Football
⚽ Football — Foci
Six short conversations about football — from watching a match to celebrating a goal. Natural, everyday Hungarian your family will recognise.
Pronunciation quick-guide:
cs = "ch" (church)
sz = "s" (sun)
zs = "zh" (measure)
gy = soft "dj"
ny = "ny" (canyon)
j / ly = "y" (yes)
s = "sh" (shop)
① Watching Together — Együtt nézni
A:
Nézel ma focit?
Are you watching football today?
B:
Igen! Magyarország játszik este.
Yes! Hungary is playing tonight.
A:
Hol nézzük a meccset?
Where shall we watch the match?
B:
Nálam. Hozz sört!
At mine. Bring beer!
② The Score — Az Eredmény
A:
Mi az eredmény?
What's the score?
B:
Kettő-egy! Mi vezetünk!
Two-one! We're leading!
A:
Remek! Hajrá, Magyarország!
Great! Come on, Hungary!
③ Buying Tickets — Jegyvétel
A:
Van még jegy a meccsre?
Are there still tickets for the match?
B:
Igen, van. Hány darabot kér?
Yes, there are. How many do you want?
A:
Kettőt kérek, köszönöm.
Two please, thank you.
④ Goal! — Gól!
A:
GÓÓÓL! Láttad?
lát-tad = did you see it
GOAAAL! Did you see it?
B:
Igen! Gyönyörű gól volt!
gyönyörű = "dyö-nyö-rű" = beautiful
Yes! It was a beautiful goal!
A:
Ez a legjobb meccs!
This is the best match!
⑤ After the Match — A Meccs Után
A:
Milyen volt a meccs?
How was the match?
B:
Sajnos vesztettünk. Kettő-nulla.
Unfortunately we lost. Two-nil.
A:
Legközelebb jobb lesz!
It'll be better next time!
⑥ Favourite Team — Kedvenc Csapat
A:
Mi a kedvenc csapatod?
What is your favourite team?
B:
A Ferencváros. És neked?
Ferencváros. And yours?
A:
Én az Újpestnek szurkolok.
I support Újpest.
B:
Akkor riválisok vagyunk!
Then we are rivals!
📖 Vocabulary — Szókincs
20 key words for this topic. Verbs are given in their infinitive (-ni) form. Nouns include their definite article (a / az).
| # | Hungarian | English | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | a foci / a futball | football | noun | foci = informal, everyday word |
| 2 | a csapat | team | noun | |
| 3 | a meccs / a mérkőzés | match / game | noun | meccs = casual; mérkőzés = formal |
| 4 | a stadion | stadium | noun | |
| 5 | a gól | goal (scored) | noun | |
| 6 | a kapu | goal (the net / posts) | noun | also means "gate" or "door" |
| 7 | a labda | ball | noun | |
| 8 | a játékos | player | noun | játék = game/play + -os suffix |
| 9 | az edző | coach / trainer | noun | az (not a) — starts with a vowel |
| 10 | a jegy | ticket | noun | |
| 11 | az eredmény | result / score | noun | az — starts with a vowel |
| 12 | a félidő | half-time | noun | fél = half, idő = time |
| 13 | a bíró | referee | noun | also means "judge" |
| 14 | a bajnokság | league / championship | noun | |
| 15 | a szurkoló | fan / supporter | noun | from szurkol = to support/cheer |
| 16 | játszani | to play | verb | ő játszik = he/she plays |
| 17 | lőni | to shoot / to score | verb | ő lő = he/she shoots |
| 18 | nyerni | to win | verb | mi nyerünk = we win |
| 19 | veszíteni | to lose | verb | mi veszítünk = we lose |
| 20 | nézni | to watch | verb | én nézem = I watch (it) |
Grammar Tip — a vs. az (The Definite Article): Hungarian uses a before words starting with a consonant and az before words starting with a vowel — similar to "a" and "an" in English. So it's a csapat (the team) but az edző (the coach) and az eredmény (the score). You'll notice this pattern everywhere, and getting it right will instantly impress your Hungarian family! As a bonus cultural note: football (foci) is serious business in Hungary — Ferencváros vs. Újpest is one of Europe's oldest club rivalries, so knowing your csapatok (teams) will go down very well.