Hungarian Alphabet and Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers

Overview of the Hungarian Alphabet

The Hungarian alphabet consists of 44 letters, including 14 vowels and 30 consonants. It is based on the Latin alphabet but includes several unique letters and digraphs that represent specific sounds not found in English.

Unique Letters and Digraphs

Hungarian uses several digraphs and trigraphs such as cs, dz, dzs, gy, ly, ny, sz, ty, and zs. These represent single sounds and are considered individual letters in the alphabet.

Vowels in Hungarian

Hungarian vowels are divided into short and long forms. Long vowels are marked with an acute accent (´) and are pronounced longer than their short counterparts.

• a /ɒ/ as in 'hot' (short)
• á /aː/ as in 'father' (long)
• e /ɛ/ as in 'bed' (short)
• é /eː/ as in 'say' (long)
• i /i/ as in 'sit' (short)
• í /iː/ as in 'machine' (long)
• o /o/ as in 'off' (short)
• ó /oː/ as in 'go' (long)
• ö /ø/ similar to French 'peur' (short)
• ő /øː/ long version of ö
• u /u/ as in 'put' (short)
• ú /uː/ as in 'rule' (long)
• ü /y/ similar to French 'tu' (short)
• ű /yː/ long version of ü

Consonants and Their Pronunciation

Most Hungarian consonants are pronounced similarly to English, but some have unique sounds or pronunciations that English speakers should be aware of.

• cs /tʃ/ as in 'chocolate'
• gy /ɟ/ similar to 'du' in 'due' but softer
• ly /j/ pronounced like English 'y' in 'yes'
• ny /ɲ/ like 'ny' in 'canyon'
• sz /s/ like 's' in 'see'
• z /z/ like 'z' in 'zebra'
• zs /ʒ/ like 's' in 'measure'

Pronunciation Tips for English Speakers

Hungarian pronunciation is generally phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they are written. However, English speakers should pay attention to vowel length and the unique consonant sounds to improve their accent and comprehension.

1. Practice distinguishing short and long vowels, as vowel length can change word meaning.
2. Learn the unique digraphs and trigraphs as single sounds.
3. Listen to native speakers to get accustomed to the rhythm and intonation of Hungarian.
4. Use IPA transcriptions to understand exact pronunciations.
5. Practice speaking aloud regularly to build confidence and muscle memory.

Common Hungarian Phrases with Pronunciation