Expressing Likes with *Tetszik* and *Szeret* in Hungarian

In Brief

Hungarian has two common ways to say that you like something. Use szeret with an accusative object for a general or established liking: Szeretem ezt a filmet (“I like this film”). Use tetszik when something appeals to someone: Tetszik nekem ez a film (literally, “This film is pleasing to me”). With tetszik, the liked thing—not the person—is the grammatical subject.

Overview

English like covers several ideas with one structure: “I like music,” “I like your new coat,” and “I like swimming” all place the person before the verb. Hungarian divides this territory mainly between szeret and tetszik, and the sentence is built differently with each verb.

Szeret behaves like an ordinary transitive verb (a verb acting on an object). The person who likes is the subject, and the liked person or thing is the direct object (the person or thing directly affected by the verb). That object normally takes the accusative case, usually marked by -t: Szeretem a zenét.

Tetszik works more like English “appeal to” or “be pleasing to.” The thing that creates the positive impression is the subject. The person experiencing that impression may be expressed in the dative case (a form meaning “to/for someone”), with endings such as -nak/-nek, or by a dative pronoun such as nekem (“to me”). This contrast is introduced around A2 because it combines everyday vocabulary with Hungarian case marking and verb agreement.

How It Works

The beginner rule

Use this practical distinction first:

Meaning	Hungarian pattern	Example
I generally like/love someone or something	person + szeret + accusative object	Szeretem Annát.
Something appeals to me; I like its look, sound, or effect	liked thing + tetszik + dative experiencer	Tetszik nekem a kép.

The distinction is not always absolute. In many situations both verbs are possible, but the viewpoint changes. Szeretem ezt a ruhát presents the dress as something you have a positive attachment to or regularly enjoy. Tetszik ez a ruha often sounds like a reaction to its appearance: “I like this dress” or “This dress appeals to me.”

Building a sentence with szeret

The basic pattern is:

liker + szeret + liked person/thing in the accusative

Hungarian often leaves out the subject pronoun because the verb ending already identifies the person:

• Szeretem a kávét. — I like coffee.
• Szereted ezt a dalt? — Do you like this song?
• Szeretjük Budapestet. — We like Budapest.

The object affects which present-tense conjugation is used. Hungarian has an indefinite conjugation for no object or an indefinite object, and a definite conjugation for a specific or otherwise grammatically definite object.

Hungarian	English	Note
Szeretek zenét hallgatni.	I like listening to music.	No definite direct object of szeret; indefinite form szeretek
Szeretek egy lányt.	I love a girl.	Egy lányt is indefinite
Szeretem a zenét.	I like/love music.	A zenét is definite, so szeretem
Szeretem ezt a dalt.	I like this song.	Ezt a dalt is definite

English speakers may find a zenét surprising because English normally says “music” without the when speaking generally. Hungarian often uses a definite article with a whole class or activity in statements such as Szeretem a zenét (“I like music”) and Szeretem a kávét (“I like coffee”). Do not copy the English article pattern mechanically.

Here are useful present-tense forms. The definite forms are especially common when talking about a known thing.

Person	Indefinite	Definite	Typical meaning with a definite object
én	szeretek	szeretem	I like it/them
te	szeretsz	szereted	you like it/them
ő	szeret	szereti	he/she likes it/them
mi	szeretünk	szeretjük	we like it/them
ti	szerettek	szeretitek	you all like it/them
ők	szeretnek	szeretik	they like it/them

The ending does not show whether English should use “like” or “love.” Context and intensity do that. With people, szeret can express affection or love: Szeretem a férjemet means “I love my husband.” With foods, places, and activities, “like” is often the natural translation.

Building a sentence with tetszik

The underlying pattern is:

appealing thing as subject + tetszik/tetszenek + experiencer in the dative

The dative pronouns are:

Person experiencing the reaction	Dative pronoun	English sense
én	nekem	to me
te	neked	to you (singular, informal)
ő	neki	to him/her
mi	nekünk	to us
ti	nektek	to you (plural, informal)
ők	nekik	to them

The experiencer may also be a noun: Péternek tetszik a film means “Péter likes the film.” The ending -nak/-nek is chosen according to vowel harmony: Péternek, Annának.

Unlike the object of szeret, the appealing thing has no accusative -t, because it is the subject:

• Tetszik ez a ház. — I/you/he/she like(s) this house, depending on context.
• Nekem tetszik ez a ház. — I like this house.
• Annának tetszik ez a ház. — Anna likes this house.

The verb agrees in number with the appealing thing:

Subject	Verb	Example
one thing	tetszik	Tetszik a cipő. — I like the shoe.
several things	tetszenek	Tetszenek a cipők. — I like the shoes.

Because the experiencer is often obvious, Hungarian commonly omits nekem, neked, and similar forms. In a shop, Tetszik a kabát? naturally asks the customer, “Do you like the coat?” Add the pronoun when you need contrast or clarity: Nekem tetszik, de neki nem (“I like it, but he/she doesn’t”).

Negatives and questions

Put nem directly before the relevant verb:

• Nem szeretem ezt a színt. — I do not like this colour.
• Nem tetszik ez a szín. — I do not like this colour./This colour does not appeal to me.
• Nem tetszenek ezek a képek. — I do not like these pictures.

Yes/no questions can keep statement word order and use question intonation:

• Szereted a filmet? — Do you like the film?
• Tetszik a film? — Do you like the film?
• Neked tetszik? — Do you like it?

Examples in Context

Hungarian	English	Note
Szeretem a zenét.	I like/love music.	General liking; definite conjugation
Nagyon szeretem.	I like/love it very much.	The definite object is understood
Szereted az olasz ételeket?	Do you like Italian food?	A general category takes the definite article
A gyerekek szeretik a csokoládét.	The children like chocolate.	Plural subject, definite object
Szeretek reggel futni.	I like running in the morning.	Szeret followed by an infinitive
Tetszik nekem ez a ház.	I like this house.	Ez a ház is the singular subject
Tetszik a film?	Do you like the film?	The experiencer is understood from context
Neked melyik tetszik?	Which one do you like?	Neked contrasts your opinion with someone else’s
Péternek nem tetszik az ötlet.	Péter does not like the idea.	The experiencer is a dative noun
Nagyon tetszenek az új képeid.	I really like your new pictures.	Plural subject requires tetszenek
Nekem a kék tetszik, neki a zöld.	I like the blue one; he/she likes the green one.	Contrast; the second tetszik is omitted
Szeretem ezt a kabátot, de a színe nem tetszik.	I like this coat, but I do not like its colour.	Both viewpoints in one sentence
Mit tetszik kérni?	What would you like?	Polite, formal use of tetszik with an infinitive

Common Mistakes

Giving tetszik an accusative object

• Wrong: Tetszik ezt a házat.
• Right: Tetszik ez a ház.
• Why: With tetszik, the house is the subject, not the direct object. Therefore ez a ház stays in its unmarked subject form rather than becoming accusative ezt a házat.

Making the verb agree with the person

• Wrong: Tetszem a cipő. (intended: “I like the shoe.”)
• Right: Tetszik nekem a cipő.
• Why: The shoe is what appeals, so the verb is third-person singular. Tetszem means “I appeal” and can occur in a different sentence, such as Tetszem neked? (“Do you like me?”).

Forgetting plural agreement

• Wrong: Tetszik ezek a könyvek.
• Right: Tetszenek ezek a könyvek.
• Why: Ezek a könyvek (“these books”) is a plural subject, so use plural tetszenek.

Using the wrong szeret conjugation

• Wrong: Szeretek ezt a filmet.
• Right: Szeretem ezt a filmet.
• Why: Ezt a filmet is a definite object (“this film”), so szeret needs the definite first-person form szeretem.

Translating English articles literally

• Less natural for the general meaning: Szeretek kávét.
• Natural general statement: Szeretem a kávét.
• Why: Hungarian commonly treats an entire known category as definite. Szeretek kávét can be grammatical in a suitable context, but it is closer to liking or being happy to have some coffee, not the standard neutral statement “I like coffee.”

Treating polite tetszik as the ordinary “appeal” structure

• Misleading analysis: In Mit tetszik kérni?, “what” is the thing that appeals.
• Better analysis: This is an honorific pattern: tetszik + infinitive politely refers to the addressee’s action.
• Why: The formal use developed beyond the literal “be pleasing” meaning. Learn it as a separate polite construction.

Usage Notes

Choosing between the two verbs

Use szeret for stable preferences, affection, people, repeated activities, and things you know well. Use tetszik especially for an impression, an evaluation, or something that catches your eye or ear. This makes tetszik very common when reacting to clothes, designs, houses, songs, proposals, and ideas.

The contrast can be useful rather than merely grammatical:

• Szeretem ezt a várost. — I like/love this city; I have a positive relationship with it.
• Tetszik ez a város. — This city appeals to me; I like what I see or experience.

Real usage overlaps, so do not search for a rigid English translation for every case. Ask which viewpoint the Hungarian sentence takes: an active personal preference with szeret, or something producing a favourable reaction with tetszik.

Word order and emphasis

Hungarian word order is flexible, but movement changes focus. These sentences describe the same basic relationship while highlighting different information:

• Nekem tetszik ez a kép. — I like this picture (perhaps someone else does not).
• Ez a kép tetszik nekem. — This picture is the one I like.
• Tetszik nekem ez a kép. — A neutral or expressive statement that this picture appeals to me.

At A2, it is enough to produce a clear form such as Nekem tetszik ez a kép. As you listen more, notice how speakers place the contrasted element before the verb.

“Like” versus “love”

Szeret is broader than either English word on its own. Szeretem Annát commonly expresses love or affection, while Szeretem a levest normally means “I like the soup.” Adverbs help set the strength: nagyon szeretem (“I like/love it very much”) and imádom (“I adore/love it”) are stronger in many contexts.

Beyond the Basics: Politeness, Tense, and Attraction

You do not need to master all of these patterns at A2, but you will encounter them often.

Honorific tetszik with an infinitive

Hungarian can use third-person tetszik plus an infinitive as a traditional respectful way to speak to one person:

• Mit tetszik kérni? — What would you like?
• Hol tetszik lakni? — Where do you live? (respectful)
• Tessék leülni! — Please sit down.

Here kérni (“to ask for/order”) and lakni (“to live”) name the addressee’s action. This construction is associated particularly with polite service encounters, respectful speech to older people, and traditional forms of address. Depending on the setting and speakers, it can sound warmly respectful, old-fashioned, or overly deferential. Modern formal Hungarian also commonly uses third-person forms with ön: Ön hol lakik? (“Where do you live?” formal).

Do not assume that every sentence Tetszik a film? contains this honorific construction. Without an infinitive, it normally has the ordinary meaning “Do you like the film?” The omitted experiencer is understood from the conversation.

Past and future reactions

Tetszik has normal tense forms. In the past, use tetszett for a singular subject and tetszettek for a plural subject:

• Tetszett a koncert. — I liked the concert.
• Tetszettek a dalok. — I liked the songs.

For a future prediction, Hungarian can use fog + infinitive:

• Szerintem tetszeni fog neked. — I think you will like it.

With szeret, ordinary past forms express a past preference or affection: Gyerekkoromban szerettem ezt a mesét (“I liked this story when I was a child”). The conditional form szeretnék is extremely common for polite wishes: Szeretnék egy kávét (“I would like a coffee”). Although it comes from szeret, “would like” is a request or desire and deserves to be learned as its own pattern.

When a person is the subject of tetszik

A person can be the appealing subject too:

• Tetszik nekem Péter. — I find Péter attractive / I like Péter.
• Tetszem neked? — Do you like me? / Do you find me attractive?

With people, tetszik often suggests attraction or a favourable personal impression, whereas szeret more readily expresses affection or love. Context still matters, but the difference can be socially important.

Practice Tips

1. Build sentence pairs. Choose five familiar things and describe each twice: Szeretem ezt a dalt and Tetszik ez a dal. Say what changes in viewpoint: established preference versus present impression.
2. Mark the roles before choosing endings. For szeret, circle the direct object and add its accusative ending; then decide whether it is definite. For tetszik, underline the appealing thing as the subject and check whether the verb must be singular or plural.
3. Practise short reactions aloud. Use Tetszik, Nem tetszik, Nagyon tetszik, and Nekem is tetszik (“I like it too”) while looking at clothes, pictures, or menus. This builds the construction as a whole instead of translating word by word from English.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Present Definite Conjugation — explains why szeretem, szereted, and szereti are used with definite objects.