Hungarian is a language that thrives on efficiency, and nowhere is this more apparent than in digital communication. If you’re learning Hungarian, texting like a local requires more than just vocabulary - it demands fluency in the shorthand that dominates messaging apps. Below are 15 abbreviations that’ll make your Hungarian texts indistinguishable from a native’s.
1. Szia → Szi
Szi
/si/“Hi”
The go-to greeting, stripped of its final vowel for speed. Use it liberally.
2. Köszönöm → Köszi
Köszi
[ˈkøsi]“Thanks”
A casual, clipped version of ‘köszönöm’. The ‘-zi’ suffix softens it, making it friendlier.
3. Jó éjszakát → Jóéjt
Jóéjt
/ˈjoːeːjt/“Good night”
The entire phrase ‘jó éjszakát’ compressed into a single, efficient word.
4. Szívesen → Szívi
Szívi
/ˈsiːvi/“You’re welcome”
A playful abbreviation of ‘szívesen’, often used among friends.
5. Nem tudom → Ntudom
Ntudom
/ˈɛntudom/“I don’t know”
The ‘nem’ is reduced to just ‘n’, saving precious milliseconds.
6. Szeretlek → Sztok
Sztok
/stok/“Love you”
A phonetic shorthand for ‘szeretlek’, reserved for close relationships.
7. Mindegy → Mg
Mg
/ɛmɡeː/“Whatever”
The ultimate dismissal. Two letters to convey indifference.
8. Hol vagy? → Hv?
Hv?
/haːveː/“Where are you?”
The interrogative stripped to its initials. Often followed by impatient follow-ups.
9. Menjünk → Mgy
Mgy
/ɛmɡeː/“Let’s go”
A rallying cry for action, abbreviated for urgency.
10. Nagyon → Ngy
Ngy
/ɛnɡeː/“Very”
Intensifier compressed into three letters. Often paired with adjectives (‘ngy jó’ = very good).
11. Viccelsz? → Vcc?
Vcc?
/veːt͡sː/“Are you joking?”
Skepticism in abbreviation form. The missing ‘i’ is a small price for speed.
12. Rendben → Rb
Rb
/ɛrbeː/“Okay”
The Hungarian ‘OK’, stripped to its consonants.
13. Majd → Mjd
Mjd
/ɛmjdeː/“Later”
A procrastinator’s favourite. The ‘a’ is sacrificed for brevity.
14. Semmi → Smmi
Smmi
/ˈʃmːi/“Nothing”
The double ‘m’ adds emphasis, like a shrug in text form.
15. Viszlát → Visz
Visz
[ˈvis]“Bye”
The farewell truncated. The ‘lát’ is implied.
Texting abbreviations aren’t just about saving time - they’re a cultural fingerprint. Using these will make your Hungarian feel more natural, even if your grammar isn’t perfect yet.
For more on Hungarian conversational quirks, check out our guide to Hungarian humour.
