de

For the adverbial use, compare Polish ale.

Nem voltál itt! – De ott voltam.

(oh) yes!, surely! (used as a positive contradiction to a negative statement)


mind

mind a magánéletben, mind a munkában


h

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of hogy (“that”).


ha

Lexicalization of the h- stem of hogy + -á (lative case suffix). The original form was probably há, where the ending later shortened to -a.

ha a hegy nem megy Mohamedhez, Mohamed megy a hegyhez

ha nincs otthon a macska, cincognak az egerek

if (introducing a conditional clause; often coupled with akkor (“then”))

Ha meglátod a parkot, fordulj jobbra.


mint

Lexicalization of mi (“what?”) + -n (case suffix) + -t (locative suffix).

af

a hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát

jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok

A kastély nagyobb, mint a kutyaház.

The castle is bigger than the dog-house.

(comparison of things with a quality present at different degrees) than

Olyan nagy a házam, mint a tiéd.

(comparison of things with a quality present at the same degree) as …… as

Olyan ez a ház, mint egy kastély.

(comparison of things with some similar quality) like

Mint mondtam, ő nem tud ma eljönni.

(somewhat formal, pointing at a comparable feature at a different instance) as

János mint zsűritag vett részt az eseményen.

János took part in the event as a member of the jury.

(stating someone's capacity in a situation) as


ahogy

Úgy tett, ahogy mondták.

ahogy megérkezett


hol

Hol itt, hol ott bukkant ki egy delfin a vízből.

Sometimes here, sometimes there, a dolphin would pop out of the water.

Mindig van valami: hol áramszünet, hol csőtörés.

There’s always something: either it’s a blackout or a burst pipe.

Hol volt, hol nem volt, volt egyszer egy király.

Once upon a time there was a king. (literally, “now there was, now there wasn’t…”)

now… now, sometimes… sometimes, either… or


sem

Julit sem láttam.

I didn’t see Juli, either. [aside from not having seen another person]

Én sem láttam Julit.

I didn’t see Juli, either. [aside from other people who haven't seen her]

Meg sem próbálta.


sem

Sem te, sem ő nem jöhettek velem.

néma gyereknek az anyja sem érti a szavát

koránt

used in the phrases korántsem, koránt sincs


meg

From Proto-Finno-Ugric *müŋä (“rear, beyond”). For a similar semantic development, see Finnish cognate myös (“also, too”). Of the same origin as mögött, mögé, and mögül.

Csak te meg én!

Három meg egy egyenlő néggyel.

plus (sum of the previous one and the following one)


hogy

From Proto-Uralic *kuńćɜ, from *ku (“interrogative stem”). Cognates include Komi-Zyrian кыдз (kydź, “how”), Eastern Mari кузе (kuze, “how”), perhaps Finnish konsa (“when”).

Látom, hogy itt vagy.

Láttam, hogy jössz.

I saw you coming. (literally, “I saw that you "are" coming.”)

Nem tudom, (hogy) akar-e jönni.

Nem tudom, (hogy) mikor akar jönni.

I don't know when s/he wants to come. (literally, “I don't know that when s/he wants to come.”)

(followed by indicative mood, used with -e or a question word, often omitted) if, whether (or not translated)

Mondtam neki, hogy maradjon otthon.

I told him/her to stay at home. (literally, “I told him/her that he/she stay [imperative] at home.”)

(followed by subjunctive/imperative mood, occasionally omitted) to (expressing imperative in reported speech)

Átmegyek a másik szobába, hogy ne zavarjalak.

I'll go to the other room so I don't disturb you.

Azért megyek át a másik szobába, hogy ne zavarjalak.

I'll go to the other room so that I don't disturb you.

(followed by subjunctive/imperative mood, optionally preceded by azért, abból a célból or avégett) so, so that, so as to, in order to, in order that (specifying the aim or goal of an action)


oszt

Shortened from aztán (“then”), often spelled with an apostrophe: oszt’.


és

From e (“this”).
Doublet of is (“too, even, again”).

Coordinate term: vagy


így

thus, as a result, hence, therefore, consequently (between a phrase and a conclusion of it)


ám

(introduces contradiction, used at the end of a phrase)

(higher register) but (indicates contradiction or restriction, like bár)


vagy

From the expression az vagyon (“that is”). Compare Polish bądź.

Coordinate term: és

Ez vagy az?

Vagy itt van, vagy ott.


mert

Shortened from meret, an obsolete variant of miért (“why”).

Coordinate term: (“the reason why”, optionally supplied in the focus position of the main clause) azért

Becsuktam az ablakot, mert fáztam. or Azért csuktam be az ablakot, mert fáztam.

I closed the window because I was cold. (literally, “The reason why I closed the window was that I was cold.”)

because (by or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason that)


bátor

Borrowed from a Turkic language before the times of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin (at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries). Compare Bashkir батыр (batır), Turkish bahadır, batur (“brave, hero”).
The sense although was split from the original sense, perhaps shortened from its inflected forms bátoron or bátran. First it probably had a permissive meaning: Bátoron (hadd) jöjjön! (“Let him/her [be brave enough to / bravely] come!”). Later an optative sense developed: Ó, bátoron jönne! (“Wish he/she would be brave to come!”), on the other hand it became a restrictive conjunction: Megjött, bátor késve. (“He/she arrived, although late.”) In all these functions it was superseded by its shortened form bár.


szintén

Lexicalization of the adverb szinte (“almost”) + -n (adverb-forming suffix).


mindazonáltal

nevertheless (in spite of what preceded)


bár

Shortened from the archaic adverb sense of bátor (“although, though”). Compare ámbátor, ámbár.


illetve

illet + -ve (adverbial-participle suffix)

affix

or, (occasionally) and (as the case may be, depending on the specific circumstances)

or rather, that is to say (making corrections to what one previously said)


stb.

Abbreviation of s a többi (“and the rest, and the others”).


tehát

First part from Proto-Finno-Ugric, te + hát

5-en vagyunk, és 4 adag étel van, tehát valakinek nem jut.

There are 5 of us and 4 packs of food, so one person cannot get it.

(somewhat formal) so, therefore, thus, hence


akár

It was formed by way of conversion of akar!, the Old Hungarian imperative form of the verb akar.

Akár itt is ebédelhetünk.

Olyan, akár az anyja.

Akár hiszi, akár nem, ez az igazság.

Whether he believes it or not, this is the truth.


hisz

Itt vagyok, hisz megígértem, hogy eljövök!

I am here, of course, as I promised I would come.

as, because; said if something follows obviously for the speaker

Hisz ez nem is nehéz!

hey, but, why; said when realizing something or wanting someone else to realize something


mivel

Mivel az előző levelemre nem érkezett válasz, most újra írok.

As I did not get any response to my previous letter, I write again now.


vagyis

that is to say, in other words, thus, so

or better said (making corrections to what one previously said)


pedig

First attested in 1498. Split from the obsolete adverb and conjunction kedig, its initial k changed to p (for a similar dissimilation, see köszméte → pöszméte (“gooseberry [dialectal]”, standard: egres)). It may have been an adverb with emphatic function, hence its current role as a conjunction, partly expressing contrast or concession, and partly addition, stressing, and emphasis.

Péter a házban van, Juli pedig a kertben. (=…a házban van, és Juli…)

Peter is in the house, whereas Juli is in the garden.

Péter van a házban, nem pedig Juli. (=…a házban, és nem…)

Sem Péter, sem pedig Juli nincs a házban.

Neither Peter [“and”] nor Juli is in the house.

(after the first clause element, like a clitic) and, while, whereas, in turn (expressing addition or mild contrast)

A: Nem hiszem el. ¶ B: Pedig ez az igazság.

A: I don't believe it. ¶ B: But that's the truth.

Eljött, pedig mondtam neki, hogy ne jöjjön.

He came, although I told him not to come.

(before the first clause element) although, even though, notwithstanding, nevertheless, nonetheless


mintha

Úgy haragszik rám, mintha én lennék a hibás.

S/he is angry at me as though I were at fault.

(for an unreal condition) as if, as though

(for a real condition) Misspelling of mint ha.

Mintha hallottam volna valami zajt.


minthogy

(formal, conjunction of cause) as, because, since

(conjunction of purpose) Misspelling of mint hogy.


mivelhogy

Az eddigi korábbi vallatásai a kerületi biztos elnöklete alatt mentek végbe, mivelhogy azok politikusok voltak.

1879, Mór Jókai, chapter 43, in Rab Ráby:


deviszont

(disputed) but, nevertheless, on the other hand


mégis

mégse

introducing a negative statement in contrast with an affirmative antecedent

(quasi-synonyms)

Kifizette az adósságát, mégis megverték.

He paid his debt, nevertheless, he was beaten.

Mégis busszal kell mennünk, mert a kocsi összetört.

We still need to go by bus, as the car got broken. (also applicable when returning to a previous idea that has been rejected)

Mégis meg lehet javítani.

It can be repaired, after all. (unlike it was previously thought, although it had been possibly hoped that it could be repaired)

yet, still, but, however, nevertheless, all the same, notwithstanding, after all (introducing a positive statement in contrast with a negative antecedent; the opposite of mégsem)

(software) redo (as an instruction; its literal meaning can be derived from mégis ezt szeretném “and yet I do want that”; “and yet this is what I want”)


dehát

Itt az órád az asztalon. - Dehát én nem is oda tettem! - Your watch is here on the table. - But hey, I didn't even put it there!

but hey (said when surprised or being indignant)


viszont

Lexicalization of the visz- ~ vissz- stem of vissza (“back”) + -n (locative suffix) + -t (locative suffix).


hanem

Nem a postára megyek, hanem a boltba.

I'm not going to the post office but to the store.

but (instead); the preceding clause contains a negative statement and the following clause contains the correction needed to make it positive. See the example.


ugyanis

as, because (usually if wanting to draw attention to the cause, e.g. because it is surprising)


úgyhogy

Tanulok, úgyhogy most ne zavarj!


ugyan

Lexicalization of úgy + -an (adverb-forming suffix).

Ugyan a választ nem tudom, megpróbálok segíteni.

Although I don't know the answer, I'll try to help.

A ház ugyan szép, de rossz helyen van.

Although the house itself is nice, but it's at a bad location.


úgyis

Ne keseregj, ennek már úgyis vége.

Don't be sad, it's already ended after all.

Minek kérdezed, ha úgyis tudod?

Why do you ask if you already know it anyway?

Úgyis mi nyerünk!

anyway, in any case, one way or another, whatever happens, regardless of any action

Nem nyertünk, de úgyis az a lényeg, hogy ott voltunk.

We did not win, but after all the important part is that we were there.

Menjünk el velük az étterembe, úgyis rég voltunk már!

Let's join them to the restaurant, we haven't been there in a long time, that's for sure / anyway.

Megnézhetjük a szobrot is, úgyis ott van közel.

We could take a look at the statue, too, it's quite close anyway.

Ha már úgyis bemegyünk a városba, akkor bevásárolhatnánk.

By the way if we already go in the city anyway, then we could also do the shopping.


hiszen

First attested in 1519. From hiszem (“I believe”), the first-person singular indicative present definite form of hisz (“to believe”). For the final m changing to n, compare talán.

Itt vagyok, hiszen megígértem, hogy eljövök!

I am here, of course, as I promised I would come.

Hiszen ez nem is nehéz!

De hiszen ott voltam!


nehogy

Gyorsabban futok, nehogy elkapjon.


azaz

From az + az (demonstrative pronouns), the first as a subject, the second as a predicate.

Holnap, azaz szombaton, kitakarítom a lakást.

Tomorrow, i.e. Saturday, I will clean the house.

that is, i.e. (in other words; used as a confirmation or interpretation of a statement to express agreement or identity)

Ilyen alkalmakkor (azaz karácsonykor, húsvétkor, születésnapokon) mindig összejön a család.

On such occasions (i.e. Christmas, Easter, birthdays) the family always gets together.

that is, i.e., namely, specifically (used before listing, as an introduction to a more detailed explanation)

A: Egyedül mentél moziba? B: Igen, azaz nem. A barátaim is ott voltak.

A: Did you go to the movies alone? B: Yes, that is, no. My friends were there too.

that is, I mean, rather (used as a correction, an introduction to withdrawal, invalidation or modification of a previous claim)


nemcsak

Coordinate term: (but also) hanem …… is


mégiscsak

[ˈmeːɡiʃt͡ʃɒk]

mégiscsak nekem volt igazam


mióta

Jobban érzik magukat, mióta lefogytak.

They have been feeling better since they lost weight.


amennyiben

[ˈɒmɛɲːibɛn]


miután

Miután elolvasta a levelet, azt kérdezte…

Miután befejezte a történetet, csend támadt.

When he had finished the story, there was a pause.


mégsem

mégis

introducing a positive statement in contrast with a negative antecedent

(quasi-synonyms; as opposed to mégsem, these conjunctions need to be followed by a negative particle such as nem to express negation)

Mégsem tettek semmit.

– Végül talán mégsem kell katasztrófára számítanunk – mondta.

1991 (publication of the translation), Frederick Forsyth, András Bánfalvi (translator), The Devil’s Alternative, Chapter Thirteen

“It looks as if we may not face the catastrophe after all,” she said.

(in declarative sentences, used with indicative or conditional moods) yet, still, but, however, nevertheless, all the same, notwithstanding, after all (all followed by negation in English; introducing a negative statement in contrast with an affirmative antecedent; the opposite of mégis)

a Mégsem gomb

(software) cancel, undo (as an instruction; its literal meaning can be derived from mégsem ezt szeretném “and yet I do not want that”)


illetőleg

[ˈilːɛtøːlɛɡ]

(formal) Synonym of illetve (“or rather”, making corrections to what one previously said)

illetve

Ez az igazgatónak, illetőleg a helyettesének a dolga.

This is the responsibility of the director and his deputy.

(formal) indicating that a statement relates to all mentioned


hogyha

(colloquial) Synonym of ha (“if, when, supposing, presuming”)


holott

(literary) though, although, albeit, whereas, but

1846, János Arany, Toldi, canto 7, stanza 6, trans. by Watson Kirkconnell

Why should not Nicholas make her grief his own, / Having a heart much softer than a stone?

Hát Miklós ugyan hogy ne szánná meg nagyon, / Holott neki kőnél lágyabb szíve vagyon?


úgysem

Coordinate term: úgyis

Ne kérdezd, úgysem válaszolok.

Don't ask because I won't answer anyway.

Úgysem fognak hívni.


mintsem

Ez inkább lassítja, mintsem gyorsítja a folyamatot.

This is more likely to slow down rather than to speed up the process.

Edged rather than washed by the river Ganges, it trails for a couple of miles along the bank, scarcely distinguishable from the rubbish it deposits so freely.

1967, E. M. Forster, chapter I, in Árpád Göncz, transl., Út Indiába, Budapest: Európa Könyvkiadó, part I (A mecset), page 9; translation of A Passage to India, London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1942 [1924]:


ti.

Abbreviation of tudniillik (“namely, specifically”).


ui.

Abbreviation of ugyanis (“as, because”).


mihelyt

mi (“which, that”) + helyt, a lexicalization of hely (“place”) + -t.

as soon as (at the moment when; immediately after)


mígnem

Nyomtam a gázpedált, mígnem a kocsi elérte a végsebességet.

I kept my foot on the accelerator until the car reached the maximum speed.


mindamellett

(literary) nevertheless, notwithstanding, besides, however (in spite of what preceded)


hogyhogy

Hogyhogy itt vagy te is?


mihelyest

1845, Sándor Petőfi, Mihelyest megláttalak... (As soon as I saw you...) poem, https://books.google.com/books?id=RWxHAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA364&dq=%22mihelyest%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjembz52ePUAhWJFT4KHeM_BgwQ6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q=%22mihelyest%22&f=false
Mihelyest megláttalak, leányka, / Én azonnal megszerettelek.

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

(archaic) as soon as (at the moment when; immediately after)


akárcsak

Érdekes ember volt, akárcsak a nagybátyád.

He was an interesting person, just like your uncle.


úgyszintén

Nagyon tetszett az előadás, a barátomnak úgyszintén.

I liked the presentation very much, my friend did too.

(somewhat literary) likewise, the same, too


ellenben

Lexicalization of the postposition ellen + -ben (“in”, inessive case suffix).


ámbátor

ám (“but”) + bátor (“although, though”, archaic adverb)


mihelyst

mi (“which, that”) + hely + -st (adverb-forming suffix)

compound

(folksy) Alternative form of mihelyt (“as soon as”) (at the moment when; immediately after)


mégse

(in prohibitive sentences, used with the subjunctive mood) yet, still, but, however, nevertheless, all the same, notwithstanding, after all

(folksy, informal, in declarative sentences, used with indicative or conditional moods) Alternative form of mégsem (“yet, still, but, however, nevertheless, all the same, notwithstanding, after all”)


méghozzá

Egy híres iskolába járt, méghozzá egy nagyon jóba.

He went to a famous school, and a very good one at that.

at that, what's more, in addition, moreover (in addition to what has been said)

A szoba kékre volt festve, méghozzá sötétkékre.

The room was painted blue, dark blue to be more precise.

namely, specifically (to be more precise)


hacsak

Hacsak tehetem, ott leszek.

Hacsak lehet, sétálj egy órát mindennap.

If possible, walk for an hour every day.

if (used in a conditional and permissive sentence, meaning "if there is only one way or option")

Ott leszek, hacsak valami közbe nem jön.

I'll be there unless something comes up.


mármint

namely, specifically, that is, that is to say (in explanatory sentences, before the more precise explanation or modification of the previous sentence or a part of it)


midőn

From mi (“what”) + időn (“at time”), meaning amely időben, from idő (“time”) + -n (case suffix).


úgymint

namely, viz., that is, i.e., that is to say (used before listing, as an introduction to a more detailed explanation)