Hungarian

A language of Hungary

ISO 639-3

hun

Alternate Names

Magyar

Population

9,840,000 in Hungary (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 12,597,540.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Austria

Ukraine

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Uralic

Dialects

Western Transdanubian, Central Transdanubian, Southern Transdanubian, Southern Great Plains, Palóc, Tisza–Körös, Northeastern Hungarian. Reportedly most similar to the Uralic language Vogul (Mansi [mns]) in Siberia. Speakers of standard Hungarian have difficulty understanding the Oberwart dialect spoken in Austria, and considerable difficulty understanding the Moldavian Csángó dialect spoken in Rumania.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; noun head final; definite article; case-marking (15 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, object; no passives; tense; comparatives; 25 consonants, 14 vowels, no diphthongs; non-tonal; stress on first syllable; vowel harmony.

Language Use

Some also use English [eng] (European Commission 2006).

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1590–1991.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Hungarian

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Also spoken in:

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Austria

Language nameHungarian

Population

40,600 in Austria (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 60,000 (Laakso et al 2013).

Location

Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria, and Vienna states.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Dialects

Oberwart.

Status

4 (Educational). Statutory language of provincial identity in 7 districts in Burgenland (1976, Ethnic Groups Act, Articles 13–15).

Language Development

Taught in primary schools where there are larger numbers of speakers in Burgenland.

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Croatia

Language nameHungarian

Population

10,200 in Croatia (2014 UNSD).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Israel

Language nameHungarian

Population

70,000 in Israel (1998 H. Mutzafi).

Location

HaMerkaz and Hefa districts, Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Older adults prefer Hungarian. Also use Hebrew [heb].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Jewish.

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Romania

Language nameHungarian

Population

1,440,000 in Romania (2003 UNSD).

Location

Bihor, Brasov, Covasna, Cluj, Harghita, Mures, Satu Mare, and Sibiu provinces; Alba, Bistrita-Nasaud, Neamt, and Bacau provinces: small border areas.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Dialects

Mezoségi, Székely, Csángó.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Harghita and Covasna counties (outright majoities); also in Mures, Sate Mare, Bihor and Salay counties (over 20% total county population) (2001, Local Public Administration Law No. 215, Article 40(7), others).

Language Use

Also use Romanian [ron].

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Serbia

Language nameHungarian

Population

243,000 in Serbia (2013 UNSD).

Location

Central Banat, North Backa, North Banat, South Backa, and West Backa districts; Vojvodina area.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory language of national identity (2009, Constitution, Articles 10(2), 199). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26).

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Slovakia

Language nameHungarian

Population

509,000 in Slovakia (2013 UNSD).

Location

Nitriansky, Trnavsku, Banskobystricku, Kosicku, and Bratislavsku regions; mainly areas near southern Slovakia border.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in southeast, south (1999, National Minority Language Use Act, Article 2).

Language Use

Used as L2 by Standard German [deu].

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Slovenia

Language nameHungarian

Population

8,700 in Slovenia (Laakso et al 2013).

Location

Northeast, Pomursko Region, Hungary border.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Prekmurje region (1991, Constitution, Article 64).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Acknowledged as autochthonous (indigenous) communities and protected by the constitution.

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Ukraine

Language nameHungarian

Population

162,000 in Ukraine (2003 UNSD).

Location

Zakarpats’ka oblast’.

Alternate Names

Magyar

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

95% speak it as L1.

Other Comments

Christian.

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Ethnologue

Hungarian

Primary tabs

A language of Hungary

Also spoken in:

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