were thought to be armed shepherds of cattle). They had reputations from bandits to freedom fighters depending on time, place, or their enemies.

Hajdú Warrior on Horseback Harcos Lóháton
‘Hajdú’ Warrior on Horseback Source: Wikimedia Commons

The etymology is unclear. One theory is that it was derived from the Turkish word ‘haidut’ or ‘haydut’, used by the Ottomans to refer to Hungarian and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth soldiers. The second theory is that the word comes from the Hungarian ‘hajtó’ or ‘hajdó’ (plural hajtók or ‘hajdók’), meaning a drover of cattle.

Other spellings in English can be: ajduk, haydut, haiduk, haiduc, hayduck, hayduk.

Here are two more interesting words that originate from Hungary:

  • Rezbanyite
    A mineral consisting of lead, copper, and bismuth sulfide. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, it comes from the German ‘rezbanyit’, it was mined in Rézbánya (literally meaning ‘copper mine’), Hungary (now Băiţa, Romania).
  • Vashegyite
    A mineral that is hydrated basic aluminium phosphate. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, it comes from the German ‘vashegyit’, mined in Vashegy (literally meaning ‘iron mountain’), a village formerly in Hungary, now Železník, in north-eastern Slovakia.

Can you ‘hit the nail on the head’ in Hungarian? 13 common Hungarian−English idiom pairs

Hungarian language

Idioms, proverbs, and expressions constitute an important part of everyday language use, and they are commonly used by native speakers. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an idiom is “an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements”. Many idiomatic expressions were meant literally in their original use, but the literal meaning of the words has changed over time. In other cases, the meaning of the idiomatic expressions has always been figurative.

The Hungarian language is full of creative and funny expressions, proverbs, and idioms. We have already posted some articles to provide an insight into the interesting world of Hungarian proverbs:

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Read alsoFunny Hungarian – English saying pairs

Read alsoMini language lesson #13 – Hungarian proverbs, sayings

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Read alsoMini language lesson #14: Hungarian proverbs, sayings vol. 2

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Read alsoMini language lesson #16: Hungarian proverbs, sayings vol.3

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Read alsoMini language lesson #18: Hungarian proverbs, sayings vol.4

Our current aim is to reveal the similarities between some English and Hungarian idioms, or their humorous or even thought-provoking differences.

1. These idioms have the same or very similar lexical/syntactic structure and idiomatic meaning. The literal and idiomatic meanings are parallel in the two languages:

alulról szagolja az ibolyát [ʌlrɔːl sʌgɒljʌ ʌz ɪbɒjɑːt] − to be pushing up the daisies
translation: to smell the violet from below
meaning: to be dead

az első követ veti rá [ʌz ɛlʃɜː kəvɛt vɛtɪ rɑː] – cast the first stone
meaning: to be the first to criticise someone or something

fején találja a szöget [fɛjeːn tʌlɑːljʌ ʌ səgɛt] − hit the nail on the head
meaning: to be correct about something, to find the right answer

megtöri a jeget [mɛgtərɪ ʌ jɛgɛt] – break the ice
meaning: to do or say something that makes people feel more comfortable

valakinek a szeme fénye [vʌlʌkɪnɛk ʌ sɛmɛ feːɲɛ] – the apple of one’s eye
translation: the light of someone’s eyes
meaning: a thing or person that someone really loves

2. Some syntactic or lexical connection can be observed between the idiom pairs:

az élet nem fenékig tejfel [ʌz eːlɛt nɛm fɛneːkɪg tɛjfɛl] − life is not all beer and skittles
translation: life is not full of sour cream
meaning: not every aspect of life is pleasurable

ádámkosztüm [ɑːdɑːmkɒstym] – birthday suit
translation: Adam costume
meaning: nakedness

bolhából elefántot csinál [bɒlhɑːbɔːl ɛlɛfɑːntɒt tʃɪnɑːl] – make a mountain of a molehill
translation: to make make an elephant out of a flea
meaning: to respond disproportionately to something, to make something unimportant seem important

nincs ki mind a négy kereke [nɪntʃ kɪ mɪnd ʌ neːɟ kɛrɛkɛ] − have a screw loose
translation: not all of his or her four wheels are out
meaning: to seem crazy or silly

3. The same idiomatic meaning is expressed with a completely different structure in the two languages:

előre iszik a medve bőrére [ɛlɜːrɛ ɪsɪk ʌ mɛdvɛ bɜːreːrɛ] – count one’s chickens before they hatch
translation: to drink in advance to the bear’s skin
meaning: someone makes plans that depend on something before he or she knows for certain that it will happen

megalszik a tej a szájában [mɛgʌlsɪk ʌ tɛj ʌ sɑːjɑːbʌn] − let the grass grow under one’s feet
translation: the milk becomes curd in his or her mouth
meaning: to do something very slowly

itt van a kutya elásva [ɪt vʌn ʌ kʊtjʌ ɛlɑːʃvʌ] – there’s the rub
translation: the dog is buried here
meaning: that is the biggest problem

feldobja a talpát/bakancsot [fɛldɒbj ʌ tʌlpɑːt/bʌkʌntʃɒt] – kick the bucket
translation: to throw one’s feet/the boots up
meaning: to die

10+ English words that have Hungarian origins

hungarian flag hungary

English is a global language, there is no denying that, but over the course of its history, it has been influenced and impacted by many other languages and cultures, from French to German, from Greek and Latin to Spanish, but also Hungarian. Although the Hungarian language and culture did not impact English as much as some other languages, there are still some words in English that originate from the Central-Eastern European country of Hungary.

Magyarországom collected some of these words for you, and we tried to find sources (sometimes with added emphasis) to support their origin.

Itsy-bitsy

We should start with the outlier. Although it might not have a true etymological connection to the Hungarian phrase of the same meaning, as I could not find any truly reliable sources, the resemblance is uncanny. In Hungary, we use the phrase ‘icipici’, which not only looks very similar, but it sounds almost identical and has an almost identical meaning.

Coach

“Found in nearly all European languages since the 16th century; Spanish ‘coche’, Italian ‘cocchio’, German ‘kutsche’, Polish ‘kocz’, etc. All originate from the Hungarian ‘kocsi’, used in Hungary from the reign of King Matthias Corvinus, 1458–90.” – Oxford English Dictionary

‘Kocsi’ is an adjective, meaning ‘of Kocs /kɔtʃ/’, a place south of Komorn, between Raab and Buda, which was the Hungarian post town from the 15th century onwards. The full original name was ‘kocsi szekér’ i.e. ‘Kocs cart’, which was the name of a fast, light vehicle pulled by horses that later spread across Europe. Now, the word can be used to describe train passenger cars and types of buses as well.

cart, Kocs
Read alsoA Hungarian word used worldwide: Kocsi

Biro

The ballpoint pen is widely referred to as a ‘biro’ in many countries, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Italy. Although the word is a registered trademark that comes from the name of its inventor, in some countries, it has become genericised.

László József Bíró was a Hungarian-Argentine inventor who patented the first commercially successful modern ballpoint pen. Bíró presented his idea at the Budapest International Fair in 1931 and patented the invention in Paris in 1938. During World War II, Bíró fled to Argentina. In 1943, he filed another patent, issued in the US as 2,390,636 Writing Instrument. In 1945, Marcel Bich bought the patent from Bíró for the pen, which soon became the main product of his BIC company. BIC has since sold more than 100 billion ballpoint pens worldwide.

Read alsoWho invented the ballpoint pen? – Of course Hungarian: Laszlo Jozsef Biro

Goulash

This might be one of the most well-known and most commonly used words in English that originate from Hungary. It is not uncommon for foreigners to identify Hungarians with this dish. If you are abroad and say that you are Hungarian, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is ‘goulash’.

“It originates from Hungarian ‘gulyáshús’, from ‘gulyás’ (herdsman of ox) + ‘hús’ (meat). A beef or lamb soup originally made by herdsmen while on the fields.” – Online Etymology Dictionary

Paprikás krumpli Hungarian eating food
Read also3 Hungarian recipes for the traditional outdoor cooking, ‘bográcsozás’

Hussar

“It means light-cavalryman. The original Hussars were bodies of light horsemen organized in Hungary in the late 15th century, famed for courage and elaborate, semi-oriental dresses. They were widely imitated all over Europe (for example the Polish winged hussars), hence the spread of the word.” – Online Etymology Dictionary

Historically, the term in Hungarian derives from the cavalry of late medieval Hungary under Matthias Corvinus with mainly Serb warriors, but there are also other theories about its origin:

According to Webster’s Dictionary, the Hungarian ‘huszár’, originates from the medieval Serbian husar, meaning brigand (because early hussars’ shock troop tactics used against the Ottoman army resembled that of brigands; in modern Serbian, the meaning of ‘gusar’ is limited to sea pirate, more like ‘corsair’).

Another theory is that the term is an original Hungarian one, having nothing in common with the Serbian ‘gusar’. The hussars’ tactics and riding skills are characteristic of the early Hungarian warriors and were used by many ethnicities on the Eurasian steppe, like Huns, Avars, etc., and later by the Mongols and Tatars. This type of light cavalry was especially characteristic of the Hungarian armies, equipped with bows, arrows, spears, and sabres, and they later adopted the use of firearms.

Shako

“Also ‘chako’ is a cylindrical soldier’s hat with plume. It comes from the Hungarian ‘csákó’, short for ‘csákós süveg’ (peaked cap)”. – Online Etymology Dictionary

Originally, it would look similar to a hussar’s hat, but if you say the word ‘csákó’ in Hungary, many people, especially children, will associate the word with the simple hat you can fold from paper.

Sabre

“It is a type of single-edged sword, from French ‘sabre’ (heavy, curved sword) an alteration of ‘sable’, from German ‘Sabel’, ‘Säbel’, probably ultimately from Hungarian ‘szablya’ (saber), literally means a tool to cut with, from the verb ‘szabni’ (to cut or to tear).” – Online Etymology Dictionary

A sabre, also spelt as saber, depending on which side of the pond you are from, is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central-Eastern European cavalry, such as the hussars, the sabre became widespread in Western Europe a bit later. The predecessor of these weapons, the ‘proto-sabre’ (the Turko-Mongol sabre), had become the usual sidearm on the Eurasian steppes by the 9th century. The sabre probably arrived in Europe with the Magyars and Turks.

hortobágy herd
Photo: www.facebook.com/Hortobágy Nonprofit Kft.

Pusta

Pusta or Puszta is a Hungarian traditional landscape meaning “a large plain, a steppe; a flat treeless region.” – Oxford English Dictionary

Czárdás

‘Csárdás’, often seen as ‘czárdás’ or ‘csardas’, is a traditional Hungarian folk dance. The name is derived from ‘csárda’, an old Hungarian term for roadside tavern and restaurant. It originated in Hungary and was popularised by bands in Hungary as well as the neighbouring lands of Slovakia, Slovenia, Transylvania, etc.

Hungarian Dog Breeds

Hungarian dog breeds are referred to in English by their original Hungarian names. Vizsla might be the most widely known among these breeds, but all of them can be loyal companions.

  • Puli: “More fully Hungarian Puli is a breed of large black, grey, or white sheepdog characterized by a long, thick coat with a corded appearance.” – Oxford English Dictionary
  • Komondor: “Large, powerful, shaggy-coated white dogs of Hungarian origin that are used to guard sheep” – Merriam-Webster
  • Kuvasz: “A large, white, long-coated Hungarian breed of dog used as a guard dog” – Oxford English Dictionary
  • Vizsla: They are short-coated, golden-brown hunting dogs, specifically “pointers, with large pendant ears” – Oxford English Dictionary. They are robust but rather lightly built; they are lean dogs that have defined muscles.
  • Pumi: “It is a medium-sized alert, intelligent, energetic, and agile Hungarian herding breed” – American Kennel Club
hungarian flag hungary
Read also10+ English words that have Hungarian origins, Part 2

British ambassador recites Radnóti’s poem on Hungarian National Poetry Day – VIDEO

Iain Lindsay British Ambassador of Hungary Reading

Keeping to his traditions, the British ambassador of Hungary, Iain Lindsay, recited a Hungarian poem on the Hungarian National Poetry Day, reported Szeretlek Magyarország.

Iain Lindsay, the British ambassador of Hungary, has spoken many times in Hungarian and started a tradition a couple of years ago. Every year on the Day of Hungarian Culture (22 January) and Hungarian National Poetry Day (11 April), Iain Lindsay does something that is connected to Hungary. For example, last year, he recited the famous School from Ágnes Nemes Nagy.

This year, Iain chose Miklós Radnóti’s poem In Your Arms. His performance was recorded and posted on the UK in Hungary Facebook page. The post says: “In keeping with his tradition, Ambassador Lindsay has chosen a poem to recite for Hungarian Poetry Day. Please welcome Miklós Radnóti’s poem In your arms, direct from the Ambassador’s residence.” Below you can see the ambassador reciting the poem:

https://www.facebook.com/ukinhungary/videos/213446679915388/

As we have said, Lindsay surprised Hungarians many times before. This year, on the Day of Hungarian Culture, he expressed his kindness by reading aloud his favourite Hungarian youth novel, The Paul Street Boys.

day of culture iain lindsay
Read alsoBritish Ambassador’s special gift on the Day of Hungarian Culture! – VIDEO

In 2019, Lindsay celebrated with Scrabble on social media. He took a photo of a toy ‘betyár’ figure and a Scrabble layout, spelling several Hungarian words, with concepts that represent Hungarian culture for Lindsay, and asked his followers to share what Hungarian culture means for them.

lindsay united kingdom hungary hungarian culture
Read alsoThe British ambassador honours the Day of Hungarian Culture with scrabble

In 2016, Lindsay surprised the world on 11 April, which is National Poetry Day in Hungary, by reading one of Attila József’s poems. Hungary has celebrated the National Poetry day since 1964. The date is important because it is the birthday of Attila József, one of the best Hungarian poets.

Read alsoThe British Ambassador is reading a poem on Hungary’s National Poetry Day-Video

Unfortunately, Iain Lindsay announced earlier this year, in February, that he would soon leave his office. However, he introduced his successor and assured everyone that they would not be disappointed.

day of culture iain lindsay
Read alsoBeloved British ambassador of Hungary leaves office

Lift your spirit and learn Hungarian through these quarantine memes

Coronavirus meme

I think I am speaking in everyone’s name when I say we could all use a laugh right now. Positivity and happiness help us through challenging times. There is not much else we can do at home to cheer ourselves up than watching a comedy or looking at funny memes on our phones. So, let’s do that.

Daily Magyar uses creative ways to help you learn the insanely complicated Hungarian language. It also creates the funniest Hungarian memes to make learning a little bit more interesting. Here are our recent favourite memes by Daily Magyar that all centre around our experiences during the coronavirus epidemic.

If you are interested in fun and educational content about the Hungarian language, follow Daily Magyar on Instagram!

 
 
 
 
 
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

– Margit, shall we drink some wine in the evening? – Let’s drink wine! Hungarian is an agglutinative language. Agglutination permits formation of new words from nouns, verbs, adjectives and modifiers and other suffix components. E.g.: bor [ˈbor] – wine borozni [ˈborozni] – to drink wine sör [ˈʃør] – beer sörözni [ˈʃørøzni] – to drink beer nyár [ˈɲaːr] – summer nyaralni [ˈɲɑrɑlni] – to be on summer vacation kutya [ˈkucɑ] – dog kutyázni [ˈkucaːzni] – to play with a dog #maradjotthon (ha tudsz) #stayhome (if you can) #daily #hungarian #language #free #course #words #phrases #magyar #agglutination #agglutinative #stayathome #dailymagyar

Daily Hungarian | Napi magyar (@dailymagyar) által megosztott bejegyzés,

 
 
 
 
 
A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

mancs [ˈmɑntʃ] – paw tappancs [ˈtɑpːɑntʃ] – paw #daily #hungarian #language #free #course #words #phrases #magyar #homeoffice #workfromhome #stayhome #maradjotthon #dailymagyar

Daily Hungarian | Napi magyar (@dailymagyar) által megosztott bejegyzés,

 

Mini language lesson #25: essential words to know during a pandemic

Stay home HUN

In this episode, we are going to cover a few essential health-related words that will come in handy in case you need to pick up a few things from the pharmacy or consult a doctor.

Before we jump into learning those new words, let’s discuss why this language lesson is so needed right now.

The number of people confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus in Hungary has grown to 300. A total of 100 people are in quarantine and a total of 9,275 test samples have been taken. The epidemic in Hungary is at the stage of group infections spread in communities. Infected people can be found everywhere in the country, and anyone could be already infected.

Remember that there are many things we can do to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. If you can, isolate yourself and try to leave your home only if you need to go to the pharmacy, a doctor’s appointment, or get some groceries. Wash your hands often for at least 20-30 seconds, and stand at least 1.5 meters from other people at all times.

Now let’s look at those words.

Daily magyar vocabulary
Photo: www.dailymagyar.wordpress.com

gyógyszertár – pharmacy

gyógy – curative, medicinal

szer – 1) tool, instrument 2) remedy, drug

tár – 1) storehouse 2) cabinet, collection (in museums) 3) magazine (in guns) 4) to open wide

patika – apothecary (a drugstore)

Daily magyar vocabulary
Photo: www.dailymagyar.wordpress.com

Daily magyar vocabulary
Photo: www.dailymagyar.wordpress.com

Daily magyar vocabulary
Photo: www.dailymagyar.wordpress.com

Daily magyar vocabulary
Photo: www.dailymagyar.wordpress.com

pzs, pézsé[ˈpeːʒeː] – tissue paper (slang)
papírzsebkendő [ˈpɑpiːrʒɛbkɛndøː] – tissue paper, paper handkerchief
[Literally: paper-pocket-kerchief]

papírzsepi [ˈpɑpiːrʒɛpi] – tissue paper (slang)
papír [ˈpɑpiːr] – paper
zsebkendő [ˈʒɛbkɛndøː] – handkerchief
[Literally: pocket-kerchief]

zseb [ˈʒɛb] – pocket
kendő[ˈkɛndøː] – kerchief, cloth, shawl

Budapest, Hungary, coronavirus
Read alsoWe stay at home! Some thoughts on self-quarantine

See-ya! A guide for greeting Hungarians

Greeting in Hungarian

Greetings and introductions are tricky business, especially when done across borders. Even within a culture, there are several rules that need to be followed when first meeting someone. And as the resident confused person, I went ahead and tried to unconfuse myself by asking people how they like to be greeted when meeting for the first time and subsequently after.

The answers, as expected, were fairly nuanced in the sense that greetings are more individual than cultural. Personally, I, for example, hate being touched unnecessarily, so I avoid all physical contact when meeting people as much as I can help it, but that cannot be said about my whole culture since I am only one person out of a billion.

However, that is not to say that there are not certain stereotypes that you can adhere to when greeting people. If you are hanging around French people, they expect kisses, while with Germans, a handshake would probably suffice.

Hungary flag
Read alsoMini language lesson #1: Hungarian greetings and slang

Interestingly, Hungarians do not necessarily fit into either of those categories. They lie somewhere in the middle, and if I had to, I would call them solid huggers, not opposed to handshakes, probably okay with kisses, but will strongly judge you after if you are not close enough, and by close I mean known them for a substantial amount of time.

Therefore, I would call Hungarians more like Switzerland, in the sense that they are neutral and not by how people in Switzerland greet each other as my knowledge on that topic is fairly limited. But it is essential to find the correct balance when it comes to Hungarians, especially if you are trying to make friends, and only kiss or hug if they initiate first. That is probably your best bet as Hungarians, although kind, tend to have distant personalities, so it is probably better not to get too friendly too soon.

I know it sounds like an over-complicated mess of something that probably should be the easiest thing in the world, and it might be, but take it from someone who hyperventilates while ordering food, it can be very daunting. There are intricacies in every culture that can be oftentimes overwhelming and hard to manoeuvre, especially making that first move. Therefore, greeting someone the right way is a great start. No pun intended.

central market hall budapest
Read alsoBudapest through the eyes of an American university student

Brexit – Moving to the UK will be impossible for Hungarians

London

According to Hungarians who live in the United Kingdom, the introduction of the scoring system from Australian influence will make moving to the UK impossible for Hungarians. 

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Read also75 thousand Hungarians want to remain in the UK after Brexit

Pénzcentrum reported that the government of the United Kingdom decided to make the replica of the system which originates from Australia. Everyone who would like to move to the UK will have to get through this survey from January 2021. 

Out of 130 points, the minimum which has to be scored is 70. Below the minimum score, the British authorities will not allow entering the country.

The criteria are the following: 

  1. Acceptable level of English language knowledge: 10 points
  2. Exact job offer: 20 points
  3. Special skills for the offered job: 20 points
  4. Lack of employees in the chosen job: 20 points
  5. Payment of 2,133 pounds/month: 20 points
  6. PhD degree: 10 points 

The scoring system aims to decrease the number of immigrant people with weak skills and a poor level of English and to avoid letting more into the UK. 

Iain Lindsay Brexit Hungary ambassador
Read alsoBrexit: the British ambassador sends a message to Hungarians – video

According to Hungarians, this scoring system has many problems. First of all, British companies are only eager to offer a position for an immigrant if he/she already has a British address and phone number. Moreover, the payment mentioned can be easily earned in London, but outside the capital, there is no company to offer such a payment. 

Only an estimated 5% of Hungarians could have the chance to move to the UK from January 2021. 

For those who are planning to move to the country, it is advisable to take action this year, and those who are already in the UK need to spare some money for the citizenship status. 

Read alsoBritish ambassador: No change for Hungarians living in UK after Brexit

Did you know?! – 10 surprising facts about the Hungarian language

Hungarian flag

21st February marks the International Mother Language Day; on that occasion, we collected ten interesting facts about the Hungarian language that will surprise you! Do you know why Hungarian is listed among the most challenging languages in the world; and what is the reason of its uniqueness? Let us see the answers! 😉

1. Among the world’s most difficult languages

Contrary to popular belief, Hungarian is not the most difficult language in the world; however, it is among the world leaders.

Some lists rank Hungarian in the TOP 3, while other rankings define it as the seventh most difficult language besides Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Estonian, and Finnish.

2. Hungary is not the only country where it is spoken
Hungarian
Image: Pixabay

Hungary’s population is nearly 10 million; however, its official language is spoken fluently by more than 13 million people. The extra 3 million speakers include Hungarians living in other countries, and foreigners who have learned our language fluently.

3. The oldest Hungarian relics

The oldest relic of the language was an ironclad Hungarian runic script that was discovered at the North American Yarmout Bay in Newfoundland.

4. Hungarian language in the British Museum

In the library of the British Museum, we can discover the most valuable Central European manuscript, which was written in Hungarian in 1533. The relic starts accordingly: “Az Ephesom helyeknek yrth Zent Pál levelének elsew capitoliuma”.

5. Word compression as its uniqueness

According to avilagtitkai.com, the Hungarian language has a very high compression capability which means that long sentences can be expressed only in a few words.

Hungarian language
Image: www.facebook.com/MagyarLecke/

Furthermore, we can describe our feelings and emotions with simple words. Let us see some examples: Segíthetek? (=Can I help you?); Szeretlek (=I love you); Látlak (=I see you); Vártalak (=I was waiting for you).

6. The third most melodic language

As magyarorszagom.hu reports, Hungarian language is listed among the TOP 3 most melodic languages, following Italian and Greek. According to the Italian cardinal and linguist, Giuseppe Mezzofanti (18th-19th century) – who wrote in 58 languages ​​and spoke in 103 tongues –

Hungarian is the third most melodic language in the world.

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Read alsoYou should try, 5 Apps for Learning Hungarian!!!
Hungarian flag
Read alsoDid you know?! – 10 surprising facts about the Hungarian language
7. The unique meaning of the word ‘farmer’

Interestingly, Hungarian is the only language in the world where the word ‘farmer’ is used for jeans. In other English-speaking countries, farmer has a totally different meaning.

8. Alone in Europe

Many people think that Hungarian has related languages, which is not absolutely true. It is member of the Finno-Ugric language family, but no similarity can be discovered with other languages of the group.

Hungarian langauge
Image: Pixabay
9. Number of vowels

While in the case of Western languages, only seven vowels are used; in Hungarian, we can differentiate 14 vowels: a-á, e-é, i-í, o-ó, ö-ő, u-ú, ü-ű.

10. Hungarian names all around the world

Hungarian family names and geographic names can be discovered in thousands of different places in the world. Thanks to the Hungarian Dr Bátor Vámos-Tóth and his colleagues, the collection of Hungarian words represents a new discipline by now, bearing the name TAMANA.

Accordingly, 6,000 Hungarian names can be discovered all around the world.

Hungarian language
Image: www.facebook.com/MagyarLecke/

Hungarian family names have been discovered in India; geographic names in Iraq, Lebanon, Malta, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, the Philippines, India etc.

New scholarship by the Hungarian government to encourage foreign languages

education managers

A new scholarship programme by the government, regulated by the Tempus Public Foundation, is said to support 90,000 of the country’s students when they travel to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Austria, France, and China this summer to take part in two-week language courses, reports PIE News.

Each student will be awarded €2,000, meaning the government will provide around €180m in funding. However, the total funding could exceed that figure significantly as exact numbers are still unknown, and as many as 140,000 students are eligible for the programme.

The programme is called the ‘Foreign Language Learning Scholarship Programme for Hungarian Secondary School Students in Grade 9 and 11′ initiative and is available to only those students who are already studying the subjects in high school. They are able to travel individually or in organised groups and will arrive between June 13 and August 31 of this year.

Tímea Tiboldi, the head of the Tempus Public Foundation’s Language Learning Unit, told PIE News that the initiative has been set up to help motivate students who are studying languages. 

“Once [the students] have the experience of studying the specific language in an authentic environment, it will hopefully stimulate their motivation to learn that language,” she said. 

“They will be able to make friendships which last for a life-time. We very much hope that they will socialize with their peers… [And] when they return home their language learning appetite will increase so that they will be more efficient in learning foreign languages.”

Read alsoHungary to start scholarship programme for young Middle East Christians

Institutions and students were advised not to have strong preferences towards specific target countries before the course offerings of the language schools are made public. This is because demand will have to be adjusted to the capacity of the language schools. 

ELT schools have also expressed their enthusiasm for the programme, with the UK set to gain the most from this influx of international students. Short Courses director at CATS Colleges, Carl Roberton, oversees short courses for Stafford House London which is set to accept Hungarian students this year. He explained that at first, he did not realise the scale of the initiative. However, Roberton also highlighted one of the challenges of such a large number of students from one nationality.

“It’s probably more students than the whole English language business in the UK can manage and maintain a good nationality mix for those students,” he suggested.

Jodie Gray, the interim chief executive of English UK, said the association and its member centres are feeling “very optimistic” about the programme. Gray explained that the programme will have a hugely positive impact on the UK’s ELT sector and its international community of students.

“It presents an opportunity for British Council accredited teaching centres to welcome tens of thousands of Hungarian young people, helping them to develop their English language skills and experience what the UK has to offer and be inspired,” she added.

“We’re supporting the Tempus Public Foundation, who is managing the program, in order to ensure that every Hungarian student has the best possible time in the UK.”

Tempus Public Foundation has worked with the British Council to find ELT school partners in the UK. Roy Cross, the principal consultant at the British Council, told PIE that the British Council welcomes the “ambitious” Hungarian government programme.

“[It] has the potential to transform how the next generation of young Hungarians relates to and engages with the United Kingdom,” Cross added.

Read alsoGovt Scholarship Programme to Help 11,000 Needy Children

Ukrainian deputy PM visit hope to get nearer to ‘solution’ on Ukraine minority rights

szijjártó in un assembly

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that the Ukrainian deputy prime minister’s visit to Hungary scheduled for March would hopefully bring the parties closer to an agreement on minority rights in Ukraine.

In his speech at the plenary session of the UN’s General Assembly, Szijjártó called the situation of ethnic minorities in Ukraine unacceptable and seriously unlawful.

Read alsoVenice Commission opinion says Ukrainian language law infringes international law, says FM

The minister noted that a strong, developing and democratic Ukraine is in the interest of Hungary because of the 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living there.

Over the past five to six years, Hungary has granted Ukraine some 75 billion forints (EUR 222m) worth of economic development, humanitarian, health and educational aid, provided medical treatment for wounded soldiers and hosted 2,300 children in summer camps, he said.

szijjártó in un assembly
Read alsoUkrainian deputy PM visit hope to get nearer to ‘solution’ on Ukraine minority rights

Hungary has always stood up for Ukraine’s integrity and sovereignty, and is aware of the difficulties the country is facing, Szijjártó said.

However, it cannot accept the recent Ukrainian laws on education and language use passed in violation of the neighbouring country’s bilateral and international commitments, he said.

The minister said the United Nations should make a universal approaches to all breaches of international law. It is unacceptable if the UN takes action against certain violations and overlooks others, he said.

You should try, 5 Apps for Learning Hungarian!!!

hungary-hungarian-tradition

Did you know that – besides Italian and Greek – Hungarian language is listed among the most melodic languages?! Leastwise, according to the most celebrated linguist of the 18th-19th century – Giuseppe Mezzofanti – who wrote in 58 languages ​​and spoke in 103 tongues. In addition to its beauty and rich vocabulary, this is one more reason why you should start learning Hungarian. Let us see which apps can help you to do so 😉

Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the best-known language learning apps, providing bite-size lessons based on science.

Thanks to the enjoyable games, studying can easily become a playful process.

Duolingo
Image: www.facebook.com/duolingo/

Its meaningful motto describes the essence of the app: “Learn Hungarian in just 5 minutes a day. For free.” Just take it whenever you have the time – sitting on the bus, waiting for your friend etc., Duolingo helps you to pass the time in a pleasant but useful way. Besides Hungarian, the free mobile app offers more than 30 other languages. Polyglots, your time has come! 😉

Learn Hungarian WordPower

Learn Hungarian WordPower is another efficient education app, in which Hungarian words are thematically categorised. By the help of the mobile app, users can learn the most important Hungarian words and phrases, along with their audio pronunciation. As an enthusiastic student, you rapidly pick up 2000 frequently used words and phrases in the topic of travel, shopping, technology, weather and many others.

Innovative Language 101

Innovative Language 101
Image: www.facebook.com/InnovativeLanguage/

This language learning app provides a great variety of materials, thanks to which, communication in Hungarian can start from the very first time. The app offers “fun, effective and affordable lessons”, along with several lesson notes, and numerous audio and video lessons made by real teachers. The best way to improve your speaking skills!

Read alsoThe Hungarian language is thriving and in its prime
András Lincoln
Read alsoThe American actor who has learnt the Hungarian language extremely fast – VIDEOS

FREE Hungarian by Nemo

Speaking skills are in the primary focus of Nemo Free language learning app, thanks to which you can master your Hungarian pronunciation. No prior knowledge is required.

Right pronunciation can be quickly learned due to the high-quality audios provided by native speakers; along with Speech Studio option by which you can record and improve your own pronunciation.

The app offers materials at three levels – beginners can get an insight into the most essential 100 words, followed by the intermediate level where students can listen to frequently used travel and business-related phrases. Advanced learners can make their pronunciation perfect through the help of Speech Studio.

Hungarian Bubble Bath

Besides Duolingo, this language learning app also provides an entertaining way of learning Hungarian. The concept of the game is simple – you need to pop bubbles that float to the top of the screen. After selecting a bubble that shows a Hungarian word inside, you need to find its translation to pop it.

Duolingo Hungarian
Image: www.facebook.com/duolingo/

Hungarian Bubble Bath is primarily useful to expand your vocabulary.

Players can choose among 63 categories, each of them including 600 Hungarian words and phrases that are pronounced by a native speaker.

So, ready…steady…go!!! 😉

Proposal to resolve situation concerning Hungarian education in Ukraine

hungary ukraine proposal

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó presented a proposal to Ukrainian government officials on Friday concerning Ukrainian language education for minorities and the preservation of ethnic Hungarians’ mother tongue in Transcarpathia.

Szijjártó held a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Dmytro Kuleba after their meeting in Kiev.

hungary ukraine proposal
Read alsoProposal to resolve situation concerning Hungarian education in Ukraine

“We understand Ukraine’s expectation to ensure that every citizen living in its territory should be able to speak Ukrainian and we also want to ensure that ethnic Hungarians living in Transcarpathia should be able to preserve their mother tongue,” Szijjártó said.

Read alsoVenice Commission opinion says Ukrainian language law infringes international law, says FM

“We believe both objectives can be achieved at the same time,” he added.

Szijjártó said he had presented the Hungarian proposal to Education Minister Anna Novosad and they agreed that she would meet leaders of the Transcarpathia Hungarians’ teachers association in the near future.

He said the Hungarian government has a vested interest in rebuilding good neighbourly relations with Ukraine.

“However, we would like to build up some pragmatic success stories which could help rebuild good relations between the two countries,” he added.

“This is why we have invited an intergovernmental cooperation committee meeting in Budapest in March,” he said. Szijjártó and Koleba agreed that after a hiatus of seven years it is high time for the committee to meet again.

In the meeting, Budapest would like to agree on opening at least one new border crossing between the two countries, he said. Further targets include agreements on the use of a Hungarian infrastructure credit line offered previously, developing agricultural and veterinary cooperation and the mutual acceptance of academic degrees, he added.

“I agree with Dmytro Kuleba that Transcarpathia should be made a success story,” he said.

“Hungary is ready to continue its economic development programme launched in Transcarpathia and support for the operation of educational, health and cultural institutions in the region,” he added.

“If the committee’s meeting is a success, it will pave the way for a spring summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán,” he said. Szijjártó added that Hungary was ready to provide humanitarian support for Ukraine and welcomed the planned launch of direct air services between Budapest and Zaporizhia in the near future.

Kuleba told MTI that the culture ministry would draft a proposal on the protection of minority rights and put it to a public debate. He said that Kiev would make every possible effort to promote minority protection in line with its international obligations and would not delay the passage of the law.

Kuleba expressed thanks to Hungary for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and contributing to the rehabilitation of Ukrainian children.

Szijjártó also met Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko and Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk.

Language similarities between Hungarian and other languages of the world

Hungary, flag, blue, sky

Language is a beautiful system of words, meant to make communication easy. However, with cultural and national differences comes language difference. Every country has a different language, some of them have similar roots, similar scripts, and yet some are poles apart. We have a list of Hungarian words that are similar to words in other languages:

VIDEKI

Everyone’s favourite word. Not. ‘Videki’ means essentially, someone who is not from Budapest is considered ‘videki’. Interestingly, the word ‘Videshi’, which is from the Hindi language of India, has a similar meaning. It also means foreigner but is not limited to a particular region.

Update: A better definition of Videki would be everyone from the countryside and/ or not from Budapest. 

KUTYA

‘Kutya’ means ‘dog’, and everybody loves dogs. They are cute, cuddly, and loyal to the core, plus ‘kutya’ sounds pretty cute, too. Funnily, dog in Hindi is called ‘kuta’ which is not too different from its Hungarian name.

Read alsoThe Hungarian language is thriving and in its prime

MIT CSINÁLSZ

Now, I am no expert in any of the two languages, but one of my teachers actually made a group of Korean children cry by saying ‘mit csinálsz’ to them, which means ‘what are you doing’ in Hungarian, not realising that it was a curse word in Korean.

KÖSZI

Again, absolutely no knowledge, but one of my Arabic friends said she thanked someone in Hungarian by saying ‘köszi’ in front of her parents, and they did not understand, and she had to have a very uncomfortable conversation with them about what it means. So, be careful with that one. Use the full version.

PUSZI

Do I even have to explain this one? I am pretty sure every English speaker reading this just giggled a little bit to themselves. It means ‘kisses’ in Hungarian, which is fairly innocent compared to its English counterpart. So, do what you will with that information.

Language is as diverse as the people that speak it, so to find similarities in our differences creates a certain kind of kinship that is comforting in itself. After all, we are united in our differences.

Hungary, flag, blue, sky
Read alsoLanguage similarities between Hungarian and other languages of the world

Hungarian government spent 6 million Euros on language exams

students

Language learners under the age of 35 are entitled to reclaim the cost of their successful language exam from the government since January 2018. Over 65,000 people have seized this opportunity so far, and the government spent over 6 million Euros on young people’s language exams in the last two years.

Since January 2018, language learners are provided with the opportunity to reclaim the price of their language exams from the government.

Read alsoFree language exam given to the examinees – Here are the details

How does it work?

First, language learners need to pay the cost of the language exam (the exam has to be at least intermediate/B2 level) in advance, and if they pass that exam (and they are below the age of 35), they are entitled to request a refund from the government regardless of how many certificates they already possess, 24 reports.

There are 27 languages that are supported by the Hungarian government. The most popular languages include English, German, Italian, and French, but Latin, Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese are also on the list. The aim of this initiative was to boost language learning in Hungary and aid those who are dedicated but lack financial support.

Read alsoHungarian government to encourage language exams with credit — Will it work?

Many seized the opportunity

Last year, 101,000 out of the total 112,000 people who applied for various language exams were below the age of 35. According to the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources,

65,247 people requested a refund from the government between 01 January 2018 and 30 November 2019. The cost of a language exam in Hungary is around 83-100 Euros. Based on these numbers, the Hungarian government has paid back approximately 6,000,000 Euros to Hungarian language learners.

The amount of the government refund cannot be higher than 25% of the minimum wage in Hungary. Due to the 8% increase in the minimum wage this year, this amount is now around 120 Euros per person (it used to be around 100 Euros).

Hungary among worst EU countries for foreign languages

Europe-at-least-one-foreign-language-known

A recent iNews article claims the UK is in crisis when it comes to language education. In fact, it reads Britain is bottom of the class when it comes to second languages.

Theknowledgeacademy.com has analysed where Britain sits in knowing a foreign language – in comparison to the rest of Europe.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES KNOWN

Looking at the most recent data on the number of foreign languages known (Eurostat) theknowledgeacademy.com found Brits are behind EVERY EU country when it comes to knowing another language.

In fact, 65.4% of Brits admit they can’t speak any other language. Just ahead of Romania (64.2%), Hungary (57.6%) and Bulgaria (50.5%.)

Comparably, Sweden has the lowest percentage of people who can’t speak any other language – at 3.4%.

This means approximately 96.6% of Swedish people can speak at least one other language. An impressive feat.

The example set by Sweden is closely followed by Denmark (4.2%), Latvia (4.2%) and Lithuania (4.5%.)

Slightly behind these three countries, but with remarkable rates still, is Luxembourg (5.5%) and Finland (8%.)

In fact, these figures indicate 94.5% of locals in Luxembourg can speak a second language. While 92% of Finns – known to be fluent in Finnish, Swedish and English among others – can speak at least one other language.

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Theknowledgeacademy.com

This survey focuses on the 28 EU countries. Figures represent the percentage of the population who do NOT know any foreign languages. Figures are sourced from Eurostat and were updated this year (2019). Figures are the most recent of their kind.

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Read alsoHungary among worst EU countries for foreign languages

Movie star Timothée Chalamet loves Hungary

Hungary celebrity Chalamet

And he can pronounce perfectly the Hungarian word ‘Szilvásvárad.’

Timothée Chalamet is a regular ‘guest worker’ in Hungary, so to speak, and the country has made an impact on him. He talked about his experience and about his latest film on the press tour of Little Women, an upcoming American coming-of-age period drama, in which he plays the role of Theodore “Laurie” Laurence, hvg reported.

He said that he adores Hungary, and as a Hungarian journalist rightly pointed it out in his interview, he pronounced ‘Szilvásvárad’ perfectly. Here you can watch the relevant excerpt of the video:

Chalamet shot both a Netflix movie titled The King and the new Dune movie in Hungary.

We wrote HERE about The King when its first trailer appeared on Netflix. Some parts of the film were shot in the Hungarian town called Szilvásvárad, so this is why Chalamet can pronounce the name of the city so well. The film presents the story of medieval monarch King Henry V, based on Shakespeare’s three dramas that were adapted by Joel Edgerton and David Michôd.

Michôd also directed the movie, while Edgerton acted in the film, along with such stars as Timothée Chalamet, Sean Harris, Tom Glynn-Carney, Lily-Rose Depp, Thomasin McKenzie, Robert Pattinson, and Ben Mendelsohn. The Hollywood star, Brad Pitt, was also involved in the production as co-producer. Last summer, the actor could be seen riding a bicycle in Eger.

The new film Dune will be shot in Hungary, too, with actors like Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and Stellan Skarsgård. We wrote about the details HERE.

And what about Szilvásvárad?

Well, we wrote HERE that it is one of the most romantic picnic spots of Hungary, and HERE you can find an article about the top five forest trains in Hungary, one of which is in Szilvásvárad. And finally, Szilvásvárad is the home of one of the five stud farms in Hungary that are a part of the exceptional Hungarian cultural heritage.

The Hungarian language is thriving and in its prime

The We are Social media agency from London presented its annual study regarding the situation of the media. This report included the global standards and statistics of each countries’ habits of using digital platforms.

Képmás reported that it is no surprise that the average time of using smartphones increased (especially using social media platforms), and people are participating in the phenomenon of messaging (sending real-time messages) more often. The most important social media platforms are Facebook and YouTube, and even countries with poor Internet coverage try to keep up with social media.

Regarding Hungary, there is one surprising factor in this report. It is not the fact that Hungary is the 8th country in the world with the fastest Internet connection, or that the country’s internet coverage is above 90%. These are all important points, but mainly infrastructural ones.

The most important and surprising fact is that the Hungarian language is the 20th most commonly used language in the world of the Internet.

Out of 8,000 known languages, Hungarian is digitally active and living its prime in the online world. According to a study from 2013, a language can be invisible in the digital world no matter how many speakers it has. Languages can also be threatened by digital extinction, not just the decrease of its speakers. The Hungarian language is safe from this phenomenon.

The language which is the hardest one in the world, which has been reinvented several times, and has the least speakers in the world, is building an own empire in the digital world.

Out of 4,388 billion Internet users, many of them stumble upon the unique and beautiful Hungarian language, which is a bigger victory than an Olympic gold medal.