Hungarian language learning - online, magyar nyelvtanulás - online

In Hungarian, we have many international words. Today, we are focusing on the names of food, fruit and drinks. I’m sure many of these words will be familiar to you. Perhaps the Hungarian pronunciation is a little different, but it’s good to know that there are some familiar words in Hungarian — and these are some of the most useful ones, because everybody needs to eat and drink!
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Please comment YES or IGEN if you had problems with these words, and NO or NEM if you didn’t.
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How do Hungarians say "Cheers"? 🥂
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Not with one short word, that's for sure. 😄
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As a Hungarian language coach, I often tell my students that Hungarian is much more logical than its reputation suggests.
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Yes, Hungarian has many long words — but these words often follow clear patterns. Once you start recognising these patterns, Hungarian becomes much less frightening and much easier to learn.
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Today's example comes from a word you'll hear at every Hungarian dinner table, family gathering, wedding, or celebration.
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Watch the video and see if you can spot the pattern.
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And don't forget to answer the question I asked in the video, namely, which word is easier for YOU to remember: EGÉSZSÉGEDRE, EGÉSZSÉGÜNKRE or EGÉSZSÉGETEKRE?
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Tonight, the Champions League football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal was played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
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The UK and French ambassadors, Justin McKenzie Smith and Jonathan Lacôte, introduced their teams together to the Hungarian audience in Hungarian.
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Do you understand what they are saying?

In English, “How are you?” can be just a polite greeting.
In Hungarian, Hogy vagy? is a real invitation to talk. 😄
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In this video, I explain why this simple question can easily turn into a much longer conversation in Hungarian.

What would you do if someone in Hungary asked you: Hogy vagy?
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Write your answer in the comments.

🎥 Hungarian expressions are funny sometimes…
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Have you ever heard this?
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👉 Megy minden, mint a karikacsapás.
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Literally, it sounds something like:
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👉 Everything is going like the crack (hit, strike) of a hoop.
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Yes, I know… it sounds strange in English. 😄
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But in Hungarian it means:

✅ Everything is going smoothly.
✅ Everything is going really well.
✅ Everything is working without problems.
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For example:
A: Na és hogy haladsz az új munkával?
B: Képzeld, megy minden, mint a karikacsapás!
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Meaning:
A: So, how are you getting on with your new job?
B: Believe it or not, everything is going really smoothly!
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Do you think learning Hungarian can also go smoothly — like “karikacsapás”?
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Write your opinion in the comments!

Did you know that showing numbers with your fingers can be surprisingly different in Hungary? 🇭🇺

For Hungarians, it feels completely natural because from early childhood we learn to show numbers this way with our fingers — just like in the video.

But I realised that in other countries people often use different fingers for the same numbers!

For example:
👆 In Hungary we usually start counting with the thumb.
And some numbers are shown differently from what many English speakers are used to.

I might be wrong, but I think some of these finger combinations may be quite uniquely Hungarian.

👉 Do you show the numbers 1–10 the same way in your country?
👉 Which number looks the strangest to you?

Write it in the comments! 👇

This is a phone conversation about the arrival of Peti, a mutual friend.
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If you watch the video and the translation carefully, you may notice that not everything is translated word for word — but that is not the most important thing in language learning.
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Conveying the meaning is much more important than giving an exact literal translation. Literal translations can often sound quite funny, and your conversation partner may not even understand them.
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I also mentioned a nickname in the video: Peti.
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Hungarians often use nicknames when addressing each other.
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Do you know which name Peti is a nickname for?
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If you do, write it in the comments.

When you learn a new language, sometimes your brain knows the word… but your mouth says, “No, thank you!” 😄
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That’s why tongue twisters are so useful.
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They help your mouth practise new sounds, new rhythms, and new combinations.
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In Hungarian, we have this one:
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Sárga bögre, görbe bögre.
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It means:
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yellow mug, crooked mug.
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It sounds simple… until you try to say it quickly!
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Sárga bögre, görbe bögre…
Sárga bögre, görbe bögre…
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See? Your mouth has to work!
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And this is exactly why tongue twisters help you improve your pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.
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So now it’s your turn:
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Can you say Sárga bögre, görbe bögre five times fast?
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Try it — and tell me how it went!

In this video, I’m talking about Mother’s Day in Hungary, because in Hungary it is celebrated on the first Sunday of May.
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Isten éltesse sokáig az édesanyákat!
May all mothers be blessed with a long life!
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Have you noticed? I said édesanya.
Not just anya, but édesanya.
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If I translate it literally, it means something like sweet mother or dear mother. It is a beautiful and affectionate way to refer to our mothers in Hungarian.
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Unfortunately, this word is slowly fading from everyday speech, but we can still hear it very often in poems, songs, and on special occasions.
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So, what other words can we use for “mother” in Hungarian?
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Here are a few:
anya – mother / mum
anyu – mum / mummy
anyuka – mummy / dear mum
anyuci - mummy
édesanya – dear (sweet) mother
mama – mum / mama
mami – mummy / mum
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I usually called my mother anyu or anya.
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To me, all these words are beautiful. What about you?
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Which Hungarian word for “mother” do you like best?
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What would you call your mother in Hungarian?