Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA |
|---|---|
| jó éjszakát | [ˈjoːeːjsɒkaːt] (narrow) |
| jó éjszakát kívánok | [ˈjoːjeːjsɒkaːt ˌkiːvaːnok] (narrow) |
This phrase is used specifically as a farewell when someone is going to sleep or leaving for the night, not as a greeting upon meeting someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective jó (good) and the accusative form of the noun éjszaka (night).
Which one should you use?
Jó éjszakát is the shortened, more common version of the phrase, while jó éjszakát kívánok is the full, grammatically complete version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The full phrase jó éjszakát kívánok is more formal and polite than the clipped jó éjszakát. For a formal way to say "sleep well", you can use Aludjon jól.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word for night ends in -át because it is the direct object of the implied verb kívánok (I wish).
When do people say it?
When saying good night to someone you care about, you can use Jó éjszakát és pihenést to mean "good night and rest well". Other common expressions include Szép álmokat for "sweet dreams" and the formal Aludjon jól for "sleep well".
Did you know?
- The root of jó is traced back to Proto-Ugric, meaning it shares a common ancestor with languages spoken by the Mansi people of Siberia.
- While English speakers use 'good night' as a farewell, Hungarian has a specific phrase szép álmokat which literally translates to 'beautiful dreams'.
- When using the polite form Aludjon jól, the verb 'aludjon' is actually in the imperative mood, meaning 'may you sleep well'.
Examples in context
- Jó éjszakát kívánok neki.I wish her a good night.This example shows how to use the phrase with the third person singular/feminine.Tatoeba #651029 by Aleksandro40, translation #457130 by FeuDRenais
- Jó éjszakát kívántam neki.I wished him a good night.This example shows how to use the phrase in the past tense.Tatoeba #638518 by szaby78, translation #457127 by FeuDRenais
- Megyek aludni. Jó éjszakát!I'm going to bed. Good night.This example shows the phrase used as a short farewell after stating an intention to sleep.Tatoeba #7706374 by felvideki, translation #2496951 by CK
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Éva and László are going to bed.
- ÉvaMár nagyon álmos vagyok.I am already very sleepy.
- LászlóÉn is, László megy aludni.Me too, László is going to sleep.
- ÉvaJó éjszakát kívánok!Good night!
- LászlóKöszönöm, neked is jó éjszakát!Thank you, good night to you too!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations and entries jó éjszakát, jó éjszakát kívánok, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
