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By Jam Ham
Szervusztok and welcome to Language of the Month! Each month, we will be showcasing a language, some history surrounding the language, and a little fun fact. Each LotM article will also come with a set of fun and useful phrases to use in that language!
Our very first LotM is Hungarian! Known as magyar nyelv among speakers of the language, Hungarian is a Uralic language primarily spoken in Hungary, where it is also an official language. It is also spoken by notable populations in other bordering countries such as Romania (primarily in Transylvania).
Hungarian used to use a runic writing system written from right to left which is thought to be derived from the Old Turkic alphabet that was used around Mongolia. Speakers of the language eventually adapted a Latin-based alphabet in the 11th century, and throughout the decades it underwent a series of changes in its spelling conventions to become the alphabet it is today.
Did you know?
Many are quick to note Hungarian’s use of very long words; this is due to Hungarian’s agglutinative grammar which allows it to string several units of information as suffixes to a root word. Take the word áteresztőképesség for example, which means “permeability” or “throughput”—it combines the words áteresztő and képesség, “letting through” and “ability” respectively, which in turn are individually made up of even more components!
Here are some phrases in Hungarian:
• Good morning! — Jó reggelt!
• Good afternoon! — Jó napot!
• Good evening! — Jó estét!
• Where is the bathroom? — Hol van a mosdó?
• Happy birthday! — Boldog születésnapot!
• Thanks! — Köszi!
• I love you! — Szeretlek!
• Have a nice day! — Szép napot!
• Goodbye! — Szia!/ Viszlát!/ Viszontlátásra!
• How are you? (friendly) — Hogy vagy?
About Jam Ham
22-year-old Filipino-American and enthusiast in linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, and historical linguistics. Speaks English and Tagalog, and is learning French at the moment. Likes hiking and traveling and would like to explore other countries someday.