Getting around in Hungarian
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Hungarian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Hungarian phrases in this lesson
- Hol van a mosdó?hol von oh MOSH-doh
- Where is the toilet?
- Hogy jutok el ...-hoz?hodj YOO-tok el ...-hoz
- How do I get to...?
- BalraBOL-roh
- To the left
- JobbraYOB-roh
- To the right
- EgyenesenEH-dyeh-neh-shen
- Straight ahead
- Itteet
- Here
- PályaudvarPAH-yoh-ood-vor
- Train station
- Buszboos
- Bus
- RepülőtérREH-pew-luh-tayr
- Airport
- Egy jegyet kérekedj YEG-yet KAY-rek
- One ticket, please
Signs read WC, Toalett, or Mosdó. Nők (women) and Férfiak (men) label the doors. Public toilets in Hungary often require a small fee (100-200 Ft) paid to an attendant; keep coins handy. Department stores and McDonald's are reliable free options.
The -ra suffix means to or towards. "Forduljon balra" (turn left), "menjen balra" (go left). Right is jobbra (YOB-roh), straight is egyenesen (EH-dyeh-neh-shen). These four direction words plus the destination name handle most navigation in Hungary.
"Jobb" also means better in Hungarian, leading to the charming double meaning that right is better. Direction: "Forduljon jobbra a sarkon" (turn right at the corner). Hungarians are helpful with directions and will often walk you part of the way.
Literally "evenly, in a straight line". The shorter "előre" (EH-luh-reh, forward) is also used. When following directions from a helpful local, the pointing gesture communicates more than the words; watch the hands.
"Álljon meg itt, kérem" (stop here please) for taxis. "Ott" is there, "itt" is here: short, clean, essential. Budapest taxi drivers prefer apps (Bolt is widely used); the fare is metered and reasonable compared to Western European capitals.
Budapest has three main stations: Keleti (Eastern), Nyugati (Western), and Déli (Southern). The name is on international timetables as "Budapest-Keleti" etc. Trains connect Hungary to Vienna, Prague, and Bucharest; Keleti is the main international hub.
Literally "flying field".
Public transport in Budapest requires validating your ticket in the yellow machines on board or at metro entrances. Inspectors check regularly and fines are substantial. Buy tickets at metro ticket offices, yellow machines, or the BKK app.