Hungarian citizenship interview, the questions in Hungarian
If you are applying for Hungarian citizenship through a Hungarian ancestor, the consul talks with you in Hungarian when you hand in your file. These are the questions that come up, grouped the way the conversation usually goes.
This is not an exam. There is no test paper and no certificate. The consul checks your Hungarian with a short conversation, and a dialect or imperfect grammar is accepted as long as you understand and answer. The written exam you may read about online, with forty topics on the constitution, is for the other route, people who have lived in Hungary for eight years. Your Hungarian can also be checked again later, for example when you apply for a passport, so keep practising.
What happens at the appointment
- You hand in the application and your documents at the consulate or the registry office.
- The official talks with you in Hungarian, mostly about yourself, your family and your Hungarian ancestor. This conversation is how your knowledge of the language is judged.
- Your CV (önéletrajz), written in Hungarian, goes into the file.
- Months later, if approved, you take the oath in Hungarian at a ceremony.
Introducing yourself (Bemutatkozás)
Jó napot kívánok! Hogy van?
Good afternoon! How are you?
Jó napot kívánok! Köszönöm, jól vagyok. Egy kicsit izgulok.
Good afternoon! I'm fine, thank you. I'm a little nervous.
Mi a neve?
What is your name?
A nevem [Kovács Anna].
My name is [Anna Kovács].
Hány éves?
How old are you?
[Harmincöt] éves vagyok.
I am [thirty-five] years old.
Hol és mikor született?
Where and when were you born?
[1990. május 12-én] születtem, [Buenos Airesben].
I was born on [12 May 1990], in [Buenos Aires].
Hol lakik most?
Where do you live now?
[Córdobában] lakom, [Argentínában].
I live in [Córdoba], in [Argentina].
Mi a foglalkozása?
What is your occupation?
[Tanár] vagyok, egy [általános iskolában] dolgozom.
I am a [teacher], I work in a [primary school].
Házas?
Are you married?
Igen, házas vagyok. A [férjem] neve [Pablo]. / Nem, egyedülálló vagyok.
Yes, I'm married. My [husband]'s name is [Pablo]. / No, I'm single.
Vannak gyerekei?
Do you have children?
Igen, [két] gyerekem van, egy fiú és egy lány. / Nincs gyerekem.
Yes, I have [two] children, a boy and a girl. / I have no children.
Vannak testvérei?
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Igen, van egy [öcsém] és egy [nővérem].
Yes, I have a [younger brother] and an [older sister].
Replace what is in [brackets] with your own life.
Family and Hungarian ancestors (Család és magyar felmenők)
Mi az édesanyja születési neve?
What is your mother's birth name?
Mi az édesapja neve?
What is your father's name?
Melyik felmenője volt magyar állampolgár?
Which of your ancestors was a Hungarian citizen?
Hol és mikor született a [nagyapja]?
Where and when was your [grandfather] born?
Mikor hagyta el Magyarországot a [nagyapja]?
When did your [grandfather] leave Hungary?
Beszélnek magyarul a családjában?
Does anyone in your family speak Hungarian?
Mit mesélt a nagyapja Magyarországról?
What did your grandfather tell you about Hungary?
The language and Hungary (A magyar nyelv és Magyarország)
Hol tanult meg magyarul?
Where did you learn Hungarian?
Mióta tanul magyarul?
How long have you been learning Hungarian?
Miért szeretne magyar állampolgár lenni?
Why do you want to become a Hungarian citizen?
Mit jelent Önnek Magyarország?
What does Hungary mean to you?
Járt már Magyarországon?
Have you ever been to Hungary?
Mit tervez, ha megkapja az állampolgárságot?
What are your plans once you receive citizenship?
Everyday life (Mindennapok)
Mit csinál a szabadidejében?
What do you do in your free time?
Milyen magyar ételeket ismer?
Which Hungarian dishes do you know?
Mit csinált tegnap?
What did you do yesterday?
Hogyan jött ide ma?
How did you get here today?
Milyen idő van ma?
What is the weather like today?
Basic knowledge about Hungary (Alapismeretek)
These questions are not an official test. Applicants report being asked one or two of them to keep the conversation going. Knowing them costs ten minutes.
Mi Magyarország fővárosa?
What is the capital of Hungary?
Melyek a magyar nemzeti ünnepek?
What are the Hungarian national holidays?
Mit ünneplünk március 15-én?
What is celebrated on 15 March?
Mit ünneplünk augusztus 20-án?
What is celebrated on 20 August?
Mit ünneplünk október 23-án?
What is celebrated on 23 October?
Ki írta a Himnuszt?
Who wrote the national anthem?
Milyen színű a magyar zászló?
What colours is the Hungarian flag?
Ki volt az első magyar király?
Who was the first king of Hungary?
Mi a magyar pénz neve?
What is the Hungarian currency called?
Melyik a legnagyobb magyar tó?
What is the largest lake in Hungary?
Melyek Magyarország legnagyobb folyói?
What are the largest rivers in Hungary?
Ismer híres magyar embereket?
Do you know any famous Hungarians?
Lifeline sentences (Mentőmondatok)
(ha nem érti a kérdést)
(if you don't understand the question)
Elnézést, nem értettem. Megismételné, kérem?
Sorry, I didn't understand. Could you repeat that, please?
(ha túl gyorsan beszélnek)
(if they speak too fast)
Tudna egy kicsit lassabban beszélni, kérem?
Could you speak a little more slowly, please?
(ha nem jut eszébe egy szó)
(if a word escapes you)
Nem jut eszembe a szó magyarul, de megpróbálom másképp elmondani.
I can't think of the word in Hungarian, but I'll try to say it another way.
(a végén)
(at the end)
Köszönöm szépen. Viszontlátásra!
Thank you very much. Goodbye!
The full kit, 19 EUR. Model answers for all 43 questions, the 27 headings of the application form, which only exists in Hungarian, a model of the CV you write by hand, the oath word for word, and slow audio of every line.
https://thibaudlepan.gumroad.com/l/xfpik
Practise with a real person. A Hungarian tutor who plays the consul is the closest thing to the real room. On italki you book one lesson at a time, and several tutors there teach this exact interview. New students who sign up through this link get a credit after their first purchase.
https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af33818525Affiliate link. If you book lessons, italki pays the author a commission and you pay nothing extra.
Also on this site, the same page in Spanish and in Portuguese.
Independent publication, not affiliated with the Government of Hungary or any consulate. Not legal advice. Requirements change and vary by consulate, check yours before the appointment.