jó étvágyat
[ˈjoːeːtvaːɟɒt]
In Hungarian, "enjoy your meal" is said as jó étvágyat.
Jó étvágyat is a polite phrase used to wish someone well right before they start eating. It is suitable for both formal and informal settings, such as in a restaurant or when visiting a friend's house.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "good appetite" in the accusative case.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for appetite, étvágy, uses the accusative suffix -at because the phrase implies the wish "I wish you a good appetite".
When do people say it?
When someone says Jó étvágyat! to you, you should respond politely. If you are in a formal situation, say Köszönöm, Önnek is! (Thank you, to you too!). If you are in an informal situation, you can say Köszönöm, neked is! (Thank you, to you too!).
Did you know?
- In Hungary, it is common to say jó étvágyat even to strangers when passing them in a cafeteria or a public dining area.
- While jó étvágyat is the standard greeting, some traditionalists believe it is impolite to say it if the host has not yet sat down to eat.
- The word étvágy is a compound of ét (the root of 'to eat') and vágy (which means 'desire' or 'longing').
Examples in context
- – Jó étvágyat! – Köszönöm. Önnek is!"Enjoy your meal." "Thanks, you too."This example shows a common exchange where someone responds to the wish with jó étvágyat by saying "Thanks, you too! ".Tatoeba #10736383 by Cabo, translation #10671292 by espamatics
- Jó étvágyat!Enjoy your meal!This is a simple way to use jó étvágyat to wish someone an enjoyable meal.Tatoeba #654227 by mraz, translation #2370 by CK
- Jó étvágyat kívánok!I wish you an enjoyable meal!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zoltán and Katalin are having lunch together at a cafe.
- ZoltánKatalin, jó étvágyat!Katalin, enjoy your meal!
- KatalinKöszönöm szépen, Zoltán!Thank you very much, Zoltán!
- ZoltánNeked is jó étvágyat!Enjoy your meal too!
- KatalinKöszönöm, nagyon finom az étel.Thank you, the food is very delicious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry jó étvágyat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
