How to Learn Hungarian: 6 Effective Ways to Learn Hungarian in a Heartbeat

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Looking to learn Hungarian but struggling to find the right resources?

In this article, I’ll show you the most effective ways to learn Hungarian and the best products that can teach you to speak like a native Hungarian. I’ve included Hungarian apps and courses, as well as the best Hungarian books, YouTube channels, and podcasts. I’ve also included platforms to find Hungarian tutors if you prefer to take live classes.

The team here at Langoly has over 5 decades of combined language learning experience, and we’ve personally tested and reviewed over 600 language products. We’re experts at helping our readers master new languages, and after reading this article, you’ll be well on your way to speaking Hungarian with ease!

Best Hungarian App

Try Pimsleur

Best Hungarian Course

Try Udemy

Best Hungarian Tutors

Try italki

How to Learn Hungarian: Achieve Fluency with These 6 Learning Methods

Learning Hungarian may seem impossible, but there are steps you can take to speed up the process and eventually master the language. The key to quick learning is consistency. Make an effort to dedicate some time every day (or at least a few times a week) to study. This will help you remember what you learn and build upon it. Additionally, using a combination of resources like apps, books, and live lessons is ideal.

To make the most of your study time, our team tested a lot of Hungarian resources and we followed our strict methodology to find you the best ones. This allowed us to create the list you see below. By using these tools, you can focus on actually learning Hungarian instead of wasting your time on low-quality products.

1. Use the Best Hungarian Apps

Language apps are one of the most convenient ways to learn Hungarian, and one of the most popular by far. They make grammar and vocabulary lessons fun and easy. An app is an excellent choice for those with a busy schedule because you can quickly complete the lessons and pick up where you left off. Plus, the interactive format will keep you motivated to keep learning. Pimsleur, Mondly, and Drops are the three best choices for learning Hungarian with an app.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low-Medium
Convenience: High

Try Pimsleur

Try Mondly

Try Drops

See more Hungarian apps

Pimsleur

Pimsleur is the best overall app to learn Hungarian because you learn how to speak from native speakers. The lessons are all audio-based, so you can listen to them whenever and wherever. I love how convenient it is! Each lesson starts with a dialogue between two Hungarian speakers. Throughout the lesson, you learn what they say and then you participate in the conversation. Pimsleur also has other practice activities to complete after you listen to the lesson. You can try Pimsleur for free for 7 days, or read more about it in this Pimsleur review.

Mondly

Mondly is the best app for beginners because it teaches the basics of Hungarian grammar and vocabulary in an entertaining way. The lessons are short and interactive, and you can take them in any order you want. One reason I love Mondly is that it uses state-of-the-art technology to enhance your learning, like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality. With Mondly, you can easily track your progress to see how much you’ve learned. You can try Mondly with a 7-day free trial, and read more about it in this Mondly review.

Drops

Drops is the best app to learn Hungarian vocabulary because of its huge vocabulary lists and unique teaching method. There are hundreds of Hungarian vocab lists to choose from that cover all kinds of topics. They start with the basics, like introductions, food, and clothes, but you can also choose some more advanced topics like politics, gaming, and climate awareness. You can use Drops for free for 5 minutes every day, or read this Drops review to learn more about the app.

2. Take an Online Hungarian Course

If you prefer a structured approach to learning, an online Hungarian course may be a strong option for you. The courses below come with a pre-set lesson plan, so you’ll always know what’s next. Plus, you’ll have everything you need to learn the language all in one place. Udemy, Audible, and LingoHut offer courses that will have you speaking Hungarian in no time.

Commitment: High
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium

Try Udemy

Try Audible

Try LingoHut

Udemy

Udemy is a large platform with courses on every subject imaginable, which makes it a great place to find language courses. You can search among the many Hungarian courses available to find one that’s right for you. Most of the courses focus on teaching grammar and vocabulary, but there are also some interesting ones like learning with folksongs or learning how to cook Hungarian food. Each course has a separate price, but most are under $20.00. I recommend Udemy because it’s a safe platform and your payment is protected. You can find a course that’s right for you on the Udemy website or read more about the platform in this Udemy review.

Audible

Audible has a large selection of entirely audio-based courses. You can take courses from some of the popular language apps like Pimsleur and HungarianPod101. There are other courses worth checking out too, like Hungarian slang and learning the 1,000 most common words. Audible is the best choice if you like variety because you can access all courses for one price. Once you reach an intermediate or advanced level, you can start listening to storybooks entirely in Hungarian too. You can try Audible with a 30-day free trial.

LingoHut

LingoHut is a completely free course that teaches Hungarian vocabulary, and the lessons are really well-developed! There are 125 lessons that start with basic vocabulary like colors and family members, then they move to more advanced topics like navigating the internet and job interviews. In each lesson, you learn a series of words with flashcards. There are also multiple games to help you remember the new words. You can access all the lessons for free on the LingoHut website. Even if you only use it every once in a while, LingoHut can add some variation to your study routine.

3. Find an Online Hungarian Tutor

Learning Hungarian with an experienced teacher is one of the best methods to improve your language skills. And now, it’s easier than ever to find a teacher for lessons from the comfort of your own home. Thanks to language-learning platforms like italki, Preply, and Verbling, you can connect with a qualified Hungarian tutor for personalized 1-on-1 lessons over the Internet.

Commitment: Medium
Price: Medium-High
Convenience: Medium

Try italki

Try Preply

Try Verbling

italki

italki is the best place to find an online Hungarian tutor because it’s easy to use and offers a safe environment for students. There are currently 58 Hungarian teachers available. You can search their profiles to see their availability, what languages they speak, and read past student reviews. Once you find a teacher you like, you sign up for a class that you take on the italki platform. This provides security for your personal information and payment. Most teachers offer a discounted trial lesson too, so you can see if they are a good fit for you. You can read more about the platform in this italki review.

Preply

Preply is another popular language-learning platform that can connect you with an online Hungarian tutor. There are currently 50 teachers that are available for classes. You can search for a teacher based on what they teach such as business Hungarian or preparation for the Hungarian citizenship interview. Each tutor sets their own prices so you can find a price that fits your budget. Preply is worth checking out because it lets you buy lessons in packages, which can keep you motivated and guarantee lessons with your favorite tutor. You can see which tutors are a good fit for you with a discounted trial lesson or read more in this Preply review.

Verbling

Verbling is similar to italki and Preply because it helps match you with your perfect Hungarian tutor. Each tutor on the platform has a video that introduces themselves and you can hear exactly what they sound like. You can also see how many classes they’ve taught and how many students they have. Currently, there are only 5 tutors available on Verbling, but you can take a free trial class to see if you like their teaching style.

4. Study with High-Quality Hungarian Books

For those who prefer to study independently, a Hungarian textbook is the way to go. They offer detailed explanations of challenging topics and practice questions to track your progress. Get Started in Hungarian, Colloquial Hungarian, and A Practical Hungarian Grammar are excellent choices. They’re perfect for self-study learners who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of the language.

Commitment: Low
Price: Medium
Convenience: Medium

Get Started in Hungarian

Get Started in Hungarian is an excellent all-around way to get started in this language because of its well-rounded approach. It’s a comprehensive book that focuses on all areas of learning Hungarian. There are 10 learning units that explain complex topics that most learners struggle with. There are also practice exercises and quizzes that ensure that you understand everything before moving to the next unit. My favorite aspect of the book is that it includes everyday conversations that show how Hungarians actually speak. See what you think about the book here.

Colloquial Hungarian

Colloquial Hungarian focuses on real-life situations, and that’s why I included it in this list. The book is designed to help you build skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Hungarian. There are grammar explanations, exercises, dialogues, vocabulary lists, cultural notes, and audio material available for free download too. I recommend checking out this book because the audio material is recorded by native speakers. This is something a lot of other books don’t include. See what you think about the book here.

A Practical Hungarian Grammar

A Practical Hungarian Grammar gives in-depth explanations of a huge range of topics about Hungarian grammar. There are 110 chapters that follow a similar format. First, you are presented with an overview of a grammar topic, which is followed by practice exercises. These help you remember what you learned as well as teach you some useful and necessary vocabulary. If you’re a grammar nerd, this is the book for you. I love it because the explanations are clear, easy to understand, and extensive. You can learn more about the book here.

5. Watch Hungarian YouTube Videos

YouTube is an entertaining and free way to learn Hungarian. There’s a wide variety of videos to suit all your language-learning needs. If you’re just starting out, there are channels that teach the basics. And once you’re more advanced, you can watch videos that are completely in Hungarian. Check out the YouTube channels below to practice your listening and speaking skills.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High

Hungarian Lesson With Zsuzsi

Zsuzsi is a Hungarian teacher who posts videos to help you learn the ins and outs of the Hungarian language. I suggest checking her out no matter what level you are because her videos are completely in Hungarian with English subtitles. She mixes in humor, animations, and funny clips to make the lessons entertaining. In addition to grammar and vocabulary lessons, she has a few different types of videos like reaction videos and videos where she talks to people on the street. You can watch all her videos on the Hungarian Lesson with Zsuzsi channel.

Easy Languages

In each Easy Languages video, someone takes to the streets to ask people their opinions about different topics. They have many languages available. While there aren’t that many Hungarian videos, it’s worth watching what they have because they are entertaining and show you how Hungarians really talk. You can find all the videos on the Easy Languages YouTube channel.

Hungarian with Sziszi

Sziszi is a certified Hungarian language teacher. Her videos teach interesting vocabulary words and phrases and some videos are interviews with other people that speak Hungarian. Her videos are entirely in Hungarian but include English and Hungarian subtitles. This channel is best for intermediate learners who want to practice listening and understanding. You can watch all the videos on the Hungarian with Sziszi channel.

6. Listen to Hungarian Podcasts

Podcasts are a modern and highly effective way to learn Hungarian. The listen-and-repeat method makes it convenient to learn on the go. Whether you’re driving, at work, or just out and about, you can easily listen to podcasts. HungarianPod101, Let’s Learn Hungarian, and One Minute Hungarian are entertaining and educational podcasts that will help you get a feel for how Hungarian should sound.

Commitment: Low
Price: Low
Convenience: High

HungarianPod101

HungarianPod101 is an online platform and language app that has thousands of video, audio, and text lessons to choose from. You can take classes from a “pathway” based on your level, or you can search for topics that interest you. I recommend HungarianPod101 because of its flexibility – you can focus on what you actually want to learn. In addition to the podcast-style lessons, there are also additional practice resources like vocabulary lists, flashcards, videos, and more. You can try HungarianPod101 for free for 7 days or create a lifetime free account to get limited access to the content.

Let’s Learn Hungarian

Let’s Learn Hungarian is a website and podcast that teaches you about the Hungarian language and culture. It’s hosted by Györgyi from Hungary and Steven from the United States. Each episode teaches useful phrases and vocabulary about a specific topic like weather or time expressions. I like it because the episodes are easy to listen to and follow. The hosts have a free-flowing dialogue and you can hear how to use different phrases and practice along. You can listen to all their lessons for free and check out their other learning resources on the Let’s Learn Hungarian website.

One Minute Hungarian

One Minute Hungarian is an excellent option if you are taking a trip to Hungary, or just want to dip your toe in the water and learn some useful words and phrases. The video lessons are short (which I love!) and will teach you topics like introductions, asking someone their name, and counting to ten. There’s also a course booklet included to help guide you through the lessons. You can learn more about the course and listen to a sample lesson on the One Minute Hungarian website.

How to Learn Hungarian: Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the decision to learn Hungarian (or any language) should be based on your personal interests and goals. If you have a connection to Hungarian culture or a desire to learn a unique and complex language, then Hungarian might be a good choice for you. Once you identify your motives, you can use this list to help you find you find a way that you enjoy learning. With dedication and practice, you’ll be able to speak Hungarian before you know it!

How to Learn Hungarian: FAQ