Hungarian Translation: An Essential Guide for Businesses

Linguistic features of Hungarian

Hungarian, or Magyar, is a Finno-Ugric language, which distinctly sets it apart from Indo-European languages like French, Spanish or English. Hungarian is also an agglutinative language, meaning it forms words by adding prefixes and suffixes to convey grammatical information, unlike English, which tends to use separate words (such as preposition). For example, "ház" (house) becomes "házban" (in the house) thanks to the suffix "-ban", which indicates location.

Another notable feature: Hungarian has 18 grammatical cases!

Each grammatical case plays a specific role and can make translation complex for those unfamiliar with this language. And to complicate matters further, verb conjugation varies depending on the number of objects and whether they are definite or indefinite... A concept completely absent in English!

False friends and cultural pitfalls in Hungarian translations

False friends in Hungarian can lead to misunderstandings. For example, the word "ambulancia" in Hungarian means "clinic" and not "ambulance". At best, this mistranslation will lead to simple misunderstanding. However, in a medical context, it can have serious consequences.

Some English terms and idiomatic expressions have no direct equivalent in Hungarian. Here are some examples:

• "To spill the beans" has no cultural equivalent. A literal translation would be incomprehensible. Instead, a paraphrase should be used, such as "Elárul egy titkot" (to reveal a secret).
• "To cost an arm and a leg" should be adapted to a local expression like "nagyon drága" (very expensive) or use a cultural image more familiar to Hungarians.
• The expression "to stand someone up" has no direct equivalent. A Hungarian would say "nem jött el a találkozóra" (he/she did not come to the meeting).

A too literal translation into Hungarian might be incomprehensible, or perhaps amusing... However, in a professional context, it would stray from the company's initial objective.

Examples of poor translations and their consequences

Translation errors can damage a company's image. Let’s imagine that a company in the technology sector, specialising in management software, wants to expand into the Hungarian market. It translated "technical support" as "technikai támogatás", a correct expression in itself. However, in the Hungarian B2B context, this term is often associated with a basic, entry-level service. Thus, the company did not highlight its premium support including strategic advice and customisation. The result? Potential customers perceived their offer as rather ordinary and preferred other alternatives.

Another case concerns a user guide produced by a digital services company. The instruction "press the button" was translated as "megnyomni a gombot". However, this translation does not take into account an essential nuance. Users thought they had to operate a physical button, as implied by the Hungarian term, when it was actually a software interface element. This misunderstanding generated a flood of requests to technical support and a high abandonment rate during product installation.

Some practical tips for a successful Hungarian translation project

If you are in need of a translation into Hungarian, here are some tips to avoid unpleasant surprises:

• Work with a native Hungarian translator to obtain an idiomatic translation adapted to Hungarian culture.
• Use specialised translation tools to ensure consistency, especially for technical terms.
• Hire a translation company, as a translation agency offers reliable translation services and will know how to adapt to your specific needs.
• Plan for a review by a domain expert to ensure that the content is of high quality, as well as avoid errors that could harm your credibility.

With the right approach and a carefully done translation, your communication in Hungarian will be clear, effective and impactful!