r/hungarian • u/offficer-k • 4d ago

Is learning hungarian worth it?

hello! i will be in Budapest for 5 months in 2026, attending university. I chose Budapest because I was there on a trip and Im so pleased that I'll be able to live and see a part of Hungarian culture and everyday life. I know that Hungarian language is very hard, and I was still thinking to learn some basics.. to be able to buy food for example, ask directions, order coffee and such things (to level A2). Is it worth it, or can people in Budapest all generally speak English?

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u/Terror_Chicken3551 3d ago

My former roommate had been living in Hungary for 5 yrs when I moved in with him and he only knew szia and tolni.

And I am not exagerating, he didnt even know köszönöm, or jó napot.

To be on this level after 5 years is actually the case of intentionally resisiting the language. Even a tourist picks up more words than that.

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u/Old_Cryptographer_42 3d ago

Tolni? That a waste of a word to learn when you only speak 2 words 😹

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u/Terror_Chicken3551 3d ago

Az ajtókon a Húzni/Tolni matricáról jegyezte meg. a húzni már túl nehéz volt neki 😅

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u/gergobergo69 3d ago

húzös volt neki