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Did you know that the Hungarian alphabet (Magyar ábécé) has 14 vowels? And that one of the longest Hungarian words has 44 letters? And even more astounding is that — Hungarian being agglutinative (meaning you can attach affixes and stems) — words can have 100 letters or more!
Hungarian, spoken not just in Hungary but also in some parts of Central and Eastern Europe, is a unique and complex language. Definitely worth learning if you like a challenge now and then.
So, how do you start learning Hungarian? Well, if you’re thinking of taking a Babbel Hungarian online course, tough luck because that’s not available. But that’s not to say there are no great apps for you to get into.
In this article, I’m sharing three of my favorites, plus more useful resources for your Hungarian learning journey. Let’s get to it, shall we?
What is Babbel?
But first, what’s Babbel and why are so many language learners hooked on this app?
Babbel is a comprehensive app that teaches languages through practical lessons, games, podcasts, and even live classes. Catering to learners of all levels, Babbel lessons are based on real-world language — meaning you learn expressions used by locals.
What I like about Babbel is that it features a variety of exercises that target all core language skills. With spelling tests, matching games, and practice dialogues, you can learn and be entertained at the same time.
What’s more, the audio clips are voiced by native speakers so you’re learning authentic pronunciations and accents. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that the app has an accurate speech recognition engine, somehow forcing you to also sound like a native!
Impressive as it sounds, Babbel offers only 14 language courses. And sadly, Hungarian isn’t on the roster.
The best Babbel alternatives
While there’s no Hungarian on Babbel, there are plenty of alternatives to Babbel as well as effective apps to learn Hungarian. Here are the best three:
1. Mondly
Listed as a Category III language, Hungarian is among the hardest languages to learn for English speakers. But thanks to immersive apps like Mondly, it’s easier and more enjoyable to learn Hungarian.
With Mondly, you can expand your Hungarian vocabulary, understand grammar, and build your conversational skills. How? Through bite-size and fun lessons that won’t steal hours from your day.
Mondly’s daily lessons typically take around 10 minutes to complete (though you can play more with the premium version). They’re not overwhelming so they’re perfect for beginners. But advanced learners can also find topics that’ll test their skills.
Key features:
- Relevant vocabulary and easy-to-understand grammar
- Audio clips featuring native speakers
- Gamified interface to motivate learners
2. Pimsleur
Try Pimsleur Hungarian for FREE today
If you’re aiming to start speaking Hungarian fast and accurately, look no further than Pimsleur. Teaching languages for around 50 years, Pimsleur knows what it’s doing.
This time-tested program is both straightforward and genius. Pimsleur teaches Hungarian through 15 hours of audio recordings that you’ll have to listen to and speak aloud. In between learning new words and phrases, it also jogs your memory, prompting you to recall what you’ve learned.
This seemingly simple process helps you gain new vocabulary and establish long-term recall. You build upon what you learn through well-timed intervals. Before you know it, you’re gaining confidence to speak too!
That’s not all though. The app also contains reading lessons, digital flashcards, and other interactive features to cover other language skills. And the great news is that you can try it for free!
Key features:
- A scientifically proven method of learning languages
- 30-minute core audio lessons for improving listening and speaking skills
- Learn useful Hungarian expressions and grammar
3. Glossika
I mentioned earlier that Hungarian is an agglutinative language, making it hard to know just how many words there are in the Hungarian lexicon. Fortunately, you don’t have to learn everything — you just have to learn a sizable amount of words that you can use in conversations and know how to say and use them correctly.
Which is why I recommend Glossika. This app trains you with massive amounts of full sentences, giving you context so that your vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar acquisition is more natural.
In addition, Glossika uses high-quality audio recordings from native speakers and lets you do hands-free audio training and speech recording. Perfect for learning on the go!
Key features:
- Learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation with full sentences
- Audio recordings for listening practice and speech recording function
- Review modes based on spaced repetition system
Other great resources to learn Hungarian
So, you’ve got the best three apps to learn Hungarian. But surely, they’re not your only options, right?
From apps to Hungarian learning books to free sites, these resources are worth adding to your learning routine.
Ling App: Packed with fun games and tests, plus a chatbot that’s super helpful for boosting your conversational skills, Ling is one of the best apps for beginners and intermediate learners. The lessons cover vocabulary, grammar, listening and speaking, and even writing!
Drops: This well-designed app features 5-minute daily vocab lessons that are fun and easy to navigate. It helps that the app features beautiful illustrations — they’re not just easy on the eyes but also helpful with building visual associations which then establish recall.
HungarianPod101: For video and audio Hungarian lessons that you can consume on various channels, turn to HungarianPod101. The program teaches Hungarian for all levels via its website, app, podcast, and YouTube channel.
Get Started in Hungarian Absolute Beginner Course: Highly recommended for newbies, this textbook contains 10 units that help you advance your Hungarian reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. What’s more, this book is packed with Hungarian cultural insights that give more context to your lessons.
Italki: Sift through tutor profiles on italki and you’ll soon get connected with a native Hungarian speaker who can guide you through the ins and outs of this language. What’s great is that italki offers flexibility in scheduling and budgeting. And if you want more options, you can check out Preply too.
Colloquial Hungarian: True to its name, this book features a wealth of instructions and exercises teaching Hungarian vocabulary and grammar as it’s written and spoken today. No archaic expressions and overly formal dialogues. The explanations are also succinct, jargon-free, and easy to grasp.
Cudoo: Learn the essentials, from greetings and saying numbers in Hungarian to expressing yourself in the future tense with Cudoo’s Hungarian language courses. Choose from three levels or a special Business Hungarian course, access your course anytime on any device, and receive a certificate when you successfully complete a course!
Skillshare: For bite-sized, beginner-friendly video lessons on the Hungarian alphabet, prepositions, self-introduction, and more with “Hanging on Hungarian” on Skillshare. There are only three courses as of writing but they’re all fun and easy to follow.
Cooljugator: Verb conjugations are always tough in any language. But this cool (pun intended) site can conjugate roughly 3,000 Hungarian verbs in every tense in one click! There are also tons of examples with translations. Super handy if you’re a serious (and long-term) Hungarian learner.
Tune In Hungarian: For learners who want more listening practice, Tune In is a gem. Hungarian rock music, classic hits, comedy podcasts, local news, and children’s stories — you’ll find all of these and more!
Final thoughts
While a Babbel Hungarian course would’ve been a great tool for learning the language, there’s no reason for you not to try the alternatives listed above. If anything, it’s not the tools but your determination that’ll dictate how fast you’ll reach fluency.
As the Hungarians say, Aki nem dolgozik, ne is egyék! Or in English, he who does not work, shall not eat either.
Apps, books, and courses will only take you so far. But with dedication, discipline, and patience, mastery of Hungarian is not out of reach. Stay on track, fellow learner!