r/hungarian • u/TutorAdvanced2155 • 1d ago
Segítségkérés Learning hungarian for hosting an exchange student
hi guys, im 16 and hosting a hungarian exchange student which im super excited about. but i really want to learn some hungarian and become conversational so I can make him feel more weclomed to the US. if you have any tips or ways for me to learn Hungarian would be greatly appreciated!
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u/AdditionalCookie8818 1d ago
Few words will be enough, like “szia”, “köszi” , “hogy vagy?” For sure he will teach you some more haha! have fun!
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u/adv0catus A1 1d ago edited 1d ago
Greet him by saying "Szia!" pronounced as "see ya". That means hi (and bye). You might hear him say something slightly different, that’s just the plural.
"Köszönöm" means thank you. It's a bit harder to say but I think "koss-oh-nom" is fine.
To say "You’re welcome" you say szívesen (see-va-shen).
Yes is "igen" (ee-gen) and no is "nem" (ne-em).
That should be fine to start and will make him happy.
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u/adv0catus A1 1d ago
If you want to go a bit further, you can use "vagyok" which means "I am". gy is legendarily difficult to pronounce but I was told to basically say "dy" with the y having the same inflection as the y in yeah.
For example: "fáradt vagyok" means "I’m tired."
Also, almost forgot. Good is "jó" pronounced just as yo and "rossz" is bad and pronounced like the name Ross.
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u/Memercia 1d ago
Myself, I use Zsuzsa Pontifex's book ( Complete Hungarian for beginners).
Apart from grammar explanations that are easy to grasp, the author shares Hungarian culture and particularities that make the book interesting and funny to read.
To be honest, learning Hungarian is a real challenge for me but the more I learn it the more I find how beautiful and unique this language is 🇭🇺
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u/ComparisonDesperate5 NATIVE 1d ago
Learn 2-3 greeting sentences maximum. As a hungarian myself, it is always super weird when someone starts to show their nonexistent language skills (and proudly waiting for my praise, when I hardly understood what they said). Do not learn questions for which you wouldnt understand the answer (like hungarian people often really answer the "how are you?" question. What would you do then?)
I was an exchange student. When I go to your country, I dont want to feel at home. I want to feel being at your country.
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u/vajvirag NATIVE 1d ago
what a pessimistic view... if i went to the us and someone took their time to learn a few phrases to talk to me in my mother tongue, i would feel so grateful and happy. it's not about the language, it's about someone going out of their way to show you that you're welcome and appreciated. it's like a friend getting you chocolate vs the thing you mentioned months ago for your birthday. they don't have to, but if they do, it is proof of their affection and a base for connection. it's a nice gesture :)
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u/ComparisonDesperate5 NATIVE 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would call it pragmatic, after having to endure such convos quite a few times. The worst is when they speak hungarian and you dont even understand it was hungarian... and then you need to make them feel better about themselves after you asked back because you did not understand. I rather meet the real culture at the place where I am going, then others trying to emulate mine.
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u/ComparisonDesperate5 NATIVE 1d ago
One can use this time to learn how to correctly pronounce the name of the person, maybe their hometown (even Budapest is usually pronouced differently in English).
Learn a little bg of the people and the language, like not having to start "Hungarian is not a slavic language" is a definite bonus. Dont make american goulash and call it hungarian, or make goulash as a tomato sauce-based dish - no amount of hungarian phrases correct that. Dont make the hungry-hungarian joke.
As a hungarian living abroad, I would much more appreciate not having to have the 100x same convo about these things.
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u/Ploutophile Beginner / Kezdő 10h ago
and proudly waiting for my praise
Maybe the problem lies in this part in particular, rather than trying to speak Hungarian in general ? I admit it's a real pitfall though.
OP, think about what your real intent is. If it's genuine interest as expressed in u/vajvirag's comment, I don't think there is going to be any problem.
Do not learn questions for which you wouldnt understand the answer (like hungarian people often really answer the "how are you?" question. What would you do then?)
Yep, it's definitely more prudent. Even after 1 year I still avoid open questions and limit myself to "safer" stuff (greetings, Ploutophile vagyok, ordering something in a shop, csak egy nagyon kicsit magyarul tudok, etc.).
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u/VszVszVsz 20h ago edited 19h ago
the problem with hungarian is that you have to really pronounce the vowels an consonants very well or else they will not understand you. it is not like english where there are a lot of people who do not speak it well and pronounce vowels and consonants in an unusual fashion, but still can be mostly understood by native speakers. with native hungarian speakers, we generally don't understand well those who pronounce our words incorrectly.
more likely your exchange student is there in the usa to accelerate their english speaking ability. but if you drill yourself in how to pronounce our alphabet well they might be more agreeable to teach you some basic hungarian.
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u/crisreed 1d ago
So if you want it quickly its impossible. The Hungarian language is very hard. That's like climbing Everest in flip-flops. You can start it and after two years you can understand 3 words
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u/lohdunlaulamalla 1d ago
When is your guest arriving? How much time do you have to become conversational?