Family name often comes first
In Hungarian name order, the family name usually precedes the given name. International documents may reverse this order.
Uralic language
Have Hungarian translated
magyar
Hungarian differs fundamentally from most neighbouring languages. Word endings, name order and diacritics are particularly important in documents.
Hungarian is spoken by approximately 13 million people in Hungary and neighbouring regions.
Geographical distribution of Hungarian
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
Hungary
Romania
Slovakia
Serbia
Ukraine
Austria
Slovenia
Croatia
Germany
Schematic selection of key areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders; the map is not a comprehensive population statistic.
Language profile
Hungarian at a glance
- Native name
- magyar
- Language family
- Uralic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet with Hungarian special characters
- Language code
- hu
Documents and uses
Common uses for this language combination
The language alone is not decisive. ABBA-Sprachendienste also considers the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and requested language direction.
Request a document review- Birth and marriage certificates
- Certificates and diplomas
- Employment and pension documents
- Contracts and powers of attorney
- Court and administrative decisions
Origin and development
How the language developed
Hungarian belongs to the Ugric branch of the Uralic language family. An early continuous Hungarian text is a funeral sermon dating from the late 12th century.
The language is written in an extended Latin alphabet. Historical contact with Turkic, Slavic, German and Latin languages is reflected in its vocabulary.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
Long and short vowels
O/ó, ö/ő and u/ú, ü/ű are distinct vowel pairs and can change meaning.
Many grammatical endings
Cases and relationships are often marked directly on the word; breaking a text down literally is not enough for an accurate translation.
A brief introduction to the language
Three introductory expressions
The transliteration is intended only as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Jó napot | — | Good day |
| Köszönöm | — | Thank you |
| Kérem | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded estimates and may vary depending on the definition, survey year and whether second-language speakers are included.
- Hungarian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources current as at 14 July 2026. The information will undergo a specialist review before the production launch.
Hungarian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Hungarian
Can I have Hungarian translated into German and German into Hungarian?
Both directions can be requested. Binding confirmation is provided after the document type, subject area, certification requirements, appointment and intended use have been assessed.
Which documents are commonly relevant for Hungarian?
Birth and marriage certificates, school certificates and diplomas, employment and pension records, and contracts and powers of attorney are common examples. Other types of document can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in Hungarian documents?
The review covers the language direction, document type, Latin script with Hungarian special characters, names, stamps, subject area, intended use and any potential need for certification.
Do I need a certified translation for my Hungarian document?
The receiving authority, court, notary or other requesting body decides this. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted so that the requirements can be assessed appropriately.
Is a photo sufficient for the initial review?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually sufficient for an initial quotation review. Depending on the assignment, the original may also be required later.
Have a Hungarian ↔ German request assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally assess the language direction, document, intended use and certification requirements.
