nem, köszönöm
[ˈnɛm ˈkøsønøm]word by word
In Hungarian, 'no, thank you' is said as nem, köszönöm.
This phrase is used as a polite way to decline an offer or a request.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nem, which means 'no' and köszönöm, which means 'I thank (you)'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The standard nem, köszönöm is polite and suitable for both formal and informal situations. For a more formal approach, you can use Ne haragudjon, köszönöm, de nem, which translates to 'I'm sorry, thank you, but no.'. In informal settings, you can use Kösz, de nem. or the slightly shorter Nem, kösz. A colloquial variation is Nem, köszi.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word köszönöm is the first-person singular form of the verb köszön, meaning 'I thank'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use ne instead of nem when trying to say 'no'.
Did you know?
- In very formal settings, instead of just saying 'no', Hungarians often use the phrase Ne haragudjon, which literally means 'Do not be angry (with me)'.
- Even though nem is the direct translation for 'no', it shares a deep ancestral root with words for 'nothing' and 'nowhere' in other Finno-Ugric languages.
- Hungarian grammar embeds the person saying the phrase directly into the word köszönöm via the suffix -öm, making the word 'I' redundant.
Examples in context
- Kösz, de nem. Nagyon finom volt!Thank you, but no. It was delicious!
- Ne haragudjon, köszönöm, de nem érek rá aznap.I'm sorry, thank you, but I'm not available that day.
- Nem, köszi! A közelben van egy jó kis bolt, szeretek sétálni.No, thanks! There's a good little store nearby, and I enjoy walking.
- Nem, köszönöm, nincs szükségem rá.No, thank you, I don't need it.
Example conversation
László offers Éva a piece of cake.
- LászlóSzeretnél egy szelet tortát, Éva?Would you like a slice of cake, Éva?
- ÉvaNem, köszönöm, László, már nagyon tizedem.No, thank you, László, I am already very full.
- LászlóBiztos vagy benne?Are you sure?
- ÉvaIgen, nem, köszönöm.Yes, no, thank you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (nem, köszönöm) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries köszönöm, nem, CC BY-SA 4.0.
