Markets & Souvenirs

1. Mennyibe kerül ez?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Mennyibe kerül" literally "how much does it go into" – an idiom using the illative case for cost

2. Lehet alkudozni az áron?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether bargaining is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Alkudozni" is the Hungarian verb for haggling. Bargaining is common at Budapest markets (piac)

3. Húszezer forintot ajánlok

   I'll offer twenty thousand forints

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Forintot" is the accusative of "forint" (suffix -t). Hungarian marks direct objects with the accusative

4. Tudna engedményt adni?

   Could you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Politely requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Tudna" is the conditional (polite) form. "Engedményt" is the accusative of "engedmény" (discount)

5. Ez kézzel készült?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Kézzel" is the instrumental case of "kéz" (hand). "Készült" is the past participle of "készül" (to be made)

6. Milyen anyagból készült?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Anyagból" is the elative of "anyag" (material, suffix -ból). Key words: selyem (silk), gyapjú (wool), bőr (leather)

7. Be tudná csomagolni ajándéknak?

   Could you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Ajándéknak" is the dative of "ajándék" (gift, suffix -nak), expressing the purpose "as a gift"

8. Hol van az éjszakai piac?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Éjszakai" is the adjective form of "éjszaka" (night). Budapest's Nagycsarnok (Central Market Hall) is iconic

9. Kaphatok egy nyugtát?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Nyugtát" is the accusative of "nyugta" (receipt). "Számla" is a more formal invoice

10. Mikor van nyitva a piac?

    When is the market open?

    Usage

    Checking the opening hours of a market

    Grammar Note

    "Nyitva" is the adverbial form meaning "in an open state". "Piac" is the general word for market

11. Csak nézelődöm, köszönöm

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Nézelődöm" is a frequentative verb meaning "to keep looking around". "Köszönöm" is thank you

12. Elfogadnak kártyát?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "Elfogadnak" is the 3rd-person plural impersonal form. Card payments are widely accepted in Hungary

13. Egy barátomnak veszem szuvenírnek

    I'm buying it as a souvenir for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller it is a souvenir gift

    Grammar Note

    "Szuvenírnek" is the dative of "szuvenír" (-nak). "Barátomnak" = "barát" + possessive "-om" + dative "-nak"

14. El lehet küldeni ezt külföldre?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping options

    Grammar Note

    "Külföldre" is the sublative of "külföld" (abroad, suffix -re). "Magyar Posta" is Hungary's postal service

15. Mi a legjobb termékük?

    What is your best product?

    Usage

    Asking for the seller's top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Legjobb" is the superlative of "jó" (good). "Termékük" = "termék" + 3rd-plural possessive "-ük"

16. Az ár alkuképes?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Checking whether the price can be negotiated

    Grammar Note

    "Alkuképes" combines "alku" (bargain) + "képes" (capable/possible). Negotiation is accepted at Hungarian markets

17. Van másik méretük?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    "Méretük" = "méret" (size) + 3rd plural possessive. Add "nagyobb" (bigger) or "kisebb" (smaller)

18. Ez túl drága

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Túl" means "too/beyond". Saying "kicsit drága" (a little expensive) signals openness to negotiation

19. Fokhagyma

    Garlic

    Usage

    Point at this at a market. "hagyma" alone means onion, so garlic always needs the "fok" prefix

20. Hagyma

    Onion

    Usage

    Point at this at a market. The word also covers bulbs in general — garlic is "fokhagyma", spring onion "újhagyma". Nearly every Hungarian dish starts with fried onion

21. Erős paprika

    Hot chilli pepper

    Usage

    The hot kind. "paprika" alone also covers sweet bell peppers and the ground spice, so keep "erős" (strong) when you want heat; the mild kind is "édes paprika"

22. Koriander

    Coriander / Cilantro

    Usage

    In Hungarian "koriander" normally means the dried seed spice. Ask for "friss koriander" or "korianderzöld" if you want the fresh leaf; it is absent from Hungarian cooking and sold only at Asian grocers or large markets

23. Joghurt

    Yoghurt

    Usage

    Point at this in the dairy aisle. Sour cream ("tejföl") and kefir sit right beside it and look similar, so check the label

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