The Hungarian alphabet [HungarianReference.com > Alphabet & pronunciation (2024)

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The Hungarian alphabet contains 40 natural letters, including 14 vowels.

There are some letters that are used almost exclusively with adapted words, such as dzsungel (jungle).

There are some letters that are not part of the natual alphabet, but which are made available for certain loan words: It borrows 4letters from Latin/English, which I have not included in the table.
These letters are Q (ku), W (dupla vé), X (iksz)and Y (ipszilon).

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You may have seen in the list above that some letters are comprised of two or three separate parts (gylphs) that happen to look likeLatin letters. These are: cs, dz, dzs, gy, ly, ny, sz, ty, zs. In fact, they are formed with two or threeindependent key presses on Latin keyboard buttons (unlike Russian Ы which has its own button).

However, they are considered one letter.

When we encounter two such letters consecutivly, we double only the first glyph. For example, busz + -szal = busszal.

The exception to this rule is when we have to wrap the word over two lines. When then write each letter in full:
Megyek busz-
-szal minden nap.

When a letter is doubled, each is pronounced. That means that abban is pronounced ab-banand not ab-an.

When a double-glyph letter is doubled, the first part is held. That means that busszal is pronouncedbusz-szal and not busz-al.

When a double-glyph letter that would be transliterated as two English letters is doubled,only the first part is doubled. For example, the c invicc is tranliterated as ts, but when we double it we do not end up with tsts.We end up with tts: vicc sounds like vitts .

Each vowel is pronounced on its own. There are essentially no diphthongs.

In this absolute beauty of a word (meaning "those (plural) of his sons"),we must sound out each letter:

fiaiéi is pronounced fee-ahh-ee-air-ee.

The explanation of the grammar behind this word, known as plural external possession,is found on the linked page.

The following consonants are a little bit special in that they do not usually require a link vowel before applying a -t suffix.

They are: L, R, N, Ny, J.

For examples:

• lány girl becomes lányt girl (accusative)Note it's not lányot.
• megáll stand becomes megállt he stoodNote it's not megállott.
• kér ask, request becomes kért he askedNote it's not kérett.

You will see the following letters in place names and surnames. They are maintained for historical purposes.

• aa, aá = á
• cz = c
• ch, ts = cs
• oo, oó = ó
• eo, ew = ö, ő
• th = t
• w = v
• y = i

Here are some examples sent to me by a native. They show how English words would be spelled using Hungarianletters, still maintaining the phonetic goal. They are a great help in learning the alphabet.

• a - {a}wful - aful
• á - {u}nbelieveable - ánbölívöböl
• b - {b}elow - biló
• c - {ts}unami - cünámi
• cs - {ch}oke - csók
• d - {d}rug - drág
• dz - pi{zz}a - pidza
• dzs - {J}oe - dzsó
• e - {e}lephant - elifönt
• é - {a}ngel - éndzsöl
• f - {f}rog - frog
• g - {g}oogle - gúgöl
• gy - {d}uring - gyuring
• h - {h}ow - háó
• i - {e}leven - ilevön
• í - b{ee} - bí
• j - {y}ellow - jellóu
• k - {c}ow - káo
• l - {l}ow - ló
• ly - {y}ellow - jellóu
• m - {m}orn - món
• n - {n}ear - níör
• ny - {n}ew - nyú
• o - {a}ll - ol
• ó - {o}ver - óvör
• ö - {a}gain - ögen
• ő - b{ur}n - bőn
• p - {p}eter - pítör
• q - Van{cou}ver - Venkúvör
• r - {R}obert - Rabört
• s - {sh}y - sáj
• sz - {s}ilver - szilvör
• t - {t}own - táun
• ty - {t}ube - tyúb
• u - pull - pull
• ú - cr{ew} - krú
• ü - L{u}ke - lük
• ű - (French) t{u} - tű
• v - {v}ery - véri
• z - {z}oo - zú
• zs - (French) {J}aques - Zsáksz

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