Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| köszönöm | [ˈkøsønøm] (narrow) | first person, singular |
| köszönjük | [ˈkøsøɲːyk] (narrow) | first person, plural |
The term is an expression of gratitude. To say "Thank you very much," you can use Köszönöm szépen or Nagyon szépen köszönöm. For an informal "Thanks," use Köszi. If you wish to thank someone informally for their help, you can say Nagyon köszönöm a segítségedet.
What does it mean word for word?
The word köszönöm is a verb in the first-person singular conjugation, meaning "I thank (you)".
Which one should you use?
The form köszönöm is the first-person singular, used when only one person is expressing gratitude. Use the plural form köszönjük if you are speaking on behalf of a group of people (we thank you).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Köszi is an informal way to say "Thanks". Adding szépen (which literally means "beautifully") to köszönöm to create Köszönöm szépen makes the expression more polite and formal.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use köszönöm when a single person is the subject expressing thanks, and use köszönjük for the first-person plural when a group is speaking.
When do people say it?
When someone says köszönöm, a common and polite way to respond with "You're welcome" or "With pleasure" is Szívesen. In informal situations, you can also respond with Nincs mit, which means "It's nothing" or "You're welcome".
Did you know?
- The response Szívesen comes from the word szív, meaning 'heart'. When you say 'you are welcome', you are literally saying you did the favor 'willingly' or 'from the heart'.
- The word köszönöm is closely related to the verb köszön, which can also mean 'to greet' or 'to say hello'. In some contexts, the act of thanking and the act of greeting are linguistically linked.
- If you are at a dinner table and want to express that you are full, you can use the same root word as 'thank you' to say you have finished your meal.
Examples in context
- – Köszönöm! – Nincs mit."Thank you!" "You're welcome."This sentence shows a common exchange of thanks and a response.Tatoeba #2174440 by Aleksandro40, translation #5170317 by tabular
- Nem, köszönöm. Már ettem.No, thank you. I already ate.This example shows how to use the phrase to decline an offer.Tatoeba #8321228 by jegaevi, translation #5057521 by AlanF_US
- Köszönöm, már tele vagyok.I'm already full, thank you.This example shows how to use the phrase to express that you are full.Tatoeba #3977692 by felvideki, translation #586899 by Shoyren
- 153 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anna gives a book to Gábor.
- AnnaItt a könyv, amit kértél.Here is the book you asked for.
- GáborNagyon köszönöm, Anna!Thank you very much, Anna!
- AnnaSzívesen, Gábor.You're welcome, Gábor.
- GáborNagyon örülök neki.I am very happy with it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries köszönöm, köszönjük, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
