36 useful Hungarian phrases for varied occasions in Budapest (2025)

Table of Contents
Greetings Introductions Shopping Bars and restaurants Direction Other essentials to help you get around Related content Budapest Budapest's drinking fountains are back in service and here is where to find them drinking fountains water refill your bottle free drinking water With temperatures soaring above 20 degrees, it's essential to keep hydrated. Check where to find drinking fountains throughout the city. Budapest From Michael Jackson to Selena Gomez – 17+1 music videos shot in Budapest videos budapest famous videclips shooting michael jackson will smith katy perry selena gomez music video From pop anthems to moody ballads, Budapest steals the spotlight in these music videos! Budapest Budapest is lighting up in blue on World Autism Awareness Day autusim world autism awareness day im blue On April 2nd, it will not only be people wearing blue around the globe. In Budapest, iconic landmarks will be illuminated to shine a light on autism. Budapest Bolygó: Exploring Margit Quarter's eco-focused and international community hub bolygó community space international eco-conscious greenpeace planet one Join a supportive network and unleash your inner eco-entrepreneur – Bolygó empowers you to make a difference, one green action at a time. Budapest's drinking fountains are back in service and here is where to find them From Michael Jackson to Selena Gomez – 17+1 music videos shot in Budapest Budapest is lighting up in blue on World Autism Awareness Day Bolygó: Exploring Margit Quarter's eco-focused and international community hub FAQs
36 useful Hungarian phrases for varied occasions in Budapest (1)

Budapest

36 useful Hungarian phrases for varied occasions in Budapest (2)

Petra Berende

2015.09.28. 17:43

One of the most challenging aspects of visiting Budapest is experiencing the unique Hungarian language, including the intricacies of its unfamiliar letters, peculiar vocabulary, and often-puzzling pronunciation. While newcomers may be forgiven for not even attempting to master Hungary’s one-of-a-kind native tongue, it’s well worthwhile to acquire a few basic local phrases, ranging from greetings to directions to ordering a drink. Learn these handy expressions to not only navigate Hungary’s capital with ease, but also to earn the appreciation of locals that you encounter out and about.

1/6

Greetings

In the Hungarian language, there are several ways to greet a person or say goodbye (some of them might sound amusing at first hearing), and expressions differ depending on if they are used in an informal way (between friends) or in a more formal situation.

Szia/sziasztok
(see-yah/see-yah-stoke)
A friendly “hi” or “bye” to one person/to more than one person. Between friends this greeting form is often doubled up by saying “szia-szia”.

Jó reggelt/napot/estét
(yoh reg-gelt/nah-poht/esh-tet)
“Good morning/afternoon/evening”Hungarians use these expressions as formal ways of greeting at different times of day.

Jó éjszakát
(yoh ey-sa-kat)
“Good night” You can use this both in a formal or informal conversation.

Viszontlátásra
(vee-saunt-lah-tahs-ra)
“Goodbye” A formal term for farewell. In friendly company, you can simply say “szia”, as explained above.

Puszi
(poo-see)
“Kiss (on the cheek)” – so it’s not what you might have thought about first! Upon concluding a face-to-face meeting or a phone call, close friends simply use this word to say goodbye. If you perk up your ears, oftentimes you can hear “puszi” combined with “szia”, creating the phrase “szia-szia, puszi-puszi”.

Hogy vagy?
(hoj-dj vah-dj )
“How are you doing?” Right after greeting a friend, Hungarians usually ask about each other’s well being, which is oftentimes followed by a lengthy response, whether it’s good or bad, starting with:

Köszönöm, jól.
(keu-seu-neum yohl)
“I’m fine, thank you.” or

Nem jól.
(nem yohl)
“I’m not well.”

2/6

Introductions

When you meet a local in Hungary, expect abundant questions about your name and your place of origin, and while an increasing number of people speak English at various levels in the cities, people who do not speak Hungarian can find themselves in situations when they need to find a way to overcome language barriers. To make your life easier, here are informal ways of basic introduction.

Mi a neved?
(mi aw neh-ved)
“What’s your name?” An informal way of asking about someone’s name.

A nevem…
(ah neh-vehm)
“My name is…” Then fill in the blank with your name.

Honnan jöttél?
(hon-nan yot-tel)
“Where are you coming from?” An informal way of asking about your place of origin.

Hány éves vagy?
(Hauwn eh-vehs vah-dj)
“How old are you?” Note that not everyone is keen on sharing the secret of their age with you.

Beszélsz magyarul/angolul?
(bass-ale-ss ma-ja-rule/on-goh-lool)
“Do you speak Hungarian/English?” An informal way of trying to find a common language to interconnect.

Nem beszélek magyarul/angolul.
(nem bass-ale-lack ma-ja-rule/on-goh-lool)
“I don’t speak Hungarian/English.” In this case you might want to find someone who can help with translating, or start using gestures to explain what you are up to.

3/6

Shopping

Around the touristic hotspots and the major shopping zones there is always someone speaking English, but in smaller locales it’s easy to run into difficulties created by language barriers. Learn how to purchase a public-transport ticket, or how to say if you prefer paying by cash or card.

Szeretnék egy…
(se-ret-nayk eh-dj)
“I would like a…”. Use this expression when you want to purchase something.

Egy jegyet kérek.
(eh-dj yej-et keh-rack)
“A ticket please.” When you buy a public-transport ticket or you want to enter a museum.

Mennyibe kerül?
(men'-nyi-be ke-rewl)
“How much does it cost?”Bankkártya
(Bahnk-kaar-tya)
“Bankcard” Most shops and restaurants accept card payment in Budapest.

Készpénz
(kes-penz)
“Cash” While most places accept bankcards or credit cards, there are still a few spots where you can only pay with cash.

Csak nézelődöm.
(chok nay-ze-lo-dom)
“I’m just looking.” If you enter a shop just to browse around.

4/6

Bars and restaurants

Make sure to venture into the culinary adventures that Budapest has to offer, and try some of the many hip bars around town. Luckily, the staff speaks English almost everywhere – as far as downtown is concerned – but if not, or in case you want to impress someone, here are some basic guidelines:

Kérek egy pálinkát/bort/sört
(keh-rack eh-dj pah-lin-cat/bore-t/shirt)
“I would like a pálinka (Hungarian fruit brandy)/wine/beer” Certainly this will be one of your most extensively used expressions during your stay in the Hungarian capital.

Egészségedre!
(ag-eh-sheg-ad-reh)
“Cheers!” Say this when you clink your wine glasses, and don’t forget to look into the other person’s eyes. You can also use this as “bless you” if someone sneezes. No kidding!

Jó étvágyat!
(yoh eht-vah-djot)
“Enjoy your meal!” Hungarians always say 'jó étvágyat” to each other before they start devouring their meal.

A számlát kérem!
(aw sam-lat keh-rem)
“The bill, please!” Common term for getting the bill in a bar or restaurant. Don’t forget to check if the tip is included. Read our guidelines on tipping here.

5/6

Direction

Whether you navigate Budapest on foot or by car, it’s good to know the basic directions to find your way from one point to another hassle-free. In case you try to get around by car, check out our tips and hints about the driving laws of Hungary.

Hol van a…?
(hol vahn aw)
“Where is the…?” Depending on what you are looking for, fill in the blank.

Itt/ott
(eat/oht)
“Here/there”

Balra/jobbra/egyenesen
(bawl-ra/yohb-ra/e-dye-ne-shen)
“Left/right/straight”

A sarkon
(ah shor-kon)
“At the corner”

Bejárat/Kijárat
(beh-yah-raht/kih-yah-raht)
“Entrance/Exit”

6/6

Other essentials to help you get around

There are many other words and terms that are good to know during your stay in the Magyar metropolis, and you are guaranteed to hear some of the following phrases over and over again in the streets of Budapest:

Igen/nem
(ee-gen/nehm)
“Yes/no”
Nem értem/nem tudom
(nehm eyr-tem/nehm-tu-dome)
I don’t understand/I don’t know” Köszönöm
(keu-seu-neum)
Thank you” You will often hear the short form of this as “köszi” (koh-see)

Szívesen
(see-ve-shen)
You’re welcome”Elnézést
(el-ney-zeysht)
Excuse me” You can open with this phrase if you want to approach a person on the street with a question, or if somebody stands in your way.

Sajnálom
(shoy-nah-lawm)
I’m sorry”Várj!
(vahr-yawl)
Wait!” You will not only hear this if you have to wait for something, but also instead of “one moment, please”.

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36 useful Hungarian phrases for varied occasions in Budapest (2025)

FAQs

What are the phrases in Budapest? ›

Lesson Transcript
  • Szia! “Hello.” The first one is Szia, which means hello. ...
  • Jó reggelt! “Good morning.” This is what you say in the morning. ...
  • Jó napot! “Good afternoon.” ...
  • Jó éjszakát! “Good night.” ...
  • Mi a neved? “What's your name?” ...
  • Én (name) vagyok. “I'm [name].” ...
  • Örvendek. “Nice to meet you.” ...
  • Hogy vagy? “How are you?”

What is a typical Hungarian phrase? ›

Share
PhraseWhat it meansHow to pronounce it
SziaHello (and friendly goodbye)'see-yaw'
Hogy vagy?How are you?'haw-j vah-j' – 'j' for joke.
Minden okEverything's ok'min-den oh kay'
Mennyibe kerul?How much is it?Men-yee-beh ker-ool
8 more rows
Feb 22, 2019

What is a common Hungarian greeting? ›

Formal greetings like "Jó napot" and "Jó estét" are your go-to choices in professional settings, when meeting someone for the first time, or when you wish to show respect. "Szia," on the other hand, is perfect for casual encounters, greeting friends, or people your age.

What does Köszönöm mean in Budapest? ›

Köszönöm (thank you in Hungarian)

What do Hungarians say before a meal? ›

Jó étvágyat!

“Enjoy your meal!” Hungarians always say 'jó étvágyat” to each other before they start devouring their meal.

How do Hungarians say cheers? ›

The Hungarian word for “cheers” is “egészségedre” (try saying that after you've had a few) but it should never be used with the clink of beer glasses.

How do you show respect in Hungary? ›

Basic Etiquette
  1. Hungarians often pride themselves on using proper etiquette and expect others to do the same.
  2. Calling someone by their first name before being invited to do so is considered rude.
  3. Many Hungarians find whistling, humming or singing in public impolite.
  4. Always cover your mouth when yawning.
Jan 1, 2017

What does kiss mean in Hungary? ›

Hungarian: from kis 'small' applied as a nickname for a person of small stature. The surname is contrasted with Nagy and was often used also to describe the younger of two bearers of the same personal name.

What does babushka mean in Hungarian? ›

It means nagymama (grandma) 1 yr.

What do Hungarians say when they sneeze? ›

How to sneeze and respond to sneezes in 80 different languages
LanguageSneezeMeaning
HungarianHapciTo your health
IcelandicÁtshúGod bless you
IndonesianHatsjoeHealth
IrishAtishooHealth
67 more rows
Apr 5, 2023

How do Hungarians say goodbye? ›

Viszlát! (“Bye!”) This Hungarian word for goodbye is a shortened version of the one above.

What is a sentence for Budapest? ›

He was born in 1936 in Budapest, Hungary. She is seriously ill in a Budapest hospital. She now lives in Budapest. He worked at opera houses in Budapest, Dresden, and Münster.

How do you say thank you in Budapest? ›

In Hungarian, "Thank you." is Köszönöm. Let's break it down by syllable: kö-szö-nöm. Now let's hear it one more time: Köszönöm.

What do people in Budapest speak? ›

BBC - Languages - Languages. The official language of Hungarian is spoken by 98% of the 10.3m population. Minority languages have become more prominent in recent years, and they include German, Croatian, Romani, Slovak, Romanian, Serbian and Slovene.

What does Buda mean in Budapest? ›

According to a legend recorded in chronicles from the Middle Ages, the name "Buda" comes from the name of Bleda (Hungarian: Buda), brother of Hunnic ruler Attila. Attila went in the city of Sicambria in Pannonia, where he killed Buda, his brother, and he threw his corpse into the Danube.

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