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
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
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 areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- 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 glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Jó napot | — | Good day |
| Köszönöm | — | Thank you |
| Kérem | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey 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 as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Hungarian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Hungarian
Can I have Hungarian translated into German and German into Hungarian?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
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?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Have a Hungarian ↔ German request assessed
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
