Signs

1. Bejárat

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at the entrance of buildings, stations, and facilities; signs read "BEJÁRAT". You may also see "BEJÁRAT A ... FELŐL" telling you which side to enter from

2. Kijárat

   Exit

   Usage

   Exit sign in buildings, stations, and the metro; reads "KIJÁRAT". Unlike in some neighbouring languages, it is unrelated to the compass word for "east" ("kelet"), so there is no ambiguity

3. Vészkijárat

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Emergency exit sign with the white-on-green running-man pictogram; reads "VÉSZKIJÁRAT", from "vész" (peril) + "kijárat" (exit)

4. Nyitva

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   The "OPEN" side of the flip sign on a shop door; also used inside an opening-hours notice ("NYITVATARTÁS")

5. Zárva

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   The "CLOSED" side of a shop door sign; also marks non-opening days inside an opening-hours notice, sometimes written "ZÁRVA TARTÁS" or "SZÜNNAP"

6. Nyitva vagyunk

   We're Open

   Usage

   Signage stating the business is currently open; Hungarian uses the same word "nyitva" for both the door flip sign and the status, so this fuller wording appears when the distinction matters

7. Ideiglenesen zárva

   Temporarily Closed

   Usage

   Hungarian has no exact fixed equivalent of Japanese "junbichuu" — this is the closest posted wording. A short break is posted as "SZÜNET" or "MINDJÁRT JÖVÖK" (back soon), and a refurbishment as "FELÚJÍTÁS MIATT ZÁRVA"

8. Férfi

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the restroom for men; also written "FÉRFI WC", "FÉRFIAK", or "URAK" (gentlemen)

9. Női

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the restroom for women; also written "NŐI WC", "NŐK", or "HÖLGYEK" (ladies). "ő" is a distinct letter from "ö" — the double acute matters

10. Belépni tilos

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on doors and areas closed to the public; signs read "BELÉPNI TILOS". "IDEGENEKNEK BELÉPNI TILOS" (no unauthorised entry) and "TILOS AZ ÁTJÁRÁS" (no through passage) mean the same

11. Tilos a dohányzás

    No Smoking

    Usage

    No-smoking sign in stations, indoors, and in restaurants; reads "TILOS A DOHÁNYZÁS" or "DOHÁNYOZNI TILOS". Since 2012 Hungary bans smoking in all indoor public spaces and hospitality venues, and also at bus stops and platforms

12. Kijelölt dohányzóhely

    Designated Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area at airports and workplaces; reads "KIJELÖLT DOHÁNYZÓHELY". The law only permits smoking in an explicitly "kijelölt" (designated) spot, so look for this exact wording

13. Lépcső

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign pointing to stairs, set as "LÉPCSŐ"; a stairwell is "LÉPCSŐHÁZ", a lift "LIFT", and an escalator "MOZGÓLÉPCSŐ". Note the double acute on "ő"

14. Tolni

    Push

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pushed; posted as the bare infinitive "TOLNI". You may also see the imperative "TOLD" or "NYOMNI"

15. Húzni

    Pull

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pulled; posted as "HÚZNI", sometimes as the imperative "HÚZD"

16. Építési terület

    Construction Site

    Usage

    Posted on construction site hoardings as "ÉPÍTÉSI TERÜLET"; roadworks are signed "ÚTFELÚJÍTÁS" or "ÚTÉPÍTÉS", and a closed pavement "A JÁRDA LEZÁRVA"

17. Üzemen kívül

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ticket machines, or restrooms that are not working; reads "ÜZEMEN KÍVÜL". "NEM MŰKÖDIK" (not working) and "MEGHIBÁSODÁS" (fault) appear in the same situations

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