Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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

Excellent! Perfect for the Hungarian speaker who wants to learn, or refresh their language skills, especially while using the Hungarian TV shows online. This book is great for easy quick reference.

I showed this book to my Hungarian friends (whom I was visiting) and was advised that there were many mistakes. They were puzzled as to why some numbers appeared in words? Go figure. I am sorry I spent the money

We mustn't have selected carefully enough but this was not appropriate for what we were after. Fabulous for someone wanting a better level of Hungarian than just the essential tourist phrases but we wanted a way more comprehensive dictionary for a Hungarian speaker.

Because the Hungariqan alphabet and especially the pronunciation is different from English, it it a must to have next to each Hungarian word or phrase, its pronunciation - and this book it missing it!
Yes, they have pronunciation of letters in separate page, but you have to look back each time you want to learn how to prononuce a word.
If you're a beginner, stay away from this book.

I bought this book to help me translate messages and Hungarian ancestral documents for my genealogical research. This book is has very limited vocabulary. I am currently searching for a better more comprehensive Hungarian/English dictionary. Spend more money and buy a better book.