Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA |
|---|---|
| jó utat kívánok | |
| jó utat | [ˈjoːutɒt] (narrow) |
These phrases are used to wish someone a good journey or a safe trip.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase jó utat literally means 'good journey', where jó is 'good' and utat is the accusative form of út, meaning 'way', 'road' or 'journey'.
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often use the French loanword 'bon voyage', Hungarians use the native phrase jó utat to express the same sentiment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Jó utat kívánok is a polite and more formal way to express the sentiment, making it suitable for professional settings or for people you do not know well. You can also use Jó utat Önnek! for a formal address, or Minden jót a kiránduláshoz! as a formal way to say 'all the best for your trip'. For informal situations, you might say Érezd jól magad az úton! to mean 'enjoy yourself on the journey'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The full phrase jó utat kívánok includes the verb kívánok, which means 'I wish'.
Did you know?
- The Hungarian word út for 'road' or 'journey' is a linguistic relative of the Finnish word joki and Estonian jõgi, which both mean 'river'.
- The verb kívánok in the polite phrase jó utat kívánok is not just a static word for 'wish', but it contains a built-in suffix that identifies the speaker as 'I'.
- In Hungarian, the word út is used not only for physical paths or travel, but also to describe the abstract 'journey' of a person's life.
Examples in context
- Jó utat Péter! Minden jót a csodálatos Olaszországban!Have a good journey, Peter! All the best in beautiful Italy!
- Jó utat kívánok a családnak!I wish the family a good journey!
- Jó utat kívánok a nyaralásra!I wish you a good journey for your holiday!
- Jó utat kívánok neked és a családodnak.I wish you and your family a good journey.
Example conversation
Zsófia is saying goodbye to Gábor at the airport.
- ZsófiaMár itt a repülőgép, Gábor!The plane is already here, Gábor!
- GáborIgen, ideje elmennem.Yes, it is time for me to go.
- ZsófiaSziasztok, jó utat kívánok!Goodbye, I wish you a good journey!
- GáborKöszönöm szépen, Zsófia!Thank you very much, Zsófia!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon voyage” translations and entries jó utat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jó, jó utat, kívánok, utat, CC BY-SA 4.0.
