Start with the Hungarian basics
Hungarian spelling is wonderfully regular: most letters map to one sound, and stress almost always lands on the first syllable. That’s great news for beginners, because you can learn to read out loud quickly.
Focus on the alphabet early, especially the consonant pairs and the long vs. short vowels. Vowel length changes meaning, so practice minimal pairs daily. As a beginner, five minutes of sound drills goes a long way.
- Master these letters: gy, ny, ty, cs (ch), sz (s), s (sh), zs (zh), ly.
- Remember: first-syllable stress is the rule for almost all words.
- Practice minimal pairs: a/á, e/é, i/í, o/ó, u/ú, ö/ő, ü/ű.
- Read short online dialogs aloud to anchor spelling-to-sound.
First phrases and grammar that actually stick
Grab high-frequency phrases first, then add light grammar. Hungarian is agglutinative, so endings carry a lot of meaning, but patterns are consistent. Learn a few cases, common suffixes, and set phrases you’ll say every day.
Word order is flexible, but for beginners it’s fine to keep a simple subject–verb–object flow. Add polite forms early and don’t worry if you can’t produce every ending yet—aim for clarity before perfection.
- Jó napot! – Good day.
- Köszönöm / Köszi – Thank you / Thanks.
- Egy kávét kérek. – I’d like a coffee.
- Hol a mosdó? – Where is the restroom?
- Nem értem. – I don’t understand.
- Beszélsz angolul? – Do you speak English?
Free online tools, pdfs, and textbook-style lessons
Use a mix of bite‑size apps, pdf materials, and clear grammar notes. You don’t need a paid textbook to start; many beginner-friendly resources are free and well structured.
Rotate two or three core tools so you review vocabulary, grammar, and listening every week. Keep a single notebook (or a doc) where you collect your best examples and all tricky endings.
- Duolingo Hungarian: quick daily drills for basics and phrase patterns.
- Memrise Hungarian 1–2: spaced repetition with audio for beginners.
- FSI Hungarian Basic Course (pdf + audio): old-school but thorough, great for pronunciation and dialogs.
- MagyarOK A1 sample units (pdf): textbook-style pages with visuals and exercises.
- Easy Hungarian (YouTube): street interviews with subtitles; slow, real language.
- Cooljugator + Wiktionary: verb conjugations and example sentences online, free.
A simple A1–A2 study plan (30–40 minutes a day)
Consistency beats marathon sessions. This light routine covers all beginner essentials: sounds, words, grammar, and real input. Use one app, one pdf/textbook source, and one listening source.
Adjust minutes as needed, but try to touch the language daily. If time is tight, do pronunciation + phrases only and return to grammar later.
- 5 min: pronunciation drill (alphabet, minimal pairs, shadow a short clip).
- 10 min: app review (Duolingo/Memrise) to recycle core words.
- 10 min: pdf or textbook-style page (FSI dialog or MagyarOK sample).
- 5–10 min: listening with subtitles (Easy Hungarian clip).
- Weekly: write 5–8 sentences using a new ending (-ban/-ben, -val/-vel).
- Weekly: print or save a one-page cheat sheet for all new suffixes.
Make practice real: speaking, listening, reading, writing
Turn passive learning into output. Speak out loud, even alone. Short, daily speaking beats waiting for a perfect accent. Record yourself and compare to native audio.
Keep inputs simple and enjoyable. Choose beginner-friendly texts and dialogs, then recycle the lines in your own mini-conversations.
- Shadow 30–60 seconds of audio daily; match rhythm and stress.
- Language exchange online (Tandem/HelloTalk): 10 minutes of voice notes.
- Micro-journal: 3 sentences a day about meals, weather, or plans.
- Dictation: pause a video and write what you hear; check subtitles.
- Read graded snippets or pdf printouts; highlight endings in color.
- Build a personal phrasebank; tag entries by situation (café, travel, work).
FAQ
- How long does it take to reach A1 or A2 in Hungarian?
- With 30–40 minutes a day, expect A1 in about 8–10 weeks and A2 in 5–6 months. Use a steady mix of online drills, a pdf/textbook source, and real listening.
- Is Hungarian hard for English speakers?
- It’s different, not impossible. Sounds and endings feel new, but rules are consistent. Focus on the basics, practice daily, and keep beginner goals small and clear.
- Where can I get free pdfs or a beginner textbook?
- Try the FSI Hungarian Basic Course (pdf + audio) and MagyarOK A1 sample units (pdf). Combine them with an app so you get both textbook structure and spaced review.
- Should I learn grammar or phrases first?
- Do both lightly. Memorize core phrases for communication, then add mini-grammar (one ending at a time). This keeps all learning practical and reduces overwhelm.
- How can I practice speaking if I’m learning online alone?
- Shadow short clips daily, send voice notes in exchanges, and do self-talk about your day. Record, compare, repeat. These beginner steps build confidence fast.