I expect many on this site are familiar with Duolingo--free language lessons on-line--and they just started offering Hungarian. I used Pimsleur CDs prior to my last trip and they were great because you learned basic phrases with the correct accent--not that I think I fooled any Hungarians. Duolingo has something I really like and missed with Pimsleur--the voice says the phrase and you see it written out, and then you translate into English and also back into Hungarian later in the lesson, until you've got it. I like to see the words, helps enormously. Short of finding a Hungarian willing to teach me, I think this is a good way to start going beyond the basics.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Christa, I cross my fingers for you. When I went somewhere I tried to study first ten lessons of the language from the textbook for self learners and I could get around. I must admit that with Hungarian I gave it up and tried to get around with English, German, Russian and Slovak and most of the time I found someone who spoke at least one of those languages. For me Hungarian seems to be language without any logic. Maybe with a teacher?
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20458 posts
Actually Hungarian has great logic. It just also happens to have unpronounceable vowels. After more than a dozen years I am pretty much to the point that I can make myself understood when I tell them I don't understand a word they are saying.
Posted by
OP
alameda, ca, usa
2693 posts
James--"Nem ertem" was one phrase I learned quickly.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20458 posts
Nem beszélek magyarul. Beszélsz angolul?
I can say it, but no, I didn't know how to spell it. Had to Google it.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Christa and James, nem tudom or maybe it should be nemtudom.