How to Say “You” in Hungarian

Ways to say it

The word "you" functions as a subject pronoun to address the person being spoken to. Hungarian distinguishes between singular and plural "you". The related verbs magáz and önöz describe the act of addressing someone using the more formal second-person pronouns.

Which one should you use?

The forms are distinguished by their level of formality and grammatical role. te is the singular, informal pronoun used for friends, family, children and anyone you are on a first-name basis with. ön is the formal singular subject pronoun. maga is often used as a reflexive pronoun meaning "yourself" in formal speech, though it can also be used before epithets for emphasis. In contrast to these singular forms, the plural "you" is expressed by the pronoun ti.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

te is the informal way to say "you". For formal situations, you should use ön or the zero-marker -∅ to denote formal address. In formal speech, maga serves as a reflexive form meaning "yourself".

Is it said differently in some regions?

In parts of Eastern Hungary, the word öreg is used as a familiar address meaning "old chap" or "mate".

Related words

To address using the more formal second-person pronoun (verb): magáz, önöz.

Used before epithets for emphasis (det): te, maga.

How does it change in a sentence?

Hungarian distinguishes between the singular "you" (using te or ön) and the plural "you" (using ti).

What mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid using te when addressing elders or superiors, as English speakers often mistakenly use this informal form in those contexts. Doing so can be perceived as rude or overly familiar in Hungarian culture.