Official/Bureaucratic Language in Hungarian

Overview

Official and bureaucratic Hungarian (hivatalos nyelv) represents the most formal register of the language, used in legal documents, government communications, official notices, and administrative correspondence. At the CEFR C2 level, understanding this register is necessary for anyone dealing with Hungarian institutions, reading legal texts, or producing formal documents.

This register is characterized by heavily nominalized constructions, impersonal passive-like formations, formulaic phrases, and a preference for noun-heavy sentences over verb-heavy ones. It can be opaque even to native speakers unfamiliar with administrative language, making it a distinctive register worth studying.

Official Hungarian draws on Latin-influenced legal traditions and the 19th-century language reform, creating a vocabulary and style that is distinctly formal.

How It Works

Characteristic Constructions

Feature	Example	English
Nominalization	döntés meghozatala	the making of a decision
Passive-like	alkalmazásra kerül	will be applied
Formal address	Ezúton tájékoztatjuk	We hereby inform
Reference	a vonatkozó jogszabály	the relevant legislation
Formal basis	a fentiek alapján	on the basis of the above

Common Official Phrases

Hungarian	English
Ezúton tájékoztatjuk, hogy...	We hereby inform you that...
A fentiek alapján...	On the basis of the above...
A vonatkozó jogszabály értelmében...	According to the relevant legislation...
Tisztelettel kérjük, hogy...	We respectfully request that...
Tudomásul veszem.	I acknowledge (this).
A határozat ellen fellebbezés nyújtható be.	An appeal may be filed against the decision.
A kérelem benyújtásának határideje...	The deadline for submitting the application...
Mellékletként csatoljuk...	We attach as an appendix...

Official Passive Constructions

Active	Official passive-like	English
Alkalmazzuk a szabályt.	A szabály alkalmazásra kerül.	The rule will be applied.
Közzétesszük.	Közzétételre kerül.	It will be published.
Megállapították.	Megállapítást nyert.	It has been established.
Benyújtják.	Benyújtásra kerül.	It will be submitted.

Letter/Document Formulas

Position	Hungarian	English
Opening	Tisztelt Hölgyem/Uram!	Dear Madam/Sir!
Opening	Tisztelt ... Úr/Asszony!	Dear Mr./Mrs. ...!
Reference	Hivatkozási szám:	Reference number:
Closing	Tisztelettel:	Respectfully:
Closing	Üdvözlettel:	With greetings:

Examples in Context

Hungarian	English	Note
A fentiek alapján...	On the basis of the above...	reference
Ezúton tájékoztatjuk, hogy...	We hereby inform you that...	notification
a vonatkozó jogszabály értelmében	according to the relevant legislation	legal reference
A határozat ellen fellebbezés nyújtható be.	An appeal may be filed against the decision.	legal right
Tisztelettel kérjük...	We respectfully request...	polite official request
A kérelem elbírálásra kerül.	The application will be evaluated.	passive-like
Mellékletként csatoljuk...	We attach as appendix...	document reference
Tudomásul véve az alábbiakat...	Having noted the following...	acknowledgment
A határidő lejárt.	The deadline has expired.	administrative
Az ügyfél jogosult...	The client is entitled to...	legal right

Common Mistakes

Using informal register in official documents

• Wrong: Szia! Szeretném, ha...
• Right: Tisztelt Hölgyem/Uram! Tisztelettel kérem, hogy...
• Why: Official documents require the highest register. Informal language is inappropriate.

Avoiding official constructions when they are expected

• Wrong: Megcsinálják. (in a legal document)
• Right: Végrehajtásra kerül.
• Why: Official register has expected constructions that signal formality and authority.

Overusing official style in everyday communication

• Wrong: Ezúton tájékoztatom, hogy ma nem megyek. (to a friend)
• Right: Ma nem megyek.
• Why: Official register sounds absurd in casual contexts.

Usage Notes

The -ra/-re kerül construction (e.g., alkalmazásra kerül) is the hallmark of official Hungarian. While language purists sometimes criticize it, it is firmly established and expected in legal and administrative texts.

Hungarian official language is heavily influenced by EU document style since Hungary's 2004 EU accession, leading to some new constructions and loan-translations from English and French.

Understanding official Hungarian is practical for everyday life in Hungary: rental contracts, tax documents, medical forms, and government correspondence all use this register.

Practice Tips

• Read Hungarian official documents (available on kormany.hu) and identify the characteristic constructions.
• Practice writing a formal letter using the correct opening, body formulas, and closing.
• Transform everyday sentences into official register and vice versa.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Academic Hungarian — the academic register that shares many features