Everything You Need To Learn Hungarian

Everything You Need To Learn Hungarian

Hungarian, also known as “Magyar”, is a Uralic language spoken by some 13 million people. It is part of the Finno-Ugric language group, along with Finnish and Estonian, and is related to Mansi and Khanty, spoken in western Siberia.

Hungarian is not related to its geographic neighbours, which include Romanian, Slovakian, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian. This is because the Magyar people originated from another area, around the Ural mountains, before migrating south and west into their current territory.

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Hungarian is considered to be a difficult language for English speakers to learn. In addition to its distant origin, it has several grammatical features that are alien to most European languages, such as the infamous case system.

The good news is, though Hungarian learning resources aren’t as plentiful as those for other European languages, there are enough out there to help you get started.

Hungarian Language Learning Books

A good Hungarian course/study book is an essential part of your language learning library. These will help you understand the basics, and get you started using grammatically correct Hungarian from the outset. You’ll also learn how to build your own Hungarian sentences, and will be introduced to common phrases and vocabulary to help you along.

You won’t get far without a concise English-Hungarian dictionary, either. A good dictionary will make it easier for you to explore your new language’s unique vocabulary, and see how the words are used in different contexts.

Due to Hungarian’s infamous grammar rules, it might also be worth picking up an extra Hungarian grammar book that goes into detail on the subject. More understanding can’t hurt.

Finally, if you have trouble remembering Hungarian words, a Hungarian word search or crossword puzzle book could be just the thing you need. You’ll pick up a bunch of new vocabulary in a fun way, and it won’t even feel like work.

Hungarian Children’s Books

Reading Hungarian books written for children is an excellent way to improve your language skills and stay motivated during the process. You’ll be introduced to lots of different vocabulary in a friendly, easy-to-follow way, which will make you more likely to retain what you learn.

Many of the Hungarian kids’ books you see on this list are useful in that they come with dual English and Hungarian text that you can compare as you go. This means that reading won’t be a chore, as you can check the meaning of words as you go, without constantly grabbing a dictionary.

Hungarian Fiction

Once you’re comfortable reading Hungarian kids’ books, it’s usually time to move on to something a little more challenging. Hungarian books written for older, more advanced readers are the perfect stepping stone.

You’ll be introduced to more complex vocabulary, tone and sentence structure, and give your overall Hungarian language skills a major boost.

Hungarian Movies & TV Shows

Watching Hungarian TV shows and/or movies is a great way to immerse yourself in the language, while also picking up new words and phrases you might not get from other sources.

Movies with Hungarian language dubbing are excellent for learning Hungarian pronunciation and intonation, and will give you a good idea of the kind of dialogue used in everyday conversations.

You’re also more likely to remember Hungarian words if you’ve heard and seen them used in context.

Hungarian Digital Courses

If you want to go beyond the scope of physical resources like books, and make fast progress with your Hungarian language learning, Hungarian e-courses that focus on audiovisual teaching make for a good alternative.

A Hungarian digital course that uses audio and/or videos to teach the language are great for those who want to start speaking quickly, and prefer to learn things like grammar and sentence structure in a more organic way.

Udemy offers a Hungarian course that uses videos to teach all the essentials, and is suitable for absolute beginners. You’ll get lifetime access to the course and future updates, plus you’ll be able to use it on any device, from anywhere in the world.

HUNGARIAN UDEMY COURSES

Udemy Hungarian