Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| венге́рский язы́к | vengérskij jazýk | masculine |
| венге́рский | vengérskij | masculine |
| мадья́рский язы́к | madʹjárskij jazýk | masculine |
You can use the adjective венге́рский on its own to mean 'Hungarian'. If you wish to be more explicit and formal when referring specifically to the language, you can use the phrase венге́рский язы́к.
Which one should you use?
венге́рский is the standard and most common way to refer to both the Hungarian language and anything related to Hungary. In contrast, мадья́рский is a more formal or specialized term often used in ethnographic or historical contexts to refer specifically to the Magyar people or their language.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
венге́рский and мадья́рский are masculine adjectives. When referring to the language specifically, you may use the masculine noun phrase венге́рский язы́к or мадья́рский язы́к.
How do you pronounce it?
vengérskij
Did you know?
- In Russian, the adjective венге́рский is used for everything from the language to 'Hungarian goulash' венге́рский гуляш, whereas мадья́рский would almost never be used to describe food.
- The word язы́к meaning 'language' also means 'tongue' in Russian. If someone says they are learning венге́рский язы́к, they are literally referring to the 'Hungarian tongue'.
- The distinction between венге́рский and мадья́рский mirrors a common historical tension between the political state of Hungary and the ethnic identity of the Magyars.
Examples in context
- Я изучаю венгерский язык.I am learning Hungarian.
- Моя подруга – венгрка.My friend is Hungarian (female).
- Я немного понимаю венге́рский.Ya nemnogo ponimayu vengerskiy.I understand a little Hungarian.
- Он изучает венге́рский в университете.On izuchayet vengerskiy v universitete.He is studying Hungarian at the university.
- Венге́рский звучит очень необычно.Vengerskiy zvuchit ochen' neobychno.Hungarian sounds very unusual.
Example conversation
Alexander and Ekaterina are talking about their language skills.
- Александр AleksandrКатя, ты говоришь по-венге́рски?Katya, ty govorish po-vengerski?Katya, do you speak Hungarian?
- Екатерина EkaterinaНет, но я хочу выучить венге́рский.Net, no ya khochu vyuchit' vengerskiy.No, but I want to learn Hungarian.
- Александр AleksandrЭто будет очень трудно.Eto budet ochen' trudno.That will be very difficult.
- Екатерина EkaterinaЯ знаю, но венге́рский мне нравится.Ya znayu, no vengerskiy mne nravitsya.I know, but I like Hungarian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hungarian” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
