Hungarian Basic Course 1732 Studios

Hungarian · Unit 14

Unit 14: Autón a hegyekbe

Volume 2

By car into the mountains

333 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    The sun's shining! The weather's nicer than it was yesterday.

    Sütshine (sun); bake, broil, fry
    athe
    nap!day; sun
    Matoday
    szebbmore beautiful, nicer
    időduring the entire time
    van,I'm busy, I've something to do
    mintas, like
    tegnapyesterday
    volt.came up (in discussion)
  2. 2

    Yes, it's much warmer today. The sun didn't shine yesterday.

Süt
shines (sun)
szebb
nicer
sokkal
by far, much
melegebb
warmer
  1. 3

    It'll be cooler up in the mountains. The wind will certainly be blowing. There it won't be a bit warmer than it was in the city yesterday.

  2. 4

    Won't you be cold in the mountains?

hűvösebb
cooler
  1. 5

    No. I have a sweater on.

  2. 6

    I'm glad we're going to the Mátra. I've never been there. What's the highest mountain in Hungary?

Kötött
knitted
kabát
sweater, cardigan
rajtam
on me
legmagasabb
the highest
  1. 7

    The Kékes. It's more than a thousand meters high.

  2. 8

    Is it higher than the Austrian Alps?

  3. 9

    No, the Kékes is lower than the Alps.

  4. 10

    Can you ski in the Mátra in winter?

Kékes
mountain peak in Hungary
Alpok
Alps
  1. 11

    Yes. However, I'm going to the Pilis mountains to ski, because they're nearer to Pest.

  2. 12

    The 'Szabadság-hegy' is the closest. But there are always a lot of people there.

  3. 13

    What's the nicest season in Hungary?

  4. 14

    I think fall is. The Indian summer's always very beautiful.

azonban
nevertheless, however
legszebb
the most beautiful
nyara
Indian summer
  1. 15

    Back home in Washington, fall is the nicest also. Isn't it always terribly foggy in Hungary in the fall?

  2. 16

    Sometimes, especially in the morning and evening.

  3. 17

    When does it start to freeze?

Nálunk
at our home, with us
Néha
sometimes
fagyni
to freeze
  1. 18

    The beginning of December. In January we always have snow. Then the roads are slippery and chains must be used.

  1. 19

    Couldn't we go a little faster? There isn't as much traffic here as there was down in the valley.

mehetnénk
we could go
gyorsabban
faster
akkora
so large, great
amekkora
as large, as great
  1. 20

    The faster you drive the sooner we'll get there.

annál
the more . . . the more
  1. 21

    It's true that here there are fewer vehicles, and so a little less traffic. But the road is much narrower and there are many sharp curves. It's dangerous to drive any faster.

  2. 22

    How much better the roads are here than on the Alföld!

igaz
true, real
valamivel
somewhat, a little, slightly
kisebb
smaller, less
éles
sharp
Veszélyes
dangerous
  1. 23

    These cars in front of us are going much more slowly than we. I'll pass them as soon as possible.

  2. 24

    The very first car is a small German car, isn't it? It's a great deal smaller than ours. One of my younger son's friends has a car like that.

  3. 25

    I believe it's one of the fastest and most expensive European cars.

előttünk
in front of us
Amint
as (soon as), when
ugye
is it, isn't it
európai
European
  1. 26

    It seems that this road is much longer now than it was when we drove on it the last time.

  2. 27

    At that time the road was better, and it was easier to drive. Besides the wind was not so strong ('weaker').

  3. 28

    The wind is blowing harder and harder. I hope there won't be a storm.

Mintha
as if, though
hosszabb
longer
utoljára
for the last time
Azonkívül
besides, moreover
Egyre
continually, on and on
  1. 29

    It's possible that we'll be getting a light shower. The sky's overcast. Look at the terribly dark clouds behind us.

  2. 30

    If it starts to rain, it won't stop soon.

mögöttünk
behind us
eső
rain
  1. 31

    Bang! Well, what the dickens was that?

  2. 32

    Seems we have a flat tire.

  3. 33

    I wonder if there's a gas station somewhere nearby.

Puff
bang
Hát
well (interjection)
Vajon
whether, if, I wonder
  1. 34

    Do you think there are just as many garages in Hungary as in America? You're mistaken. We'll have to change the tire.

olyan
such, that kind
garázs
garage
kicserélni
to change
  1. 35

    It doesn't matter. I have a new spare tire in the trunk. Fortunately, I have the tools with me too.

baj
trouble, ill
baj
doesn't matter
Szerencsére
fortunately
  1. 36

    How beautiful this valley below us is! I'm going to take some snapshots. It isn't raining yet.

  2. 37

    Where's your camera?

  3. 38

    I have it here with me. I hope taking pictures isn't prohibited here. Perhaps it's still light enough for the snapshots.

  4. 39

    If you go over there and stand by that tree you can still get a nice shot from there.

alattunk
below us, under us
esik
it rains
nálam
with me, at my place
tilos
prohibited
fényképezni
to take snapshots
  1. 40

    Look, there's lightning near the forest! The storm will be reaching us very soon. It's already raining near the village.

  2. 41

    I'll turn on the radio. They're giving the weather report now.

a
lightning
villámlik
lightning is flashing
  1. 42

    ...At several places smaller storms and showers...Later it'll clear up...

  2. 43

    A friend of mine lives in the next village. We'll go to his place and stay there until the storm passes (over us).

  3. 44

    Splendid idea! And in the evening we'll continue our trip when the moon's up and the stars are shining again.

  4. 45

    If it clears up it'll be pleasant to drive at night.

  5. 46

    The sun's shining! The weather's nicer than it was yesterday.

  6. 47

    Yes, it's much warmer today. The sun didn't shine yesterday.

  7. 48

    It'll be cooler up in the mountains. The wind will certainly be blowing. There it won't be a bit warmer than it was in the city yesterday.

  8. 49

    Won't you be cold in the mountains?

  9. 50

    No. I have a sweater on.

  10. 51

    I'm glad we're going to the Mátra. I've never been there. What's the highest mountain in Hungary?

  11. 52

    The Kékes. It's more than a thousand meters high.

  12. 53

    Is it higher than the Austrian Alps?

  13. 54

    No, the Kékes is lower than the Alps.

  14. 55

    Can you ski in the Mátra in winter?

  15. 56

    Yes. However, I'm going to the Pilis mountains to ski, because they're nearer to Pest.

  16. 57

    The 'Szabadság-hegy' is the closest. But there are always a lot of people there.

  17. 58

    What's the nicest season in Hungary?

  18. 59

    I think fall is. The Indian summer's always very beautiful.

  19. 60

    Back home in Washington, fall is the nicest also. Isn't it always terribly foggy in Hungary in the fall?

  20. 61

    Sometimes, especially in the morning and evening.

  21. 62

    When does it start to freeze?

  22. 63

    The beginning of December. In January we always have snow. Then the roads are slippery and chains must be used.

  23. 64

    Couldn't we go a little faster? There isn't as much traffic here as there was down in the valley.

  24. 65

    The faster you drive the sooner we'll get there.

  25. 66

    It's true that here there are fewer vehicles, and so a little less traffic. But the road is much narrower and there are many sharp curves. It's dangerous to drive any faster.

  26. 67

    How much better the roads are here than on the Alföld!

  27. 68

    These cars in front of us are going much more slowly than we. I'll pass them as soon as possible.

  28. 69

    The very first car is a small German car, isn't it? It's a great deal smaller than ours. One of my younger son's friends has a car like that.

  29. 70

    I believe it's one of the fastest and most expensive European cars.

  30. 71

    It seems that this road is much longer now than it was when we drove on it the last time.

  31. 72

    At that time the road was better, and it was easier to drive. Besides the wind was not so strong ('weaker').

  32. 73

    The wind is blowing harder and harder. I hope there won't be a storm.

  33. 74

    It's possible that we'll be getting a light shower. The sky's overcast. Look at the terribly dark clouds behind us.

  34. 75

    If it starts to rain, it won't stop soon.

  35. 76

    Bang! Well, what the dickens was that?

  36. 77

    Seems we have a flat tire.

  37. 78

    I wonder if there's a gas station somewhere nearby.

  38. 79

    Do you think there are just as many garages in Hungary as in America? You're mistaken. We'll have to change the tire.

  39. 80

    It doesn't matter. I have a new spare tire in the trunk. Fortunately, I have the tools with me too.

  40. 81

    How beautiful this valley below us is! I'm going to take some snapshots. It isn't raining yet.

  41. 82

    Where's your camera?

  42. 83

    I have it here with me. I hope taking pictures isn't prohibited here. Perhaps it's still light enough for the snapshots.

  43. 84

    If you go over there and stand by that tree you can still get a nice shot from there.

  44. 85

    Look, there's lightning near the forest! The storm will be reaching us very soon. It's already raining near the village.

  45. 86

    I'll turn on the radio. They're giving the weather report now.

  46. 87

    ...At several places smaller storms and showers...Later it'll clear up...

  47. 88

    A friend of mine lives in the next village. We'll go to his place and stay there until the storm passes (over us).

  48. 89

    Splendid idea! And in the evening we'll continue our trip when the moon's up and the stars are shining again.

  49. 90

    If it clears up it'll be pleasant to drive at night.

záporeső
shower
kiderül
clear up (with reference to the weather)
amíg
until, as long as, while
csillagos
starry
éjjel
night

Notes on Grammar: Formation of Adverbs

Adjective to adverb: -n

A vénasszonyok nyara mindig nagyon szép. The Indian summer's always very beautiful. Nagyon, 'very', is the adverb made from the adjective nagy.

English makes many adverbs with -ly. Hungarian adds -n, -an, -en, -on, or -ul, -ül to the adjective.

The ending -ul, -ül goes mostly with adjectives of nationality and with those in -atlan, -etlen, -talan, -telen: angolul, németül, véletlenül. Jó gives jól, and rossz gives rosszul.

The vowel before -n

After a consonant, the vowel before -n is the vowel before -k in the plural of the adjective.

Világos, világosak, világosan. Nagy, nagyok, nagyon. Boldog, boldogok, boldogan.

Adjectives that end in a vowel

After a vowel, -n alone is added: olcsón, későn. A final -a or -e becomes -á or -é: ritkán, gyengén.

Many adjectives in -i, -ő and -ó add a linking vowel: kiváncsian, kitűnően, kiválóan.

Most adjectives in -ú, -ű add -an, -en: szomorúan, egyszerűen. Some drop the -ú or -ű first: hosszan, lassan, könnyen.

  1. 91

    clear, clear (plural), clearly

  2. 92

    big, big (plural), very, but: happy, happy (plural), happily

A. Formation of Adverbs

In English some adverbs are formed from adjectives by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective: rapid - rapidly; beautiful - beautifully. In Hungarian the adverbial marker -n, -an, -en, -on or -ul, -ül added to an adjective forms the corresponding adverb. The ending -ul, -ül is used mostly with adjectives referring to nationality, and with those ending in -atlan, -etlen, -talan, -telen: angolul, németül, véletlenül. (But note also the common adverbs jól from jó and rosszul from rossz.)

For a determination of which of the variants -an, -en or -on is used for a particular adverb, the general rule is that the vowel preceding the -n is the same as the auxiliary vowel before the -k in the plural of the corresponding adjective:

világos - világosak - világosan
nagy - nagyok - nagyon but: boldog - boldogok - boldogan

The marker -n is attached to adjectives ending in a vowel. Keep in mind, however, that adjectives ending in -a and -e will modify the -a to -á- and the -e to -é- before the adverbial marker: ritka - ritkán; gyenge - gyengén. Also note that many adjectives ending in -i, -ő and -ó add a linking vowel before the adverbial marker -n: kiváncsi - kiváncsian; kitűnő - kitűnően; kiváló - kiválóan (but: késő - későn; olcsó - olcsón). Most adjectives ending in -ú, -ű form the corresponding adverb by adding the adverbial marker -an, -en: szomorúan, egyszerűen. Some such adjectives drop the final -ú, -ű before -an, -en: hosszú - hosszan; lassú - lassan; könnyű - könnyen. A few adjectives have two corresponding adverbial forms: csunya - csunyán, csunyául.

Notes on Grammar: Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Higher and highest: -bb and leg-

Melyik a legmagasabb hegy Magyarországon? What's the highest mountain in Hungary? Magas, magasabb, legmagasabb: high, higher, highest.

The comparative adds -bb. After a consonant, -a- or -e- comes first: magasabb. A final -a or -e becomes -á or -é: drágább.

The superlative is leg- before the comparative, usually after the definite article. An irregular comparative stays irregular: jó, jobb, legjobb. Legelső, 'very first', puts leg- on the basic form.

Both degrees take the same endings as the basic form: erősebbek. An adverb adds its ending to them: szebben, legszebben.

As big as, and than

Itt nincs akkora forgalom, mint amekkora lent a völgyben volt. There isn't as much traffic here as there was down in the valley.

For 'as ... as', the adjective keeps its basic form, with olyan and mint, annyi and mint, or akkora and mint.

Before a clause, amilyen, amennyi or amekkora follows mint or replaces it.

Mint also means 'than'. When two nouns in the nominative are compared, -nál, -nél on the second can replace it: A Kékes alacsonyabb az Alpoknál. The Kékes is lower than the Alps.

The more, the more

Minél többet kap, annál többet akar. The more he gets, the more he wants. Minél and annál each come before a comparative.

A comparative with -nál, -nél before the same comparative makes it stronger: sötétebbnél sötétebb felhők, terribly dark clouds.

'Much' or 'a little' before a comparative takes -val, -vel: sokkal, valamivel. Colloquial -ik on a comparative stresses the choice: a kisebbik fiam, my younger son.

The tables give the three degrees, the pairs for 'as ... as', and both ways to say 'than'.

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs, 1 of 4

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs, 2 of 4

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs, 3 of 4

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs, 4 of 4

  1. 93

    There are dresses in the shops, each prettier than the next.

  2. 94

    In Washington I saw department stores, each better than the last.

  3. 95

    In the theater they give plays, each worse than the last.

  4. 96

    The more he gets, the more he wants.

  5. 97

    The older a person is, the wiser he gets.

  6. 98

    How much older is Peter than John?

  7. 99

    The traffic here is much heavier than it was in the valley.

  8. 100

    A friend of my younger son's...

  9. 101

    The larger car is my car.

  10. 102

    A very smart man!

  11. 103

    I saw a very interesting movie.

  12. 104

    The very first car is my car.

  13. 105

    I didn't want to be the very last.

  14. 106

    The men are strong, but the soldiers are stronger.

  15. 107

    He goes to a small school, but I go to the biggest one.

  16. 108

    The little girl danced the most beautifully.

  17. 109

    The patient is worse today.

B. Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Three degrees of intensity may be expressed by adjectives and adverbs. Traditionally these three forms are called POSITIVE, COMPARATIVE and SUPERLATIVE. English examples are 'full', 'fuller', 'fullest', using suffixes, 'beautiful', 'more beautiful', 'most beautiful', using 'more' 'most'. Hungarian uses a suffix and, for the superlative, a prefix. Examples, both regular and irregular, are:

POSITIVE | COMPARATIVE | SUPERLATIVE
olcsó | olcsóbb | legolcsóbb
egyszerű | egyszerűbb | legegyszerűbb
régi | régibb | legrégibb
drága | drágább | legdrágább
fekete | feketébb | legfeketébb
magas | magasabb | legmagasabb
éles | élesebb | legélesebb
kevés | kevesebb | legkevesebb
nehéz | nehezebb | legnehezebb
jó | jobb | legjobb
könnyű | könnyebb | legkönnyebb
hosszú | hosszabb | leghosszabb
lassú | lassabb | leglassabb
 | (lassúbb) | (leglassúbb)
nagy | nagyobb | legnagyobb
szép | szebb | legszebb
kis (kicsi(ny)) | kisebb | legkisebb
messze | messzebb | legmesszebb
sok | több | legtöbb
első | - | legelső
utolsó | utolsóbb | legutolsó
alsó | alsóbb | legalsó

(1)

The positive of the above table is the dictionary or basic form. Words ending in a consonant have -a- or -e- before -bb, those in -a- or -e- lengthen the vowel to -á-, -é-. (However, note nagyobb from nagy, messzebb from messze and the different endings possible for words ending in -ú and -ű.) The superlative is always formed by adding the prefix leg- to the comparative, and is generally preceded by the definite article. (As illustrated in the above list, however, the comparative of some words is irregular; the same irregularity must appear in the superlative since the superlative is formed from the comparative.)

(2)

The positive is used in comparisons of equality. Note in the Hungarian sentences below the connectives corresponding to the English 'as (so) ...as', 'as much (many)...as':

 | 
olyan ... mint | Olyan kék, mint a tinta.
annyi ... mint | Annyi ruhája van, mint nekem.
akkora ... mint | Péter már akkora, mint az apja.
olyan ... (mint) amilyen | Olyan piros a ruhája, (mint) amilyen ez a rózsa.
ilyen ... (mint) amilyen | Ilyen jó, (mint) amilyen ez a gyerek, nincs sok.
annyi ... (mint) amennyi | Annyi pénz, (mint) amennyi kell, nincs.
akkora ... (mint) amekkora | Akkora ez a szoba, (mint) amekkora a mi hálószobánk.

(3)

A statement containing a comparative followed by 'than' may be rendered into Hungarian in two ways: one construction is similar to the English, where mint corresponds to the English 'than'; the second construction is restricted in use to a comparison of two substantives in the nominative form, in which case the noun or pronoun following the comparative ends in -nál, -nél which replaces mint.

 | 
A férfi öregebb, mint a fiú. | A férfi öregebb a fiúnál.
Én magasabb vagyok, mint maga. | Én magasabb vagyok magánál.

(4)

The suffix -nál, -nél may also be added to the comparative of an adjective to intensify or emphasize its meaning. Note its use in this pattern: jobbnál jobb; szebbnél szebb; rosszabbnál rosszabb.

Az üzletekben szebbnél szebb ruhák vannak.
Washingtonban jobbnál jobb áruházakat láttam.
A színházban rosszabbnál rosszabb darabokat adnak.

(5)

The pattern: 'the more...the more', as in 'the more he gets, the more he wants', 'the older he gets, the wiser he becomes' is expressed in Hungarian by: minél (mennél) plus comparative...annál plus comparative.

Minél többet kap, annál többet akar.
Minél öregebb az ember, annál okosabb lesz.

(6)

Words corresponding to 'much', 'so much', 'somewhat', 'a little' etc. modifying a comparative end in the suffix -val, -vel in Hungarian.

Mennyivel öregebb Péter Jánosnál?
Itt sokkal nagyobb a forgalom, mint a völgyben volt.

(7)

In colloquial speech the suffix -ik is often added to the comparative and superlative to stress the preference or choice these forms imply. (Compare this with the suffix for ordinal numbers.)

A kisebbik fiam egyik barátja...
A nagyobbik kocsi az én kocsim.

(8)

English expressions with 'a most ____', such as 'a most beautiful girl' correspond to Hungarian nagyon or igen plus the adjective. They do not correspond to Hungarian superlatives.

Nagyon okos ember!
Igen érdekes mozit láttam.

(9)

The forms legelső and legutolsó correspond to English 'very first' and 'very last'. Note that the prefix leg- is added to the basic form of the Hungarian word, not the comparative.

A legelső kocsi az én kocsim.
Nem akartam legutolsó lenni.

(10)

The comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives are subject to the same rules of inflection as the basic form:

A férfiak erősek, de a katonák erősebbek.
Ő egy kis iskolába jár, de én a legnagyobbikba járok.

(11)

The comparative and superlative of adverbs is formed by adding the adverb suffix to the comparative or superlative form: szépen - szebben - legszebben; jól - jobban - legjobban.

A kislány táncolt a legszebben.
A beteg ma rosszabbul van.

Substitution Drill

At, to and from a place

Már a falunál esik. It's already raining near the village. A hídhoz hajtunk. We drive to the bridge.

The suffix -nál, -nél marks the place where: at, near, or at the home of.

The suffix -hoz, -hez, -höz marks the place to, and -tól, -től the place from. Both go with verbs of motion.

At my place, to me, with me

Itt van nálam. I have it here with me. A vihar nemsokára hozzánk ér. The storm will be reaching us very soon.

Nál, hoz and the -val, -vel ending take personal endings and stand as words of their own: nálam, hozzám, velem.

Hoz doubles its z before the endings: hozzám, hozzád, hozzá. The forms of hoz go with verbs of motion. The forms of nál mark the place where.

On me: rám and rajtam

Kötött kabát van rajtam. I have a sweater on.

The suffix -ra goes with verbs of motion, and -n with other verbs. With personal endings, -ra gives rám. The forms for -n are built on rajt-: rajtam, rajta.

A kabátot rám veszem. I put the coat on. A kabát rajtam van. The coat is on me.

The tables give the pairs for -nál and -hoz, the personal forms of nál, hoz, vel and rajt-, then the pairs for -ra and -n.

-nál, -nél

Nálam

Hozzám

Velem

Rám and Rajtam, 1 of 2

Rám and Rajtam, 2 of 2

In front of us: előttünk

Milyen szép ez a völgy alattunk. How beautiful this valley below us is.

Most postpositions take personal endings, as nál and hoz do. Alattunk, below us. Előttünk, in front of us. Mögöttünk, behind us.

The table gives five common postpositions with each personal ending. The postposition stays the same. Only the ending changes.

Postpositions, 1 of 2

Postpositions, 2 of 2

Three words for old

A férfi öregebb, mint a fiú. The man is older than the boy.

Hungarian has three words for 'old'. One cannot replace another.

Éves, from év, 'year', is old in years of age. Öreg is old in the sense of advanced in years.

Régi is old in the sense of long standing, made long ago, former or worn out.

  1. 110

    This church in front of us is beautiful.

  2. 111

    There are birds flying above me.

  3. 112

    There are children playing next to her.

  4. 113

    There are dogs running behind them.

C. Suffixes

(1) -nál, -nél

The suffix -nál, -nél, examples of which are found in the basic sentences, indicates "place where" ("place at which"). It may be translated 'at, close to' or 'at the home of'. We may contrast this with the suffixes -hoz, -hez, -höz 'to', 'close to', 'to the home of' (i.e. place to which), and -tól, -től 'from (near)', 'from the house of', (i.e. place from which) both with verbs of motion.

 | 
A vendéglőnél találkoznak. | A gyerekek a fához szaladnak.
A szállodánál leszállok. | Ma este Jánoshoz megyek.
A hídnál megállunk. | A hídhoz hajtunk.

(2) Nálam

In addition to its use as a suffix added to substantives, nál may take personal endings and be used as an independent word just as the suffixes -tól, -ről and -ra listed in Unit 10. Nálam and the other forms, like -nál as a suffix, refer to "place where" ("place at which").

 | 
nálam | nálunk
nálad | nálatok
nála | náluk

(3) Hozzám

Hoz also takes personal endings and is used with these as an independent word. The independent forms based on hoz are those to be used with verbs of motion. Note the double z of hoz with suffixes:

 | 
hozzám | hozzánk
hozzád | hozzátok
hozzá (hozzája) | hozzájuk

(4) Velem

The suffix -val, -vel may also be used independently; just as -nál and -hoz. Combined with the personal endings, it has the following forms:

 | 
velem | velünk
veled | veletek
vele | velük

(5) Rám and Rajtam

The suffix -ra with verbs of motion contrasts with the suffix -n (-on, -en, -ön) used with other verbs. Ra with personal endings, as an independent form, (rám, etc.) has been discussed in Unit 10. These are the forms used with verbs of motion. With other verbs, the independent form with personal endings has the base rajt- (not one formed on -n).

 | 
rajtam | rajtunk
rajtad | rajtatok
rajta | rajtuk

 | 
A könyvet az asztalra teszi. | A könyv az asztalon van.
A könyvet rá teszi. | A könyv rajta van.
A kabátot rám veszem. | A kabát rajtam van.
D. Postpositions

Since the general statement given on postpositions in Unit 5 was presented, we have had numerous examples of the use of these words in Hungarian. As with the suffixes described in the preceding paragraphs, most postpositions in Hungarian may also take personal endings. The combinations given below are those of the most common postpositions:

alatt | előtt | fölött | mellett | mögött
alattam | előttem | fölöttem | mellettem | mögöttem
alattad | előtted | fölötted | melletted | mögötted
alatta | előtte | fölötte | mellette | mögötte
alattunk | előttünk | fölöttünk | mellettünk | mögöttünk
alattatok | előttetek | fölöttetek | mellettetek | mögöttetek
alattuk | előttük | fölöttük | mellettük | mögöttük
E. The Concept of 'old' in Hungarian

The word 'old' has various connotations, for example: 'far advanced in years', 'of long acquaintance, standing or experience', 'ancient', 'antique', 'made long ago', 'belonging to a past time', 'former', 'deteriorated through age or long use', 'worn out'. We have now had several words in Hungarian, all of which correspond to the word 'old' but which cannot be used synonymously:

Éves, derived from the word év ('year'), corresponds to 'old' with specific reference to the number of years of age.

Öreg means 'old' or 'aged' in the sense of 'advanced in years'.

Régi has the meaning of 'old' in the sense of 'long standing or experience', 'made long ago', 'deteriorated through age or long use', 'worn out', 'belonging to the past', 'former', 'ancient', 'antique'.
  1. 114

    There are dogs running behind them.

  2. 115

    I don't see anything behind you.

  3. 116

    There are many children living around you (pl.).

  4. 117

    There's a large forest behind them.

  1. 118

    There's a large forest behind them.

  2. 119

    He stops at the tree.

Variation Drill

  1. 120

    Is it higher than the Austrian Alps?

  2. 121

    The Kékes is lower than the Austrian Alps.

  3. 122

    It's much warmer today than it was yesterday.

  1. 123

    It's much warmer today than it was yesterday.

  2. 124

    There's somewhat less traffic here than there was in the valley.

  3. 125

    It isn't a bit warmer today than it was yesterday.

  4. 126

    The faster you drive the sooner we'll be there.

  5. 127

    This car goes more slowly than we.

  1. 128

    This car goes more slowly than we.

  2. 129

    The wind is blowing harder and harder.

  3. 130

    My brother came with us as far as England.

  4. 131

    We're going in to his place.

  1. 132

    We're going in to his place.

  2. 133

    The minister is standing in the corner. I'm going over to talk to him.

  3. 134

    I'm going to the Pilis mountains because they're close to Pest.

  1. 135

    The Virágs dined at our place.

  2. 136

    I have the camera with me.

  3. 137

    The girls went to church from my place.

  1. 138

    The girls went to church from my place.

  2. 139

    The woman is poor. She has an old dress on.

  3. 140

    The Kovácses live below me.

  4. 141

    He has a good future.

  1. 142

    They live in a beautiful old house.

  2. 143

    The building is very old already.

  3. 144

    My former teacher isn't old yet.

Transformation Drill

  1. 145

    A követ a sarokban áll.

    The ambassador is standing in the corner.

  2. 146

    Az este Feketééknél voltunk.

    We were at the Feketes' in the evening.

  3. 147

    A szomszédomhoz mentem.

    I went to my neighbor's.

  1. 148

    Budapest nincs messze a Balatontól.

    Budapest isn't far from the Balaton.

  2. 149

    A lány magas.

    The girl is tall.

  1. 150

    A lány magas.

    The girl is tall.

  2. 151

    Mária kövér.

    Mary is fat.

  3. 152

    A szálloda tiszta.

    Is the hotel clean?

  1. 153

    A szálloda tiszta.

    Is the hotel clean?

  2. 154

    A gyümölcs olcsó.

    The fruit is cheap.

  1. 155

    A gyümölcs olcsó.

    The fruit is cheap.

  2. 156

    Európa kisebb, mint Amerika.

    Europe is smaller than America.

  1. 157

    Európa kisebb, mint Amerika.

    Europe is smaller than America.

  2. 158

    Gyorsan hajtok.

    I drive fast.

  1. 159

    Gyorsan hajtok.

    I drive fast.

  2. 160

    Édesen iszom a teát.

    I drink my tea sweet.

  3. 161

    Olcsót kérek.

    I want a cheap one.

  1. 162

    Olcsót kérek.

    I want a cheap one.

  2. 163

    A lány éppen olyan szép, mint a fiú.

    The girl is just as pretty as the boy.

  1. 164

    A lány éppen olyan szép, mint a fiú.

    The girl is just as pretty as the boy.

  2. 165

    A templomban nem voltak olyan sokan, mint az iskolában.

    There weren't as many people in the church as in the school.

  3. 166

    Mi van a könyvön?

    What is on the book?

  1. 167

    Mi van a könyvön?

    What is on the book?

  2. 168

    Éva adta rá a kabátot.

    It was Eve who put the coat on him.

Translation Drill

  1. 169

    It's Sunday. The weather's very pleasant, more beautiful than on Saturday.

  2. 170

    It's much warmer than it was yesterday.

  3. 171

    It was cooler all week. Today the sun's shining.

  4. 172

    The Feketes are going to the mountains by car.

  5. 173

    They like the country best in the fall.

  6. 174

    It'll be a little cooler in the mountains.

  7. 175

    On the highway the wind blows harder than in the city.

  8. 176

    They're driving along the Danube on the highway.

  9. 177

    The Danube is the widest river in Hungary.

  10. 178

    Mrs. Fekete says that the warmest month is July.

  11. 179

    The coldest month in Hungary is January.

  12. 180

    Fekete can't drive fast because there's a lot of traffic.

  13. 181

    If he could drive faster they'd arrive in the mountains sooner.

  1. 182

    Close to ('before') a village, the road is wider and it's nearer the river.

  2. 183

    In the village the houses are larger on the right side than on the left side.

  3. 184

    The road becomes narrower outside ('after') the village and there's less traffic.

  4. 185

    Fekete would like to drive faster but the road is worse than it was in the village.

  5. 186

    He'd like to pass a red car because it's going more slowly than he.

  6. 187

    The small red car is one of the most expensive German cars.

  7. 188

    Fekete's car is cheaper but it's one of the fastest cars.

  8. 189

    In the winter the Feketes like to go to the mountains to ski.

  9. 190

    Mrs. Fekete likes the country better in the winter than in the spring because there's a lot of snow then.

  10. 191

    It's more dangerous to drive on the highway in winter because it's slippery.

  11. 192

    On the lower spots in the mountains in the fall there's fog in the evenings.

  12. 193

    On the higher spots it begins to freeze earlier.

  13. 194

    In the winter the days are shorter and the nights are longer.

  1. 195

    The Feketes were in the Alps in the spring. The highest mountains in Europe are there.

  2. 196

    In Hungary the mountains are lower than in Austria.

  3. 197

    Fekete can now drive faster, because there are fewer cars on the road.

  4. 198

    They're already in the mountains and the wind's blowing harder.

  5. 199

    The road's narrower and there are lots of dangerous curves.

  6. 200

    In the forest it's darker than it was in the valley.

  7. 201

    In the valley it was easier-to drive.

  8. 202

    A storm's coming, the sky's overcast.

  9. 203

    There are dark clouds in the sky and it's beginning to rain.

  10. 204

    Behind the forest lightning is flashing and it's thundering.

  11. 205

    It's pouring. The storm's getting closer and closer.

  12. 206

    They stop on the roadside until the storm is over.

  13. 207

    Fekete turns the radio on. They're broadcasting a weather report now.

  1. 208

    The radio says that the weather will clear up a little later.

  2. 209

    After half an hour the rain stops and the sun comes out.

  3. 210

    In the next village they stop at a gas station.

  4. 211

    Fekete sees that he has a flat tire.

  5. 212

    Fortunately, he has a spare tire in the trunk.

  6. 213

    Within half an hour they change the tire.

  7. 214

    Mrs. Fekete wants to take snapshots of the houses in the village.

  8. 215

    She has her camera with her.

  9. 216

    In the village the taking of pictures is not prohibited.

  10. 217

    She takes three snapshots.

  11. 218

    Then they continue their trip.

Response Drill

  1. 219

    Where did the Johnsons go with the Kovácses?

  2. 220

    Was the weather good when they went?

  3. 221

    Has Johnson been to the Mátra yet?

  4. 222

    Which is the highest mountain in Hungary?

  5. 223

    Which is higher, the Austrian Alps or the Kékes?

  6. 224

    Where can you ski in Hungary?

  7. 225

    Is the Mátra close to Budapest?

  8. 226

    Which mountain is the closest?

  9. 227

    Why isn't it pleasant to ski on the Szabadság-hegy?

  1. 228

    What's the nicest season in Hungary?

  2. 229

    Which is the nicest season in Washington?

  3. 230

    Is fall nicer in Hungary than in Washington?

  4. 231

    Why is summer more pleasant in Hungary than in Washington?

  5. 232

    When does it start to freeze in Hungary?

  6. 233

    What are the roads like then, and what must be used?

  7. 234

    Was the traffic heavier in the mountains than in the valley?

  8. 235

    Why couldn't Johnson drive fast in the mountains?

  9. 236

    Where are the roads better, on the Alföld or in the Mátra?

  1. 237

    What kind of car went in front of the Johnsons?

  2. 238

    Was it slower than the Johnsons' car?

  3. 239

    Where was it colder, in the mountains or in the city?

  4. 240

    Why wasn't Eve cold?

  5. 241

    Why did Kovács think they would get a shower?

  6. 242

    Are there as many garages in Hungary as in America?

  7. 243

    Why did the tire have to be changed?

  8. 244

    What did Mary do while the tire was being changed?

  9. 245

    Was it still light enough for taking pictures?

  1. 246

    What did the radio say when they turned it on?

  2. 247

    Where was there lightning and rain?

  3. 248

    Who lived in the next village?

  4. 249

    What did the Kovácses and the Johnsons do?

  5. 250

    When did they continue on their way?

  6. 251

    Is it pleasant to drive at night?

  7. 252

    Do you like to drive at night?

  8. 253

    Do you usually listen to the weather report?

  9. 254

    What are the roads like in America?

  1. 255

    Which is the biggest city in America?

  2. 256

    Where are the tallest buildings in the world?

  3. 257

    Which is the best hotel in Washington?

  4. 258

    Which is the most expensive hotel in New York?

  5. 259

    Which season do you like best?

  6. 260

    Is the Indian summer beautiful in America?

  7. 261

    Where do you like best to spend the summer?

  8. 262

    Which month is the coldest in Washington?

  9. 263

    Is there a lot of snow in Washington in winter?

  1. 264

    What do you use, chains or snow tires?

  2. 265

    Where is life better, in America or in Europe?

  3. 266

    Where are there more rich people, in America or in Europe?

  4. 267

    Where are the people poorest in the world?

  5. 268

    Who is the richest man in the world?

Conversation Practice 1

  1. 269

    What's the nicest season in Hungary?

  2. 270

    Fall. But spring is also very beautiful and pleasant.

  3. 271

    Prettier than in Washington?

  4. 272

    Maybe not prettier, but more pleasant.

  5. 273

    Where is the summer warmer? In Budapest or in Washington?

  6. 274

    In Washington the summer is much warmer and longer than in Budapest.

  7. 275

    Is it colder in Budapest in winter than in Washington?

  8. 276

    Yes, it is colder. The winter is longer too, and more snow falls.

Conversation Practice 2

  1. 277

    Look what gray clouds are behind us. Aren't those snow clouds?

  2. 278

    Yes, they are. I think it will start snowing soon.

  3. 279

    I'd be very glad of that. The countryside is gorgeous when everything is white. Especially in the mountains.

  4. 280

    Do you ski?

  5. 281

    Yes, as soon as there is snow, I go to the mountains to ski.

  6. 282

    How do you usually go up? By car?

  7. 283

    Sometimes by bus, but most often in my car.

  8. 284

    Isn't it dangerous to drive in the mountains when it's freezing and the road is slippery?

  9. 285

    If you use chains, it isn't dangerous. But you mustn't drive fast.

Conversation Practice 3

  1. 286

    What kind of cars do you like? European cars or American ones?

  2. 287

    I like American cars better, because they're prettier and bigger.

  3. 288

    I like the small European cars. They're cheaper than American cars, too, and use less gasoline.

  4. 289

    Unfortunately, big cars need a wider road than small cars. And in Hungary there are no wide roads.

  5. 290

    Yes, in Hungary the roads are much narrower and worse than in America. That's why more people have small cars.

Narrative

  1. 291

    At the end of September, on a Monday morning, Johnson went from Budapest to Vienna in his car.

  2. 292

    Mr. Kis went with him; he also had business in Vienna.

  3. 293

    They agreed to meet early in the morning at the Lánchíd.

  4. 294

    There was fog on the Danube bank in the morning.

  5. 295

    On the riverbank there is often fog in the fall, especially in the morning and evening.

  6. 296

    Mr. Kis got to the Lánchíd sooner than Johnson.

  7. 297

    He was glad when he got into the warm car, because he was cold.

  8. 298

    They turned on the radio and listened to the weather report.

  9. 299

    The radio said that it would get warmer later and the sun would come out.

  10. 300

    In the western part of the country, however, there would be rain.

  11. 301

    Johnson had a lot to do at the embassy in Vienna, so he started out earlier than usual.

  12. 302

    Early in the morning fewer people were walking in the streets, and the traffic in the city was lighter too.

  13. 303

    Johnson drove fast and they were soon out of the city.

  14. 304

    On the highway too there were far fewer vehicles than usual.

  15. 305

    They stopped at a gas station and bought gasoline.

  16. 306

    Johnson bought the more expensive gasoline, because naturally that is the better.

  1. 307

    On the road the wind blew harder than between the buildings.

  2. 308

    Before one of the villages the highway was being repaired and they had to drive slowly.

  3. 309

    There were other vehicles in front of their car too; they couldn't go fast either.

  4. 310

    They saw a small red sports car.

  5. 311

    Mr. Kis said that it is one of the fastest and most expensive German cars.

  6. 312

    After the village the road became better and wider, and there they could drive faster.

  7. 313

    They talked about cars.

  8. 314

    Mr. Kis said that he liked American cars better, because they are bigger and prettier than European cars.

  9. 315

    They use more gasoline, but it is more pleasant to travel in them than in the small cars.

  10. 316

    Later the sun came out.

  11. 317

    In Győr they stopped and had a cup of coffee.

  12. 318

    Johnson was glad that he had his camera with him, because they saw beautiful old houses, and he photographed the oldest.

  13. 319

    Then they went back to their car and continued on their way.

  14. 320

    Toward noon the sky became overcast.

  15. 321

    There were dark clouds in the sky and it began to rain.

  16. 322

    There was lightning and thunder.

  17. 323

    The storm lasted only half an hour; then it cleared up and the sun came out.

  1. 324

    After one of the villages they got a flat tire.

  2. 325

    The tire had to be changed, but the nearest gas station was only five kilometers away.

  3. 326

    Fortunately, Johnson had a spare tire in the trunk, and he had his tools with him too.

  4. 327

    Mr. Kis helped, and they changed the tire in half an hour.

  5. 328

    Soon they reached Vienna.

  6. 329

    They stopped in front of the embassy.

  7. 330

    Mr. Kis had a friend in Vienna whom he wanted to visit.

  8. 331

    They agreed to meet in the evening and go to his place together.

  9. 332

    On Thursday evening Johnson had supper at the ambassador's.

  10. 333

    On Saturday they went back to Budapest.

The particulars

The course
Foreign Service Institute, Hungarian Basic Course, Washington, 1962. Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration of lines the tape lacks are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Gulliver’s Fifth and Sixth Voyages, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.