Hungarian Pronunciation Guide

The ABC

a á b c cs d dz dzs e é f g gy h i í j k l ly m n ny o ó ö ő p q r s sz t ty u ú ü ű v w x y z zs

A Á B C CS D DZ DZS E É F G GY H I Í J K L LY M N NY O Ó Ö Ő P Q R S SZ T TY U Ú Ü Ű V W X Y Z ZS

The Hungarian alphabet has 44 characters.
Stress is always on the first syllable (except for some foreign words).
In Hungarian, the length of the vowel is always indicated. Long vowels have either a single acute accent mark or a double acute accent mark (stretched umlaut).
Short vowels have no mark, or the two-dot umlaut.

Hungarian follows rules of "vowel harmony." Front vowels are: e, ö, and ü. Back vowels are a, o, and u. The vowel "i" is a wild card. The general rule is that words have to have either all front vowels or all back vowels, with no mixing allowed.
However, "i" can mix with either category. The rule applies to grammatical endings, but not necessarily to compound words.
Letters not listed are pronounced approximately as in English.

In Hungary all names are given with family names first: Bartók Béla, but outside of Hungary, family names are given last as in English (Béla Bartók).

A, a - aw as in law
Á, á - a as in father
E, e - e as in set
É, é - e as grey
I, i - i as in machine
Í, í - i as in machine
O, o - o as boy
Ó ó - o as in blow
Ö, ö - e as in let (with lips protruded as if to whistle)
Ő, ő - eu but longer
U, u - u as in duke
Ú, ú - oo as in cool
Ü, ü - i as in machine (with lips protruded as if to whistle)
Ű, ű - eu in feud but longer

C, c - c as in dance (like ts)
Cs, cs - ch as in chips
Cz, cz - c as in dance (ts) Archaic; no longer used in everyday language.
Dz, dz - ds as in feeds
Dzs, dzs - j as in jeans
G, g - g as in go
Gy, gy - dju in adjulation (djy)
J, j - y as in yes
Ly, ly - y as in yes (l is silent)
Ny, ny - ny as in canyon
Q, q - q as cheque (k)
R, r - slightly rolled once (rr)
S, s - s as in sugar (sh) -- ss also is s as in sugar
Sz, sz - s as in skip
T, t - tongue touches back of teeth (dental)
Ty, ty - ty as in met you
W, w - v as in vigor
Y, y - y as in city (ee)
Zs, zs - z as in azure (zh)