Survival Lesson 2

August 21, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | Leave a comment

Survival Lesson 2 is here! Our survival lessons are designed for short-term visitors to Hungary to help them get around with basic phrases while in the country. Györgyi has left for Hungary and I’m currently in the US, so unfortunately this lesson is just me! The good news is, once Györgyi and I are reunited, we’ll redo this survival lesson together and I’ll erase the solo one from the server, so only the one with both of us will remain. Györgyi and I will also continue our regular lesson format once we meet up again in late September.

Please let us know what you think of the survival lessons and give us an idea of what you would like to see in the next one. As always, we welcome your feedback in general and questions about the Hungarian language. Just leave a comment anywhere on http://www.letslearnhungarian.net and we’ll be sure to get it.

Music: Curtis Maranda, “Crystal Night.” Thanks once again to Curtis for again allowing us to use his music on the podcast. Please check out more about Curtis by going to: http://www.curtismaranda.com/

Download Survival Lesson 2 here (MP3 audio, 10:45)

Vocabulary for Survival Lesson 2 (formal speech):

Duna – the Danube (river)

Hol van a Duna? – Where’s the Danube?

jobbra – to the right

balra – to the left

Kérek szépen… – I would like…

Kérek szépen egy kávét tejjel. – I would like coffee with milk.

Kérek szépen egy teát tejjel. – I would like tea with milk.

Kérek szépen egy teát cukorral. – I would like tea with sugar.

Kérek szépen egy szénsavas ásványvizet. – I would like mineral water with gas.

Kérek szépen egy szénsavmentes ásványvizet. – I would like mineral water without gas.

Fizetni szeretnék. – I’d like to pay.

Kérem, segtísen! – Please help me!

Nem beszélek magyarul. – I don’t speak Hungarian.

Csak egy kicsit tudok magyarul. – I only know a little Hungarian.

Nem értek magyarul. – I don’t understand Hungarian.

Beszél angolul? – Do you speak English

Beszél németül? – Do you speak German?

egy – one

kettő – two

három – three

négy – four

öt – five

hat – six

hét – seven

nyolc – eight

kilenc – nine

tíz – ten

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Lesson 10 – There’s a problem!

July 19, 2008 by steven in Podcast | 8 Comments

Lesson 10 is finally here! Thanks for the long wait, everyone. This lesson’s dialogue relates an actual situation that happened to us recently, so there’s a lot of authenticity to it (unfortunately). Also, we have a review of the previous lesson’s material, listener questions, and Györgyi recites from the great Hungarian poet János Arany!

See below for the script for this lesson’s material and the new vocabulary. Try and memorize as much as possible so you’ll be ready for the review next time.

Feel free to ask us if you have any questions about this lesson or Hungarian in general, or just to let us know what you think of our podcast. Just leave a comment on this post or on any other one. Thanks for listening!

Answers to last lesson’s quiz question: Duna, Tisza, Dráva, Száva are four rivers that ran through pre-war Hungary.

A copy of János Arany’s epic poem, “A Walesi Bárdok” in both English and Hungarian can be found here.

Music: Once again we bring you music from the brilliant Budapest-based Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, “There Are Days.” Find out more about Mookie and his excellent band by going to http://www.mookiebrando.com/ Thanks so much to Mookie and his Cousins for allowing us to use their music on the podcast.

Download Lesson 10 here (MP3 audio, 30:00)

Dialogue for Lesson 10 (informal speech):

Györgyi: Szia, én vagyok.

Steven: Szia, minden rendben?

Györgyi: Hát, nem, sajnos. Baj van. Nem megy a kocsi.

Steven: Nem megy a kocsi? Jól vagy?

Györgyi: Igen, jól vagyok. De a kocsi nem működik.

Steven: Hol vagy most?

Györgyi: Az úton. Vagyis, a sztrádán.

Steven: A sztrádán? Hűha.

Györgyi: Légyszi, segíts!

Steven: Jó… na, most meg a mobil nem működik. Lemerült.

Dialogue for Lesson 10 (English translation):

Györgyi: Hey, it’s me.

Steven: Hi, is everything ok?

Györgyi: Well, no, unfortunately. There’s a problem. The car isn’t moving.

Steven: The car isn’t moving? Are you ok?

Györgyi: Yeah, I’m fine. But the car isn’t working.

Steven: Where are you now?

Györgyi: On the road. That is, the expressway.

Steven: On the expressway? Oh boy.

Györgyi: Help me, please?

Steven: All right… uh oh, now the cell phone doesn’t work. The battery’s dead.

Vocabulary for Lesson 10:

walesi – Welsh

Walesi vagyok. – I’m Welsh.

Én vagyok – it’s me

baj – problem

Baj van. – There’s a problem.

megy – going, moving

nem megy – not going, not moving

működik – working

nem működik – not working

út – road

az úton – on the road

vagyis – that is…, I mean…

sztráda – expressway, highway

a sztrádán – on the expressway

hűha – oh boy!

légyszi – please (informal)

segíts – help me! (informal)

Legyen szíves, segítsen! – Help me, please! (formal)

Kérem, segítsen! – Help me, please! (formal)

mobil, mobiltelefon – mobile phone, cell phone

lemerült – the battery’s dead

Csináljak egy képet rólad? – Shall I take a photo of you? (informal, said to one person only)

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Survival Lesson 1

June 21, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 18 Comments

We introduce a new format to our podcast this time – the Survival Lesson! It’s designed for short-term visitors to Hungary to help them manage while in the country. We hope you like this format, which will be offered occasionally throughout the summer. The next lesson will continue with Lesson 10 in the regular format that we’ve used until now. Enjoy!

Music: Curtis Maranda, “Playtime.” Thanks to Curtis for again allowing us to use his music on the podcast. You can find out more about Curtis by going to http://www.curtismaranda.com/

Download Survival Lesson 1 here (MP3 audio, 17:48)

Vocabulary for Survival Lesson 1 (informal speech):

Jó reggelt – Good morning

Jó napot – Good afternoon

Jó estét – Good evening

Jó éjszakat – Good night

Köszönöm – Thank you

Köszönöm szépen – Thank you very much

Bocsánat – Excuse me

Ezt, kérem. – I would like this.

Egészségedre! – Cheers!

Segítség! – Help!

tolvaj – thief

Hol van a…? – Where’s the…?

Hol van a WC? – Where’s the toilet?

Hagyj békén! – Leave me alone!

Viszontlátásra! – Goodbye!

Viszlát! – Bye!

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Lesson 9 – Where’s Szentendre?

June 1, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 8 Comments

Lesson 9 introduces a new native speaker to our podcast – Milán! Milán has a great voice for podcasting and we’re really pleased to have his assistance for this lesson. Hopefully we’ll have him on the podcast again and get the chance to know him a bit more.

See below for the script for this lesson’s material and the new vocabulary. Try and memorize as much as possible so you’ll be ready for the review next time!

Music: Nomada, “Aven le Roma.” Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Hungary License. Available at remix.creativecommons.hu.

Download Lesson 9 here (MP3 audio, 29:21)

Dialogue for Lesson 9 (informal speech):

Jennifer: De jó ez a kép!

Balázs: Igen. Az Szentendre.

Jennifer: Szentendre? Hol van Szentendre?

Balázs: Nincs messze. Innen harminc kilóméter.

Jennifer: Hmmmm, következő kép… Ki ??

Balázs: Ő? Csak egy barát.

Jennifer: Nem inkább egy barátnő??!?!??!

Balázs: Uhhhhhhh……..

Dialogue for Lesson 9 (English translation):

Jennifer: What a great picture!

Balázs: Yes, that’s Szentendre.

Jennifer: Szentendre? Where’s Szentendre?

Balázs: It’s not far. Thirty kilometers from here.

Jennifer: Hmmmm, next picture… Who’s she?

Balázs: Her? Just a friend.

Jennifer: Don’t you mean a girlfriend??!?!??!

Balázs: Uhhhhhhh……..

Vocabulary for Lesson 9:

Hogy hívnak? – What’s your name? (informal)

Honnan jöttél? – Where are you from? (informal)

Budapestről jöttem. – I’m from Budapest.

Amerikából jöttem. – I’m from America.

svéd – Swedish

Svéd vagyok. – I’m Swedish.

tizenhárom – thirteen

tizennégy – fourteen

tizenöt – fifteen

De jó… – What a great…, What a nice…

De jó! – How great! How wonderful!

kép – picture

Szentendre – small town on the Danube north of Budapest

hol – where

Hol van… – Where is…?

Hol van a WC? – Where’s the toilet?

messze – far

Nincs messze. – It’s not far.

Messze van. – It’s far.

innen – from here

harminc – thirty

kilóméter – kilometer, kilometers

kétezer – two thousand

háromezer – three thousand

négyezer – four thousand

ötezer – five thousand

hatezer – six thousand

következő – next

ki – who

ő – he, she

barát – friend, boyfriend

Ő a barátom. – He’s my boyfriend.

inkább – rather, instead (of)

barátnő – girlfriend

lelkes tanuló – avid learner

Indiai vagyok. – I’m Indian.

Örülök, hogy találkoztunk. – Nice to meet you.

Szeretjük a lányotokat. – We love your daughter. (informal)

Szeretjük a lányukat. – We love your daughter. (formal)

Szép szemed van. – You have nice eyes. (informal)

Szexis szemed van. – You have sexy eyes. (Sounds a little ridiculous!)

Hajrá! – Do your best! Good luck!

Funny phrase of the week:

Darázs fészek, darázs fészek, de nem is ember, aki nem részeg!

Wasp’s nest, wasp’s nest, but you’re not a person unless you’re drunk!

!!SPECIAL CONTEST!!

What do these four words mean? How are they connected? Write us if you think you know!

“Duna, Tisza, Dráva, Száva”

Thanks for listening!!

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Lesson 8 – Happy Mother’s Day!

May 8, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 8 Comments

Lesson 8 is between a mother and her son on Mother’s Day, and the son’s embarrassing admission about his gift to her. We answer several listener questions on this lesson, and also discuss the tradition of Hungarian name days and other odd tidbits of Hungarian culture that you might not have been aware of.

See below for the script for this lesson’s material and the new vocabulary. Try and memorize as much as possible so you’ll be ready for the review next time!

Links discussed in the podcast:

House of Hungarian Wines: http://www.magyarborokhaza.hu/index.php

Mátyás Pince: http://www.matyaspince.hu/

Kulacs Étterem: http://www.kulacs.hu/

Budacast podcast: http://www.budacast.hu/

Music: Ernő Király, “Bor Nota” (“Wine Song”) (1914). Source: Internet Archive

Download Lesson 8 here (MP3 audio, 29:50)

Dialogue for Lesson 8 (informal speech):

Fiú: Boldog Anyák Napját!

Anya: Köszönöm szépen. Mi ez?

Fiú: Ajándék!

Anya: Megnézhetem most?

Fiú: Persze.

Anya: Ó, ez nagyon szép!

Fiú: Tetszik?

Anya: Igen. Mennyibe került?

Fiú: Hát, azt hiszem, hogy az idén nem lesz mas ajándékod!

Dialogue for Lesson 8 (English translation):

Son: Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother: Thanks so much. What’s this?

Son: A present!

Mother: Can I look at it now?

Son: Of course.

Mother: Oh, it’s very beautiful.

Son: Do you like it?

Mother: Yes. How much was it?

Son: Well, I think that you won’t get any more presents this year!

Vocabulary for Lesson 8:

lengyel – Polish

brazil – Brazilian

Brazília – Brazil

boldog – happy

anya – mother

nap – day

Boldog Anyák Napját – Happy Mother’s Day

Boldog Születésnapot – Happy Birthday

ajándék – present, gift

Megnézhetem? – Can I look at it?

persze – of course

nagyon – very

szép – beautiful

Tetszik. – I like it. (Or, You like it, He likes it, etc.)

Tetszik? – Do you like it?

Mennyibe kerül? – How much is it? How much does it cost?

Azt hiszem, hogy… – I think that…

az idén – this year

lesz – will be

nem lesz – will not be

más – other, another

Boldog Névnapot – Happy Name Day

Svédországból jöttem. – I come from Sweden.

bor – wine

fehérbor – white wine

vörösbor – red wine

Van valami hagyma nélküli étel? – Do you have any food without onions?

kulacs – traditional Hungarian shepherd’s water bottle

tök – pumpkin

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Lesson 7 – I don’t drink coffee anymore

April 15, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 5 Comments

Lesson 7 brings us a dialogue between two old friends, Csaba and Katalin, who unexpectedly run into each other in a restaurant after not having met for a long time. Katalin wants to have a drink with Csaba, but he has a surprise for her!

See below for the script for this lesson’s material and the new vocabulary words. See how much of it you can memorize for the next lesson, as I’m sure we’ll have another review waiting for you.

Intro music: Curtis Maranda, “7th Heaven”. Check out more of Curtis’ work at http://www.curtismaranda.com/

Outro music: Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, “Mister Cliché”. You can find out more about Budapest-based Mookie Brando at http://www.mookiebrando.com/ Thanks to Curtis and Mookie for allowing us to use their original music on the podcast.

Download Lesson 7 here (MP3 audio, 24:18)

Dialogue for Lesson 7 (informal speech):

Katalin: Csaba, te vagy?? Én vagyok, Katalin.

Csaba: Hű, szia Katalin!

Katalin: Hát, ezer éve nem találkoztunk.

Csaba: Igen. Hogy vagy? Minden rendben?

Katalin: Kösz, jól. Most…

Pincér: Tessék parancsolni.

Katalin: Ööööö, mit iszol, Csaba? Kávét? Teát?

Csaba: Nem, köszönöm. Most már nem iszom kávét.

Katalin: Komolyan? Miért nem?

Csaba: Mert Hare Krishna lettem.

Katalin: Micsoda??!?!?

Dialogue for Lesson 7 (English translation):

Katalin: Csaba, is that you? It’s me, Katalin.

Csaba: Whoa, hi Katalin.

Katalin: Wow, we haven’t met in ages.

Csaba: Yeah. How are you? Is everything ok?

Katalin: Fine, thanks. At the moment…

Waiter: May I take your order?

Katalin: Uhhh, what will you have to drink, Csaba? Coffee? Tea?

Csaba: No thanks. I don’t drink coffee anymore.

Katalin: Really? Why not?

Csaba: Because I’ve become a Hare Krishna.

Katalin: What??!?!?

Vocabulary for Lesson 7:

Hogy vagytok? – How are you? (when speaking to more than one person)

mindenki – everybody

Mi újság? – What’s up?

semmi – nothing

tizenegy – eleven

tizenkettő – twelve

kínai – Chinese

lassabban – more slowly

te – you (informal singular)

következő – next

hát – well, um…

Ezer éve nem találkoztunk. – We haven’t met in ages.

Tessék parancsolni. – May I take your order?

iszol – you drink (something)

Mit iszol? – What are you drinking? What are you having to drink?

kávé – coffee

tea – tea

iszom – I drink (something)

most már nem – not… anymore

komolyan – really, seriously

mert – because

lettem – I’ve become (something)

micsoda – what (often used to express surprise)

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Lesson 6 – What time is it?

March 27, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 13 Comments

Lesson 6 presents some very useful phrases for the traveler to Hungary! Have a listen and try to memorize as much as possible. This lesson’s dialogue isn’t as long as in previous lessons, so it shouldn’t be that hard to memorize it all.

We also discuss some Easter traditions in Hungary, and present the winner of last lesson’s challenge to continue the mineral water dialogue between the restaurant patron and her waiter.

Our music is again provided by the very talented Budapest-based Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, who were kind enough to offer us their song “Angelina” for this podcast. Please see more of their work at http://www.mookiebrando.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/mookiebrando where there are several songs available for download! Thanks so much to Mookie and his kin for allowing us to use their music on the podcast.

Thanks for listening to the podcast, and if you have any comments or questions, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to leave a comment on this post or on any other one.

Download Lesson 6 here (MP3 audio, 26:00)

Dialogue for Lesson 6 (formal speech):

Woman: Elnézést, meg tudná mondani, hogy mennyi az idő?

Tourist: Öööööö, bocsánat, beszél angolul? Én csak egy kicsit tudok magyarul.

Woman: Ahhh, külföldi. Az idő. Mennyi az idő?

Tourist: Idő? Idő… Ah, az idő! Most tíz óra van.

Woman: Köszönöm szépen.

Tourist: Nincs mit.

Dialogue for Lesson 6 (English translation):

Woman: Excuse me, would you tell me what time it is?

Tourist: Uhhhhh, sorry. Do you speak English? I only know a little Hungarian.

Woman: Ahhh, you’re a foreigner. The time. What time is it?

Tourist: Time? Time… Ah, the time! It’s ten o’clock now.

Woman: Thank you very much.

Tourist: Not at all.

Vocabulary for Lesson 6:

két – two (of something)

holland – Dutch

Holland vagyok. – I’m Dutch.

már – already

Most már mindent értek. – I understand now.

Meg tudná mondani, hogy… – Would you tell me…

mennyi – how much, how many

idő – time

Mennyi az idő? – What time is it?

bocsánat – sorry

beszél – you speak (formal)

angolul – in English

Beszél angolul? – Do you speak English? (formal)

Beszélsz angolul? – Do you speak English? (informal)

én – I

csak – only, just

egy kicsit – a little, a little bit

tudok – I know

magyarul – in Hungarian

Tudok magyarul. – I know Hungarian.

külföldi – foreigner

óra – o’clock, clock

Tíz óra van. – It’s ten o’clock.

Nincs mit. – Not at all.

Easter – Húsvét

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Lesson 5 – I’d like a mineral water

March 13, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 8 Comments

Lesson 5 shows us a conversation between Ági, a customer, and a waiter. Ági just wants a drink, but has a hard time getting one!

Please see below for the dialogue and vocabulary for Lesson 5 below. Try your best to learn all of the new expressions, and see if you can memorize the dialogue too!

This lesson’s music was brought to you courtesy of Budapest-based Mookie Brando and the Second Cousins, “Slow Walk Home.” Find out more about this excellent band by going to http://www.mookiebrando.com/

Thanks for listening! And feel free to leave a comment or a question below. We welcome your feedback!

Download Lesson 5 here (MP3 audio, 26:48)

Dialogue for Lesson 5 (formal speech):

Ági: Legyen szíves!

Pincér: Parancsoljon.

Ági: Kérek szépen egy sört.

Pincér: Elnézést, nincsen sör.

Ági: Nincs sör? Akkor kérek egy kólát.

Pincér: Sajnos, nincs kóla.

Ági: Akkor mi van?

Pincér: Ásványvíz van.

Ági: Jó. Kérek szépen egy ásványvizet.

Pincér: Tessék. Ezer forint lesz.

Ági: Ezer forint??!?!?!?

Dialogue for Lesson 5 (English translation):

Ági: Excuse me!

Waiter: At your service.

Ági: I’d like a beer, please.

Waiter: Sorry, we don’t have beer.

Ági: No beer? Then I’ll have a cola.

Waiter: Unfortunately, we don’t have cola.

Ági: Then what do you have?

Waiter: We have mineral water.

Ági: Fine. I’d like a mineral water, please.

Waiter: Here you are. That’ll be 1,000 forint.

Ági: 1,000 forint??!?!?!?

Vocabulary for Lesson 5:

Erzsébet – Elizabeth

is – also, too

belga – Belgian

Belga vagyok. – I’m Belgian.

hat – six

hét – seven

nyolc – eight

kilenc – nine

tíz – ten

legyen szíves (formal) – please

parancsoljon – at your service

Kérek szépen… – I’d like…

sör – beer

elnézést – excuse me, I’m sorry

nincs (nincsen) – we don’t have, there is no

kóla – cola, soda pop, Coke

sajnos – unfortunately

Mi van? – What do you have?

ásványvíz – mineral water

víz – water

ezer – one thousand

Grammar for Lesson 5:

1. there is/there isn’t

There is (something). –> (Something) van.

Ex. Ásványvíz van. We have mineral water.

There isn’t (something). –> Nincs (something).

Ex. Nincs sör. We don’t have beer.

2. Direct object ending

-the direct object takes a “-t” ending:

kóla –> kólát

sör –> sört

Kérek szépen egy kólát. I’d like a cola, please.

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Lesson 4 – Everything hurts!

February 25, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 11 Comments

Lesson 4 introduces you to Zoltán and his Aunt Erzsi, who insists she is fine even though everything seems to hurt! This is another informal language dialogue with a number of useful, everyday expressions.

We enjoy reading your comments and finding out how you enjoy the podcast and why you’re interested in learning Hungarian. Feel free to drop us a line on a post and let us know your thoughts. Thanks again to all those who’ve previously written.

Our theme music is provided courtesy of Curtis Maranda. You can check out more of his music by going to http://www.curtismaranda.com/ Thanks again to Curtis for providing us with the music for our podcast.

Download Lesson 4 here (MP3 audio, 18:41)

Dialogue for Lesson 4 (casual speech):

Zoltán: Szia Erzsi néni. Hogy vagy? Jól vagy?

Aunt Erzsi: Jól vagyok. Minden rendben van.

Zoltán: Igen? Az jó.

Aunt Erzsi: Igen. De mostanában fáj a lábam. És fáj a karom. Meg fáj a hátam is.

Zoltán: Hmmmmmm. Szóval jól vagy.

Aunt Erzsi: Igen, jól vagyok.

Dialogue for Lesson 4 (English translation):

Zoltán: Hi Auntie Erzsi. How are you? Are you well?

Aunt Erzsi: I’m fine. Everything’s all right.

Zoltán: Oh, yeah? That’s good.

Aunt Erzsi: Yes, but nowadays my legs hurt. And my arms hurt. And my back hurts as well.

Zoltán: Hmmmmm. So you’re well.

Aunt Erzsi: Yes, I’m fine.

Vocabulary for Lesson 4:

ausztrál – Australian

olasz – Italian

néni – an older woman, “Auntie”

Jól vagy? – Are you well?

Jól vagyok. – I’m fine.

minden – everything

rendben van/rendben – It’s ok, It’s all right.

az – that

Az jó. – That’s fine, that’s great.

de – but

mostanában – nowadays, these days

fáj – hurt, something hurts

Fáj a lábam. – My legs hurt.

láb – leg(s)

a lábam – my leg(s)

Fáj a karom. – My arms hurt.

kar – arm(s)

a karom – my arm(s)

meg – and, and so

Fáj a hátam. – My back hurts.

hát – back

a hátam – my back

is – also, as well

szóval – in short, in one word

Jól vagy. – You’re well.

some common Hungarian “pet names”

szivem – my heart

drágám – my dear

édesem – my sweet

kincsem – my treasure

cicám – my kitty

mókuskám – my squirrel

macikám – my bear

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Lesson 3 – Shall we go to the movies?

February 8, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 11 Comments

Lesson 3 is packed with lots of useful, everyday expressions, so make sure you learn them well! See below for the new dialogue, vocabulary, and some simple grammar forms. It’s a lot of new material, but try to learn it all if you can, and see if you can memorize the dialogue too.

We love getting feedback, hearing how all of you are doing with the language, and why you want to learn Hungarian, so feel free to leave us a comment on this post with your thoughts and impressions. Thanks for all of the previous comments and words of support.

Once again, our theme music is provided courtesy of Curtis Maranda. Please check out more of his music by going to http://www.curtismaranda.com/ Thanks to Curtis for providing us with the music for our podcast.

Download Lesson 3 here (MP3 audio, 21:47)

Dialogue for Lesson 3 (casual speech):

Mari: Halló.

James: Szia Mari! James vagyok.

Mari: Szia James! Hogy vagy?

James: Kösz, jól. Most szabad vagy?

Mari: Igen, miért?

James: Nem megyünk moziba?

Mari: Jaj, bocs, most nem tudok.

James: Jó. Akkor máskor. Szia!

Mari: Szia!

Dialogue for Lesson 3 (English translation):

Mari: Hello!

James: Hi, Mari! It’s James.

Mari: Hi, James! How are you?

James: Fine, thanks. Are you free now?

Mari: Yes, why?

James: Do you want to go to the movies?

Mari: Oh, sorry, I can’t (go) now.

James: All right. Another time, then. Bye!

Mari: Bye!

Vocabulary for Lesson 3:

német – German

német vagy? (informal) – Are you German?

ír – Irish

Ír vagy? (informal) – Are you Irish?

orosz – Russian

orosz vagy? (informal) – Are you Russian?

halló – Hello (answering the phone)

szia – hi/bye (to one person only)

sziasztok – hi/bye (to more than one person)

Magyar vagyok. – I’m Hungarian.

Amerikai vagyok. – I’m American.

Angol vagyok. – I’m English.

Kanadai vagyok. – I’m Canadian.

hogy – how

vagy – you are

Hogy vagy? – How are you?

kösz – thanks

köszi – thanks

jól – fine, well

most – now

szabad – free

miért – why

megyünk – we go (somewhere)

mozi – the movies, movie theater

moziba – to the movies

jaj – oh!, oh no!

bocs – sorry (casual)

nem tudok – I can’t

tudok – I can

akkor – then

máskor – another time

Grammar for Lesson 3:

1. Stating your name:

(your name) vagyok.

I’m (your name).

2. Stating your nationality:

(your nationality) vagyok.

I’m (your nationality).

3. Negating a verb:

-place nem before the verb

tudok (I can) — nem tudok (I can’t)

értem (I understand) — nem értem (I don’t understand)

megyünk (we go) — nem megyünk (we don’t go)

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Lesson 2 – Buying a ticket

January 18, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 8 Comments

Lesson 2 is available here! It is a bit longer than the first lesson with A LOT of new vocabulary and grammar, so make sure you listen several times, follow along with the script below, and try to memorize as much as you can. Thanks for all your comments on the first lesson, we really appreciate your feedback! We always welcome your questions and opinions, so feel free to leave a comment below. And thanks for listening!

Theme music: Curtis Maranda, “Crystal Night.” Please check out more of his music by going to http://www.curtismaranda.com/ Thanks to Curtis for providing us with the music for this podcast.

Download Lesson 2 here (MP3 audio, 21:40)

Dialogue for Lesson 2 (in formal speech):

Ticket vendor: Jó napot.

Tourist: Egy metrójegyet kérek.

Ticket vendor: Vonaljegyet vagy átszállójegyet?

Tourist: Ööööööö, nem értem.

Ticket vendor: Ajaj! Hová megy?

Tourist: A Deák térre megyek.

Ticket vendor: Jó. Tessék egy vonaljegy. 270 forint lesz.

Tourist: Köszönöm szépen.

Dialogue for Lesson 2 (English translation):

Ticket vendor: Hello.

Tourist: I’d like a subway ticket.

Ticket vendor: (Would you like) a line ticket or a transfer ticket?

Tourist: Uhhhh, I don’t understand.

Ticket vendor: Uh-oh. Where are you going?

Tourist: I’m going to Deák Square.

Ticket vendor: All right. Here’s a line ticket. That’ll be 270 forint.

Tourist: Thank you very much!

Vocabulary for Lesson 2:

angol – English

Angol? – Are you English? (formal)

Angol vagy? – Are you English? (informal)

kanadai – Canadian

Kanadai? – Are you Canadian? (formal)

Kanadai vagy? – Are you Canadian? (informal)

francia – French

Francia? – Are you French? (formal)

Francia vagy? – Are you French? (informal)

egy – one, a (the indefinite article)

kettő – two

három – three

négy – four

öt – five

metrójegy – subway ticket

metró – subway

jegy – ticket

kérek – I would like…

vonaljegy – line ticket (for use on Budapest’s public transportation)

vagy – or

átszállójegy – transfer ticket (to transfer on public transportation lines in Budapest)

Nem értem – I don’t understand.

Ajaj! – Uh-oh!

Hová megy? – Where are you going? (formal)

a – the (definite article)

Deák tér – Deák Square (central square in Budapest)

tér – square, plaza

megyek – I’m going (somewhere)

Tessék egy… – Here’s a… (something)

kettőszázhetven – two hundred-seventy

forint – name of the Hungarian currency

lesz – will be

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Lesson 1 – On the train

January 2, 2008 by Let's Learn Hungarian! in Podcast | 20 Comments

Lesson 1 is available for download or listening below! Note that you can also subscribe to our podcast for free through the iTunes link on the left, or through a podcatcher like Juice.

We hope you enjoy the lesson and we’d love to get your feedback, so feel free to leave a comment or write an email.

We owe a big debt of gratitude to the folks over at Japanese Pod101 for providing us with the spiritual inspiration and pattern to make this podcast possible. Those guys are the gold standard in language learning podcasts, and we hope everyone will head over there and check them out as well.

Original music for the podcast was kindly provided by Curtis Maranda. Check out more of his music by going to http://www.curtismaranda.com/

Please see below for the dialogue and vocabulary for Lesson 1, and thanks for listening!

Download Lesson 1 here (MP3 audio, 14:26)

Dialogue for Lesson 1:

Border Guard: Jó napot kívánok.

Tourist: Jó napot.

BG: Az útlevelét, kérem.

T: Tessék.

BG: Köszönöm. Hmmmm, amerikai?

T: Igen.

BG: Turista?

T: Igen.

BG: Jó. Tessék. Jó utat kívánok.

T: Köszönöm szépen. Viszontlátásra.

Dialogue for Lesson 1: (translation)

Border Guard: Hello.

Tourist: Hello.

BG: Passport, please.

T: Here you are.

BG: Thank you. Hmmmm, are you American?

T: Yes.

BG: Are you a tourist?

T: Yes.

BG: Fine. Here you are. Have a nice trip.

T: Thank you very much. Goodbye.

Vocabulary for Lesson 1:

jó napot – hello, good afternoon

jó napot kívánok – hello, good afternoon (more polite)

útlevél – passport

kérem – please

tessék – here you are

köszönöm – thank you

Amerikai? – Are you American?

amerikai – American

Magyar? – Are you Hungarian?

magyar – Hungarian

igen – yes

nem – no

Turista? – Are you a tourist?

turista – tourist

jó – good, fine

Jó utat (kívánok). – Have a nice trip.

Köszönöm szépen. – Thank you very much.

viszontlátásra – goodbye

viszlát! – bye!

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