Language how-to

There is really no need to speak any hungarian if you are in the tourist areas . While it is pleasant to see the effort, it is often humorous when tourists try to speak hungarian because it is butchered.

However, for a good start, look here https://welovebudapest.com/en/toplist/2015/09/28/36-useful-hungarian-phrases-for-varied-occasions-in-budapest/

"Bonjour" in Hungarian depends on the time of day and formality: "Jó reggelt!" (Good morning), "Jó napot!" (Good day/afternoon, formal), "Jó estét!" (Good evening, formal), or the casual "Szia!" (Hi/Hello) for friends.

Good luck ... and much fun!

English is understood in all regions of Hungary. Learning English is a requirement in school.

Still nothing wrong with trying out a few words in Hungarian. It will get a few smiles from the locals. I am certain the list above hits on the most used.

But unlike France (according to another post) no one will be insulted or think bad if you greet them in English.

The advertising for the phone museum (sounds exciting doesnt it) uses the word Hello. Which is frequently used to greet and to depart. Closer to Ah-low than hello.

EDIT: I read the list posted above. Here is a shorter list.

• bocsánat (bow chan nat)
The universal excuse me as a push past you to get off the tram.
• Szia (see-ya) Sziasztok (see-ya-stock)
Hi / Hello / Bye (informal), Use szia when greeting one person, use sziasztok with several
• Viszontlátásra (vee-sont-lah-tash-rah)
Goodbye
• Viszlát (vee-slaht)
Goodbye less formal
• Jó reggelt (yoh reg-ghelt)
Good Morning (until 10am +/-)
• Jó napot (yoh nah-poht)
Good day (all day)
• Jó estét (yoh esh-tate)
Good Evening (after 6pm)
• Jó éjszakát (yoh ey-sa-kaht)
Good Night (when leaving for the evening)
• Igen (eeghen)
Yes
• nem (nehm)
No
• Köszönöm (kew-sew-newm)
Thank you
• Bocsánat! (boh-cha-naht)
Excuse me, sorry, pardon

A few words good to recognize, but you will never have to say.
• Nyitva
Open (signs in shop windows)
• Zárva
Closed (sign in shop window)
• Bejárat (beh-yah-raht)
Entrance
• Kijárat (kee-yah-raht)
Exit

I would like to be courteous of the customs and honor their traditions as well.

Courteous of the customs and maybe just courteous in general? A bit of both I presume. So, here is my take, yes with my perspective on "courteous" included.

• They won’t think badly of you if you do not greet them with Bonjour
  which in Hungarian is jó napot. They will smile if you do use a
  little Hungarian because they know the effort you are putting into
  using such an obscure and difficult language. But don’t take it too
  far. That first list above suggests you say “Hogy vagy?” which means
  how are you. What if they answer in Hungarian? Then you got a
  pickle. “jó napot, nice to meet you” works fine. You showed a
  little interest in their language and made it clear that was all you
  knew. Now they can use their near perfect English that they learned
  so they can function outside the borders of their tiny country. If
  you want to learn one single word that will impress them the most,
  learn: Egészségére. That will blow them away and it’s a word you can
  use often … if you want.

• By Western standards Hungary, like a lot of Eastern Europe, it is very
  much more socially conservative. Always keep that in mind in every
  interaction. Sure, the kids might be different, but maybe they will
  respect you as an elder if you behave like their elders. Don’t look
  for exceptions, look for the norms of that segment of society you
  want to be associated with. Or when in doubt you can never be too polite
  or too overdressed.

• The doors on the trams and buses and metro cars remain open for 10 to
  15 seconds and all those wanting to get off and all those wanting to
  get on ... through the same door ... must make that work. Be
  courteous and when getting on move quickly and move past the door so
  others can get on. When getting off, move to the door prior to the
  stop and leave briskly.

• On the tram, bus or metro on ocassion you will see someone getting
  up out of a seat to allow someone more in need of the seat to have
  it. But if you look around the tram you will notice a lot of
  able-bodied men and women standing when empty seats exist, in
  otherwords they dont take what they dont need.

• If someone introduces themselves to you Given name only or Given name
  followed by Family name, they have just made a concession to your
  culture; and that is common here. The tradition is that family names
  are written and spoken first and given names second. In polite
  company you always refer to someone by their family name. However,
  to be more universal in casual situations things have changed a lot
  in recent years. Unless you know Hungarian names, sometimes it’s
  impossible to know in what order they just introduced themselves.
  But if you do know, choose the family name to use until they tell you
  otherwise, which is a representation of closeness or friendship.
  When referring to someone in the third person, almost always by
  family name, then given name.

• Take off your shoes when entering a home. ALWAYS. I hope you have
  the opportunity to visit a home so you can see more about the
  lifestyle.

magyarjd

This is a little bit off subject and not specific to Hungary. But ............ at least for me interesting. I belong to a cult called "Aggie". Part of the cult tradition is wearing a particular ring (and in a particular way). My ring confuses Europeans.

Okay, how to tell if a person is not an American (99% of the time): If they are married and wearing a wedding ring; if the wedding ring is on the right hand, they are not Americans. But how many people wear wedding rings on the right hand? Quite a few in this part of the world. Right hand wedding right cultures (according to AI) include Latvia, Hungary, Greece, Serbia, Belgium, Portugal, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Spain and Denmark.

When I see someone that looks lost, I always check the ring frist. If its on the left, I know they arent locals. Maybe offer to help

Now back to Aggies, we wear the cult ring on our right ring finger. Hense the confusion sometimes. "Does your wife know you are out alone?" Huh??