Hungarian

A language of Hungary

ISO 639-3

hun

Autonym

Magyar

Population

9,780,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 12,552,400.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Austria

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

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 Full

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

Location

Burgenland, Lower Austria, Styria, and Vienna states.

Alternate Names

Magyar, Ungarisch

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 Full

10,200 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 14,000 (2011 census).

Location

Bjelovar-Bilogora, Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Syrmia, and Zagreb city.

Alternate Names

Madžarski, Magyar

Status

5 (Dispersed). Statutory language of provincial identity in Osjecko-Baranjska county (2002, Constitutional Law on the Rights of Minorities, Article 15), based on census results, the Hungarian minority also has the right to elect 1 member to the national legislature.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Israel

Language nameHungarian

Population Full

70,000 (1998 H. Mutzafi).

Location

HaMerkaz, Hefa, and Tel Aviv districts.

Alternate Names

Magyar

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 Full

1,260,000 (2014 UNSD).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Maghiar, Magyar

Dialects

Mezoségi, Székely, Csángó.

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Harghita and Covasna departments (outright majoities); also in Mures, Sate Mare, Bihor and Salay departments (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 Full

243,000 (2013 UNSD).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Mađarski, Magyar

Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Autonomous Province Vojvodina (2009, Autonomous Province Vojvodina Statute, Article 26).

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Slovakia

Language nameHungarian

Population Full

509,000 (2013 UNSD).

Location

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

Alternate Names

Maďarský, 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 Full

8,700 (Laakso et al 2013).

Location

Pomurska region: Hungary border area.

Alternate Names

Madžarski, 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 Full

162,000 (2003 UNSD). Ethnic population: 157,000 (2001 census).

Location

Zakarpattia region.

Alternate Names

Magyar, Uhorsʹkyy

Status

5 (Dispersed). Recognized language (2004, Law, Status of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, Article 1(5)).

Language Use

95% speak it as L1.

Other Comments

Christian.

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Ethnologue

Hungarian

Primary tabs

A language of Hungary

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