jó étvágyat
[ˈjoːeːtvaːɟɒt]
The Hungarian phrase for "bon appetit" is jó étvágyat.
jó étvágyat is the standard, polite way to wish someone an enjoyable meal in Hungarian.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "good appetite". The word jó means "good" and étvágyat is the accusative form of étvágy, which means "appetite".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the accusative case ending -t on the noun étvágy, which is standard when expressing a wish for something.
When do people say it?
In Hungarian culture, it is customary to wait for the host or the person who prepared the meal to start eating before you begin. It is also considered polite to acknowledge the food before you with a phrase such as jó étvágyat to express gratitude and respect.
Did you know?
- The word jó shares an ancient root with the Northern Mansi word 'jomas', meaning 'good' or 'nice', linking it to distant Uralic linguistic relatives.
- The word étvágy is a compound of étel, meaning 'food', and vágy, meaning 'desire' or 'longing'.
- In very formal settings or traditional settings, it is common to respond to jó étvágyat with a simple 'Köszönöm' ('Thank you'), rather than wishing the same back if you are the one being served.
Examples in context
- Jó étvágyat, kedvesem!Enjoy your meal, my dear!
Example conversation
László and Zsófia are sitting down at a restaurant.
- LászlóKészen állsz már?Are you ready yet?
- ZsófiaIgen, nagyon éhes vagyok.Yes, I am very hungry.
- LászlóAkkor jó étvágyat!Then, enjoy your meal!
- ZsófiaKöszönöm szépen, László.Thank you very much, László.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry jó étvágyat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jó, étvágyat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
