Ways to say it
| Hungarian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| köszönöm | [ˈkøsønøm] (narrow) | |
| köszi | [ˈkøsi] (narrow) | informal |
The words are used to express appreciation or gratitude. To say 'thank you very much' in a formal context, you can use Köszönöm szépen or Nagyon köszönöm, which adds emphasis. In formal situations, you can also say Köszönöm a kedvességét to mean 'thank you for your kindness'. For informal settings, Köszi szépen is an informal version of thanks that adds a warmer tone, while Nagyon köszi means 'thanks a lot' or 'thanks so much'.
Which one should you use?
köszönöm is the standard, polite way to say 'thanks' or 'thank you' and is suitable for both formal and neutral situations. In contrast, köszi is a shortened, colloquial version used primarily with friends and family.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
köszönöm is the standard, polite form suitable for formal or neutral settings. köszi is an informal, shortened version. For extra emphasis in formal contexts, use Köszönöm szépen or Nagyon köszönöm and for a warmer tone in informal contexts, use Köszi szépen.
Related words
When do people say it?
If a Hungarian person says köszönöm to you, it is polite to respond with Szívesen, which is the most common response and literally means 'gladly'.
Did you know?
- The verb root in köszönöm is related to the word for 'greeting'. In Hungarian, the act of thanking someone and the act of greeting someone share the same linguistic origin.
- The response Szívesen comes from the word szív, meaning 'heart'. Literally, when someone says Szívesen, they are saying they do it 'heartily' or 'from the heart'.
- Unlike English, where 'thanks' is a noun, the Hungarian köszönöm is a complete sentence acting as a verb phrase, meaning 'I thank [you]'.
Examples in context
- Köszönöm a jó tanácsot.Thanks for the good advice!This sentence is useful for thanking someone for advice using köszönöm.Tatoeba #702273 by Aleksandro40, translation #544091 by FeuDRenais
- Köszönöm, hogy itt vagy.Thanks for being here.This sentence is useful for thanking someone for their presence using köszönöm.Tatoeba #4368748 by bandeirante, translation #2646533 by CK
- Köszönöm, nem! Nem iszom.No thanks, I don't drink.This sentence is useful for declining something politely using köszönöm.Tatoeba #9687207 by maaster, translation #6330103 by astru
- 153 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gábor gives Zsófia a glass of water.
- ZsófiaKöszönöm a vizet, Gábor!Thanks for the water, Gábor!
- GáborSzívesen, Zsófia!You're welcome, Zsófia!
- ZsófiaNagyon szomjas voltam.I was very thirsty.
- GáborRendben, egészségre!Alright, cheers!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thanks” translations and entries köszönöm, köszi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
