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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Sziasztok. Hello and welcome to Hungarian Survival Phrases brought to you by HungarianPod101.com, this course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Hungary. You will be surprised at how far a little Hungarian will go.
Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by HungarianPod101.com and there, you will find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment.

Lesson focus

In today's lesson, we'll cover phrases used for apologizing. Now, as you haven't quite mastered Hungarian, it's probably very prudent to go over the phrases for apologizing as they just might come in handy.
We'll start with "Excuse me" or "Pardon me," which in Hungarian is: Elnézést.
Elnézést.
Let's break it down by syllable: El-né-zést.
Now let's hear it again: Elnézést.
This expression can be used to apologize for accidentally pushing someone on the tram, but if you remember one of our previous lessons, it can also precede a question you ask a stranger, much like "excuse me." Use this when you are trying to work your way through a crowd, at the subway station for instance, or when you are trying to get someone's attention in a store, or when asking for directions.
To recap: elnézést.
If you want to be even more apologetic, or you've done something worse than just pushing people slightly, you want to say: bocsánat.
Again: bocsánat,
bo-csá-nat.
bocsánat
Interestingly, even though this implies a more serious tone, you must use this one when talking to a friend.
To sum this section up: you use elnézést when you did minor damage to a stranger, and bocsánat when the damage is more significant, or you did it to a friend.
Among friends, Hungarians like to use a shortened version of bocsánat, too. It is bocs.
Bocs
Bocs
If you put a long úúú sound in front of this, you'll sound just like a native speaker.
Úúú bocs.
Now, what if someone says one of these to you, and you want to respond with "No problem" or "It doesn't matter." In this case, the proper response should be semmi baj, which literally means, "No problem".
semmi baj
Let's break it down by syllable: Sem-mi baj.
Now let's hear it once again: semmi baj
Semmi means "nothing", while baj means "problem" or "trouble."

Outro

Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it aloud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer; so, sok szerencsét, which means "good luck" in Hungarian.
"Pardon me. or Excuse me." - Elnézést.
Elnézést.
Elnézést.
"I'm sorry." - Bocsánat.
Bocsánat.
Bocsánat.
"I'm sorry. (between friends)" - Bocs.
Bocs.
Bocs.
"No problem." - Semmi baj.
Semmi baj.
Semmi baj.
All right. That’s is going to do it for today. Remember to stop by HungarianPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. Sziasztok!

Comments

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13 Comments
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HungarianPod101.com
2011-09-05 18:30:00

How do you say I'm sorry in your language? Could you write them with Hungrian phrase?

HungarianPod101.com
2018-05-21 22:35:12

Hi Joyce,

Thank you for studying with us.

Glad to know that you're learning well with the lessons!

To improve your pronunciation, please check out our series:

https://www.hungarianpod101.com/lesson-library/sound-like-a-native-hungarian-pronunciation/

And to check out our plan options, please go to

https://www.hungarianpod101.com/member/member_upnewapi.php

Feel free to let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Cristiane

Team HungarianPod101.com

joyce restaino
2018-05-11 02:40:48

I am slowly getting the sounds of the words. I am elated how much I am learning. Thank you so much. I have every intention of learning more of this language. I will definitely upgrade

HungarianPod101.com
2017-10-25 03:15:49

Szia Réka!

Thanks for your question!

Semmi gond is perfectly correct and polite! Actually, I don't feel any difference compared to Semmi baj, the first is maybe a little more polite!

Please don't hesitate if you have any other questions!

Thanks,

Dorottya

Team HungarianPod101.com

Reka Kelemen
2017-10-19 07:15:38

Sziaszok,

Would saying "semmi gond" be an appropriate response to saying no problem? Is one more polite than the other?

Köszönöm!

Reka

HungarianPod101.com
2016-05-03 04:38:59

Szia Amy,

Thank you for your comment!

I've checked the problem you pointed out and it seems to work now. Could you please try it again?

If you still having difficulties to download pdf lessons, please don't hesitate to send us a comment.

Good luck for your studies in Hungary! :sunglasses: Please try to make the best out of your visit to learn the language!

Best,

Dorottya

Team HungarianPod101.com

Amy
2016-04-30 21:56:13

Sziaszok

I'm really enjoying my lessons so far! ( I started today and have completed 9 so far!) Köszönöm!

I notice that the Lesson Notes pdfs for Lessons 8, 9 and 10 (so far!) are unavailable, and the link just brings me to the homepage. I being able to have the notes for future reference, as I will be moving to Hungary soon for college.

Amy

HungarianPod101.com
2015-12-01 03:02:11

Szia Marina,

Köszönjük szépen a hozzászólást! (Danke?)

Szép munka, csak így tovább! (Well done!):wink:

Kellemes estét,

Dorottya

Team HungarianPod101.com

Marina
2015-11-27 21:33:33

Sziasztok!

Marina vagyok.

A németek mondják "Entschuldigung" vagy "Tut mir leid".

It's okay for informal and formal situations.

But we use the english "sorry" very often, too.

"Es macht nichts.", "Keine Ursache." or without "Es": "Macht nix (short form of "nichts")!"

means the same like "Semmi gond." Semmi baj.".

Szép hétvégét! :wink:

Marina

HungarianPod101.com
2015-02-02 02:26:19

Hi Su!

Thank you! Köszönöm!

(Incidentally, how do you say that in Turkish?)

Do you know we have tons of Turkish words in Hungarian?

Csaba

Team HungarianPod101.com

Su
2015-01-22 23:33:54

In Turkish it's "özür dilerim" :)

HungarianPod101.com
2013-09-17 02:42:44

Hi Raminta!

Hogy vagy ma?

Thanx for your reply.

Voltál már Magyarországon?

Szép napot!

Gergő

Team HungarianPod101.com

Raminta
2013-09-09 00:16:33

I'm sorry in Lithuanian is "Atsiprašau" :)

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