Hungarian-English/English-Hungarian Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks) [Paperback]

Judit Hajnal Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003 | Series: Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks

Hungarian is spoken by approximately ten million people in Hungary and by an additional three million people throughout Eastern Europe, the United States and elsewhere in the world. Hungary, and particularly Budapest, is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations for travellers. This dictionary and phrasebook offers the essential vocabulary that English speakers will need while visiting some of Hungary's 1000 hot springs and 1500 castles. The phrases are complemented by practical information such as why you should being shopping bags to the supermarket or how to get in touch with the 'Yellow Angel'.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Hungarian

About the Author

Judit Hajnal Ward is a professor of Hungarian at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She has been teaching Hungarian as a second language at the Debrecen Summer University for eleven years and it president of the American Hungarian Language Center, an affiliate of the American Hungarian Foundation. She lives in Somerset, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books; Bilingual edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781809193
• ISBN-13: 978-0781809191
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 3.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Hungarian
  • #35 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hungarian > Instruction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, June 16, 2008

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Hungarian-English/English-Hungarian Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks) (Paperback)

Hungarian is so different from romance languages and English that one finds oneself literally out in the cold when listening to even the most basic conversation in Magyar. But on my next Hungarian sojourn, I will definitely bring it along.

An uneducated English speaker might think the commonly used Magyar word "jo," for example, to mean "I," or yes. It's neither. Yes is "igen," and "jo" means "good." So when you hear someone saying "Jo, jo, jo, jo," which is also very common in Hungarian exchanges, you'll at least understand that the people approve of whatever it is they are talking about.

This slim 148-page book contains a pronunciation guide and a short discussion of complex Magyar grammar, as well as a 40-page dictionary containing the most commonly used Hungarian words and a 70-page phrasebook, divided according to topics, i.e. transportation, personal data, hotels, restaurants, and the like.

I believe this neat little volume (less wide than Zagat's), could have been a lifesaver on my last trip to Hungary's gorgeous countryside. To be sure, next time I will not "leave home without it."

Highly recommended, especially at the amazingly low "used" prices.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It helps when off the beaten (Anglophone) track, May 1, 2005

By 

John L Murphy "Fionnchú" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hungarian-English/English-Hungarian Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks) (Paperback)

All I can say is that when in provincial Hungary, an English-speaker is not necessarily found. This portable phrasebook and simple dictionary serves the purpose, and using it, I was able to communicate in a limited fashion, along with gestures and smiles. The price and size are right, and it'll help you navigate in a part of Europe that still may expect German or even Russian speakers more often than intrepid and often mono-lingual Anglophones.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Usefull phrases, June 10, 2003

By 

"cranford_bob" (Kitchener, ON CAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hungarian-English/English-Hungarian Dictionary and Phrasebook (Hippocrene Dictionary & Phrasebooks) (Paperback)

I had an excellent trip to Budapest & Debrecen assisted by using this book. I was able to order food, beer, and travel with ease.