hé
[ˈheː]
The English phrase hey is translated into Hungarian as hé.
hé is an informal interjection used to grab someone's attention or to express surprise, much like the English hey. It is used to get someone to look or listen to you.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While hé is used to grab attention, it is not a standard greeting like hello. It is more of an exclamation to get someone to look or listen.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The greeting Szervusz! is more commonly used in Budapest and Western Hungary compared to other regions.
Did you know?
- Some linguistic theories suggest that the Hungarian hé may have roots in the Hebrew word הא, showing an ancient connection between the languages.
- In certain rural Hungarian dialects, a long, drawn-out hééé can be used as a signal to a farmer or worker that a vehicle is approaching or that a task should be paused.
- In much of Hungary, if you want to be friendly when grabbing attention, you should add a name or a title immediately after hé, otherwise it sounds like a bark.
Examples in context
- Hé, mi a baj?Hey, what's wrong?This sentence shows how to use hé when asking what is wrong.Tatoeba #10897495 by H_Liliom, translation #3575363 by CK
- Hé te, ki vagy?Hey, who are you?This sentence demonstrates using hé to address someone when asking who they are.Tatoeba #9769395 by Cabo, translation #2951875 by CK
- Hé te, gyere ide!Hey you, come here!This sentence illustrates using hé to call someone's attention to come closer.Tatoeba #9978702 by Cabo, translation #9976696 by Nylez
- 48 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zoltán sees Éva walking toward him in the park.
- ZoltánHé, Éva! Szia!Hey, Éva! Hi!
- ÉvaSzia, Zoltán! Hogy vagy?Hi, Zoltán! How are you?
- ZoltánJól vagyok, köszönöm.I am well, thank you.
- ÉvaÉn is jól vagyok.I am well too.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
