When learning Hungarian, an important aspect is to master descriptive phrases to enable rich and detailed conversations. Below, we’ll explore several common Hungarian descriptive phrases, their meanings, and examples of their use.
Szép
This word means “beautiful” or “pretty.” It’s often used to describe attractive things, from physical appearances to scenery.
A tavasz mindig olyan szép Budapesten.
(Translation: Spring is always so beautiful in Budapest.)
Nagy
Meaning “big” or “large,” this word can be used for size comparison or describing something’s magnitude.
A nagy kutya félelmetesnek tűnhet, de valójában nagyon barátságos.
(Translation: The big dog might look intimidating, but it’s actually very friendly.)
Kicsi
The opposite of “nagy,” kicsi means “small” or “little” and is used for describing diminutive size.
Nézd meg ezt a kicsi bogarat a leveleken!
(Translation: Look at this small bug on the leaves!)
Zöld
Like in English, zöld refers to the color green and it can describe anything from vegetation to an item of clothing.
A zöld mezők nyugalmat adnak a lelkemnek.
(Translation: The green fields give peace to my soul.)
Meleg
Used to describe temperature, meleg means “warm,” but in a context it can also mean “hot.”
Ma nagyon meleg van, jobb lenne, ha a tóhoz mennénk.
(Translation: It’s very hot today; it would be better to go to the lake.)
Hűvös
This word means “cool.” It can refer to the weather, but also to spaces like a room or shade.
A barlangban egész évben hűvös a hőmérséklet.
(Translation: The temperature inside the cave is cool all year round.)
Vidám
Meaning “cheerful” or “merry,” this word is used to describe someone’s mood or an atmosphere.
A gyerekek nagyon vidám hangulatban voltak a szülinapi partin.
(Translation: The children were in a very cheerful mood at the birthday party.)
Szomorú
On the other side of emotions, szomorú means “sad.” It can be used to express feelings about a situation or a piece of music or art.
Az esős idő mindig szomorúvá tesz.
(Translation: Rainy weather always makes me sad.)
Éhes
This word simply means “hungry.” It’s useful when discussing meals or expressing a need to eat.
Már délután van, és nagyon éhes vagyok.
(Translation: It’s already afternoon, and I’m very hungry.)
Sz thirst represents the feeling of needing to drink, much as it does in English.
Futás után mindig nagyon szomjas leszek.
(Translation: After running, I always become very thirsty.)
By integrating these descriptive phrases into your Hungarian vocabulary, you’ll be able to provide richer detail in your conversations. Remember, practicing these terms in context will help you remember them, and using them with native speakers will improve your command of the language even more. Happy learning!