About Hungary

Every person has their own story, but many of us are united by the circumstances of fate that led us to a new country where we must build a new life as quickly as possible. We hope that our portal Expaterra can help you with that!

So, Hungary: a country of opportunities and warm hospitality, where everyone will find their home among picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Culture and lifestyle

Hungary is a country with a rich cultural heritage, unique cuisine, and deep traditions that shape the lifestyle and values of its people.

Hungarians value family ties and often spend time with loved ones, especially on weekends and holidays. Traditional family meals and joint activities are an integral part of their culture. The country's residents also actively participate in cultural and sports events, attend theaters, concerts, and festivals. Hungary is known for its thermal baths, which are popular among locals and tourists alike.

Hungarian cuisine is famous for its rich flavors and use of spices, especially paprika. Some traditional dishes include: goulash (thick soup with meat, vegetables, and paprika); pörkölt (stewed meat with onions and spices); lecsó (stewed vegetables with sausage or meat); kürtőskalács (sweet pastry in the form of a tube, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon).

Hungarians take pride in their cultural heritage and strive to preserve national customs. Hospitality and respect for elders are important aspects of Hungarian society. Education and hard work are also highly valued, reflecting in the pursuit of professional development and personal growth.

Hungary holds high positions in various international rankings, reflecting its achievements in different areas.

The country is known for its numerous thermal springs and baths. The capital city, Budapest, is often called the "city of baths" thanks to its more than 100 thermal springs. The Széchenyi and Gellért Baths are among the most famous in the world.

Hungary has rich winemaking traditions, especially notable is the Tokaj region, renowned for producing the famous Tokaji dessert wine. Tokaji wine is highly valued in international markets and has won numerous awards at wine competitions.

Hungary is home to one of Europe's largest music festivals — the Sziget Festival, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world and ranks among the top 10 best festivals in the world.

The country holds high positions in the Olympic Games medal tally, especially in sports like fencing, swimming, and rowing. In terms of Olympic medals per capita, Hungary is among the leaders.

Hungarian mathematicians have made significant contributions to science. The country is known for its strong mathematical schools and high results in international mathematical Olympiads.

Hungary holds low positions in several international rankings, reflecting certain aspects of its socio-economic development and perception on the international stage.

According to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index compiled by Transparency International, Hungary ranks 76th out of 180 countries worldwide. This is the lowest among European Union countries, indicating a high level of perceived corruption in the country.

Hungary also holds low positions in press freedom rankings, reflecting international organizations' concerns about the state of freedom of speech and media independence in the country.

These indicators highlight areas where Hungary faces challenges and requires improvements to enhance its international image and internal development.

Local Language

The Hungarian language belongs to the Finno-Ugric group, so its structure differs significantly from most European languages, such as English, German, or French. Hungarian has about 18 cases that change the form of a word depending on its role in a sentence. Verbs change according to person, number, and other factors, which adds complexity to sentence construction.

The Hungarian language has a unique lexical composition. Many words don't have direct equivalents in other languages, making vocabulary memorization challenging. Unlike the Indo-European language group, Hungarian words rarely share roots with English or Romance languages.

In Hungarian, the stress is always on the first syllable, which may be unfamiliar to speakers of other languages. Hungarian contains sounds that can be difficult to reproduce.

The Hungarian language is agglutinative, meaning various grammatical meanings are added to a word via suffixes. A single word can contain several suffixes, changing its meaning and form depending on the context. Hungarian uses special suffixes to indicate direction, time, and place.

The Hungarian language is rarely used outside of Hungary, so it may be difficult to find native speakers or a linguistic environment for regular practice. Although the number of textbooks and online courses is growing, resources for learning Hungarian are still limited compared to more popular languages.

Mastering the Hungarian language can be an interesting and rewarding experience, despite the challenges. A systematic approach and immersion in a language environment will help overcome most of these challenges.