Greetings

The first words you'll use every single day — say hello, goodbye, please, and thank you like a Hungarian!

✨ Cool fact: Hungarian has two ways to say "you" — a casual one for friends and family, and a formal one for adults and strangers. The greetings change slightly depending on which one you use!

👋 Saying Hello

Szia!

Hi! / Bye!

💡 The most common greeting between friends. Fun fact — it means both hello AND goodbye!

Szervusz!

Hello! / Goodbye!

💡 A slightly more old-fashioned version of szia. Still used a lot!

Jó reggelt!

Good morning!

💡 Use this until about 9 or 10 in the morning.

Jó napot!

Good day!

💡 A polite hello you can use during the daytime with adults or strangers.

Jó estét!

Good evening!

💡 Use this when the sun goes down.

🚪 Saying Goodbye

Viszlát!

Goodbye!

💡 The standard way to say goodbye — works in most situations.

Viszontlátásra!

Goodbye! (formal)

💡 The long, polite version. You'd say this to a teacher or someone you don't know well.

Jó éjszakát!

Good night!

💡 Say this before going to bed or leaving late at night.

Szia!

Bye!

💡 Yes, szia again! Hungarians use it for both hello and bye with friends.

🙏 Being Polite

Köszönöm!

Thank you!

💡 The standard way to say thanks.

Köszi!

Thanks!

💡 The casual short version — like saying 'cheers' or 'ta'.

Szívesen!

You're welcome!

💡 What you say when someone thanks you.

Kérem!

Please! / Here you go!

💡 Use it when asking for something politely, or when handing something to someone.

Elnézést!

Excuse me! / Sorry!

💡 Use this to get someone's attention or to apologise for a small thing.

Bocsánat!

Sorry!

💡 A stronger apology than elnézést — use when you really mean it!

😊 Asking How Someone Is

Hogy vagy?

How are you?

💡 The everyday way to ask a friend how they're doing.

Hogy van?

How are you? (formal)

💡 The polite version — use with teachers or adults you don't know well.

Jól vagyok!

I'm well!

💡 The happy answer!

Nem vagyok jól.

I'm not well.

💡 For when you're having a rough day.

Köszönöm, jól!

Fine, thank you!

💡 A complete, polite response.

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