ECL Hungarian B2 key terms

A speaker's or writer's considered position on an issue, often signalled by phrases like 'véleményem szerint' or 'az az álláspontom, hogy'. Recognising whose stance is being expressed is useful for understanding opinion texts and debates.

The way something is phrased or worded. Tasks may ask you to reformulate a sentence or choose the option that best matches the original meaning, so sensitivity to wording is essential.

Restating an idea in different words while keeping the meaning. Paraphrase questions in the reading paper require spotting which option says the same thing as the original without copying its wording.

Synonymous, having a similar meaning. Vocabulary tasks often test whether you can match a word in the text with a synonym in the question, so building synonym pairs is a core preparation strategy.

The skill of understanding spoken Hungarian, tested by listening to recordings and answering questions. Written scripts cannot assess actual listening without recordings.

Taking notes while listening or reading. When listening to a recording, writing down key words, numbers, and names quickly is essential to answering detail questions accurately.

Identifying the main point or gist of a text rather than every detail. Many tasks ask for the speaker's overall message, so distinguishing central ideas from supporting examples is a core reading and listening skill.

The structured presentation of reasons supporting a claim, typically using connectors such as 'először is', 'másrészt', 'ezért'. Candidates must follow the chain of argument in longer texts and reproduce it in their own writing tasks.

A counter-argument raised against a position, often introduced with 'ugyanakkor', 'bár', 'viszont'. Identifying and responding to counter-arguments is expected in C1-level essays and in understanding balanced articles.

The act of developing an idea in full detail rather than stating it briefly. In the writing paper, candidates must expand a topic sentence into a coherent paragraph with explanation and examples, not just list points.

The overall organisation of a text: introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and the logical order of ideas. Examiners reward clear structure in essays and letters, and reading tasks often test how a passage is organised.

A paragraph, a group of sentences developing one main idea. In advanced practice, candidates should divide written work into well-defined paragraphs, each beginning with a clear topic sentence.

The range of words a learner knows and can use. In advanced practice, examiners expect varied, precise vocabulary including collocations and idiomatic expressions, not just basic words repeated.

A fixed or habitual word combination such as 'döntést hoz' or 'szerepet játszik'. Using natural collocations rather than literal translations is a key marker of advanced command in speaking and writing.

An idiom or set expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from its parts, for example 'kezébe veszi a dolgokat'. Recognising these in listening texts and using a few appropriately shows C1 fluency.

The ability to speak fluently and appropriately, assessed in the oral exam. Candidates discuss topics, describe situations, and express opinions, and are judged on fluency, accuracy, vocabulary range, and interaction.

Fluency: the ability to speak at a natural pace with few long pauses. In advanced practice, minor hesitation is acceptable, but constant stopping to search for words lowers the score.

Pronunciation, how words are sounded. Hungarian spelling is largely phonetic, but stress always falls on the first syllable of a word, and vowel length distinctions must be clear to be understood.

Intonation, the rise and fall of the voice across a sentence. In Hungarian, question intonation and contrastive stress carry meaning, so flat delivery can confuse listeners in the speaking test.

A role-play task in the oral exam where you act out a situation, for example complaining in a shop or asking for information. You must respond appropriately to the examiner's prompts and keep the exchange going.