ORIGÓ Hungarian B1 key terms

A verb form that shows when an action happens, such as present, past or future. Hungarian marks past tense clearly and builds future meaning mostly with helping words rather than a separate ending.

A short particle placed before or after a verb that changes its meaning, for example meg-, el-, fel-. Its position shifts depending on stress, negation and word order, so it affects both meaning and sentence structure.

The order of words in a sentence. Hungarian word order is driven by emphasis rather than fixed rules, so moving a word forward usually signals what the speaker considers the most important information.

An ending added to a noun to show its role in the sentence, such as place, direction, possession or object. Hungarian uses many case endings where other languages would use prepositions.

An ending on a noun that shows who owns the thing, for example házam (my house) or házad (your house). It changes with the owner's person and number and often appears together with a possessive word.

A general word for any ending or suffix attached to a word. Hungarian is an agglutinative language, so several suffixes can pile up on one stem, each adding a distinct piece of meaning.

The system of verb endings that change according to the subject's person and number. Hungarian also has a second set of endings used when the verb has a definite object, which learners must keep separate.

A set of verb endings used when the sentence has a definite object, such as a named thing or a thing with the article a or az. It contrasts with the general endings used for indefinite objects.

The noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb, answering the question what or whom. In Hungarian the object usually takes the ending -t, and its definiteness decides which verb endings appear.

The verb form used for wishes, polite requests and imagined situations, roughly matching English would or could. It is often paired with a word like ha (if) in conditional sentences.

The verb form used for commands, requests and suggestions, matching English imperatives. Its endings can merge with the stem and often trigger changes in the final consonant of the verb.

The emphasis placed on a syllable or word when speaking. Hungarian stress normally falls on the first syllable of a word, and sentence stress signals which piece of information is new or contrasted.

The rise and fall of the voice across a phrase. It carries meaning in Hungarian, for example distinguishing a statement from a yes-or-no question, and it matters in listening tasks.

The skill of understanding spoken Hungarian, tested through recordings such as announcements, conversations or interviews. Candidates usually answer questions or complete notes based on what they hear, often after hearing the text twice.

A short set of notes or an outline taken while listening or reading. In exam tasks it often appears as a form or table with gaps that the candidate must fill from the text.

The skill of understanding written Hungarian, tested with articles, notices, letters or advertisements. Tasks ask candidates to find specific details, infer meaning or match statements to texts.

The person a letter, email or message is addressed to. Reading tasks often require identifying the intended reader to judge tone, formality or the purpose of the text.

The way a speaker or writer addresses the reader or listener, such as formal or informal forms. Choosing the right form is essential in letters and emails and signals the relationship between the parties.

The polite style of address used with strangers, older people or in official situations. It uses different verb endings and pronouns than informal speech, and mixing the two is a common error.

A short piece of writing produced by the candidate, such as a letter, email or opinion text. It is judged on task completion, organisation, range of vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

A paragraph, a group of sentences about one idea. Clear paragraphing helps the reader follow a written text and is part of how writing tasks are assessed.

A connecting word such as és, de, mert or bár that links ideas within or between sentences. Using a range of them makes writing flow better and shows a wider command of the language.

The spoken part of the exam, usually conducted with an examiner. It typically includes an interview, a monologue based on a prompt and a role-play or discussion task.

A speaking task in which the candidate acts out a situation with the examiner, such as asking for information or making a complaint. It tests practical communication and turn-taking.

A speaking task where the candidate talks alone about a topic for a set time. It tests fluency, organisation and the ability to develop ideas without support from a partner.

The ability to speak at a natural pace with few long pauses. It is one of the criteria used to assess speaking, together with accuracy, range and pronunciation.

The way words are pronounced. Hungarian spelling is largely regular, but stress, vowel length and consonant sounds still need attention to be understood clearly.

The set of words a learner knows and can use. It is tested across all parts of the exam, and building topic-based vocabulary is one of the most effective ways to prepare.

A word with a similar meaning to another, such as nagy and hatalmas. Exam tasks often ask candidates to match a word in the text with a different word in the question.

A pair or group of words that naturally go together, such as döntést hoz (make a decision). Using correct word combinations sounds natural and is often tested in vocabulary tasks.

The act of checking your work before handing it in. Looking back over answers for spelling, endings and word order can recover marks in reading and writing tasks.

The length of time allowed for a task or the whole exam. Knowing the timing helps candidates plan how long to spend on each section and leave time to review.

The way sentences in a text connect to form a coherent whole, through linking words, pronouns and repeated ideas. Recognising it helps in gap-fill tasks and in producing well-organised writing.

A word that stands in for a noun, such as én, ez or mindenki. Hungarian pronouns change form with case, and using them correctly keeps speech and writing clear.

A word expressing a number or quantity, such as három or sok. Forms change depending on what is counted, and prices, dates and times are common in listening tasks.

A word that describes a noun, such as szép or gyors. Hungarian adjectives do not agree in gender but take endings when used as nouns or with plural nouns in certain positions.

The formation of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, for example jobb and a legjobb. Some common forms are irregular, so they need to be learned separately.