Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tetszel nekem | informal | |
| ön tetszik nekem | [ˈøn ˈtɛt͡sːik ˈnɛkɛm] (word by word, narrow) | formal, rare |
| bejössz nekem |
This phrase is used to express general liking, whether you are referring to someone's appearance, their personality or even an idea. Note that if you want to express deep romantic or emotional love, you would use Szeretlek instead. To say someone is likeable, Hungarians also commonly use the adjective szimpatikus.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tetszel nekem literally translates to "you are pleasing to me". In this construction, tetszel is the second-person singular form of the verb tetszik, which means "to be pleasing".
Which one should you use?
While tetszel nekem is the standard way to express general liking, the slang expression bejössz nekem is used in a more casual and often flirtatious context to imply that someone is "your type" or particularly appealing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
tetszel nekem is the informal version. For a formal situation, you can use ön tetszik nekem, though this is considered rare. The term bejössz nekem is colloquial slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase tetszel nekem, the person being liked is actually the grammatical subject of the sentence, rather than the person who is doing the liking.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to say tetszek nekem. This is a common mistake for English speakers and would nonsensically mean "I am pleasing to myself".
Did you know?
- The word szimpatikus is used to describe a likeable person, but unlike the English 'sympathetic', it refers to being pleasant or agreeable.
- The formal word for 'you' used in ön tetszik nekem was originally the prefix for 'self-'. It was introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries to mimic the polite 'Sie' in German.
- The formal address ön tetszik nekem is so rare in romantic or personal liking that using it can make the speaker sound unnaturally stiff or ironic.
Examples in context
- Tetszel nekem.I like you.Tatoeba #6730538 by bandeirante, translation #410751 by CK
- Nagyon tetszel nekem.I like you very much.Tatoeba #1496553 by senga, translation #257095 by CK
- Nagyon kedvelem a társaságodat.I really like being around you.
- Tetszel nekem, te nagyon kedves vagy.I like you, you are very kind.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tamás and Anna are on their first date.
- TamásSzerintem nagyon kedves vagy, tetszel nekem.I think you are very kind, I like you.
- AnnaKösztöm, te is nagyon tetszel nekem.Thank you, I like you very much too.
- TamásSzeretnék újra találkozni veled.I would like to meet you again.
- AnnaÉn is nagyon szeretnék!I would love to as well!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I like you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ön, tetszik, nekem) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tetszel, tetszik, ön, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
