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Glossary of Foreign Words

Hungarian Words

A múzsám (ah MEW-zham) – my muse

Anya (AHN-ya) – mother

Apu (AH-poo) – father

Asszony (AH-soyn) – Mrs. (as in some Asian languages such as Korean and Japanese, it comes after the surname)

Buda (BOO-duh) – the more residential side of the city

Csillagom (CHEE-la-gome) – dear

Édesem (EE-deh-shem) – sweetheart

Gundel palacsinta (GOO-dell paula-CHEEN-tuh) – crepes with ground walnuts, raisins, and rum and topped with dark chocolate sauce

Halászlé (HAW-lass-lee) – soup loaded with carp and paprika

Igen (EE-gen) – yes (the number of times it is said in a row indicates a level of excitement)

Jó napot kívánok (Yo nuh-POTE kee-VAN-oke) – good day, formally

Köszönöm (KOO-sih-num) – thank you

Langosi (LAHN-go-she) – fried dough topped with cheese

Lecsó (LEH-cho) – vegetable stew

Nem (NEM) – no

Nyuszikám (NEW-see-cam) – my bunny

Pálinka (PAH-lean-kuh) – Hungarian fruit brandy

Pengő (PEN-gyou) – Hungarian currency from 1927 until 1945; in June 1944, 1 USD = 33.51 pengő

Pest (PESHT) – the more commercial side of the city

Szent Istvan Bazilika (ZENT ISHT-von BOZ-eel-ih-kah) – Saint Ivan’s Basilica, a famous Budapest church

Szerelmem (Suh-RELL-mem) – my dear

Tiyul (tee-YOOL) – an exodus or journey

Ulti (OOHL-tee) – a trick-taking card game for three players

Úr (OOR) – mister

As with most Asian languages, in Hungarian the family name comes first and then the Christian name. For example, I would be Tolsma Liz. The heroine in the story is Bognár Éva. Titles also come after the family name. Úr means “mister,” so when referring to Éva’s father, he will be called Bognár Úr, or Mr. Bognár.