If you’ve started learning Hungarian, you’ve probably noticed that there’s more than one way to say “you”. Unlike in modern English, Hungarian makes a very important distinction between the informal “you” and the formal “you”.

Getting this right is a big deal in Hungarian culture. Using the wrong form can come across as disrespectful or, in other cases, awkwardly distant.

But don’t worry! The rules are actually quite simple.

The two main ways to say “you” (when talking to one person) are:

• Te: The informal, casual “you”.
• Ön: The formal, polite “you”.

This guide will break down exactly when to use each one, how they change your verbs, and what to do if you’re not sure.

The informal ‘you’: te

Te is the version of “you” that you’ll use most often with people you know well. Think of it as the ‘friendly’ form.

Use te when talking to:

• Friends and family members
• Children and teenagers
• People your own age or younger in a casual setting (like at a bar or a party)
• Your pets!

When you’re talking to a group of these people, the plural form is ti.

Here are some examples (note that te is sometimes omitted):

Using te creates a feeling of closeness and equality.

The formal ‘you’: Ön

Ön is the formal, respectful “you”. Notice that it is always written with a capital letter, just like “Sie” in German. Using Ön shows politeness and respect for distance or authority.

Use Ön when talking to:

• Strangers, especially those older than you
• People in positions of authority (police officers, doctors, officials)
• Shopkeepers, waiters, and other service staff
• In any professional or business setting

The plural form, used when addressing a group formally, is Önök.

Here are the same examples, but in the formal version:

Using Ön is always the safe and polite choice when you first meet someone.

How verb endings change

This is the most important part! The pronoun you choose changes the ending of the verb.

• Te uses the standard 2nd person singular verb endings (usually ending in -sz or -l).
• Ön uses the 3rd person singular verb endings—the exact same form you would use for “he/she/it” (ő).

This might feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly. It’s like you’re politely speaking about the person, even though you’re talking to them. The same rule applies to the plural forms: ti uses the 2nd person plural ending, while Önök uses the 3rd person plural ending.

Let’s look at the verb beszélni (to speak).

Here’s a direct comparison:

The “in-between” option: maga

You might also hear another formal “you”: maga. This one is a bit trickier. Like Ön, it uses the 3rd person singular verb form.

However, maga can sometimes sound a bit old-fashioned or even condescending. It implies a certain hierarchy, where the speaker might see themselves as being of a higher status. For example, an elderly person might use it with a younger shopkeeper, or a farmer might use it in a village setting.

My advice for beginners: Stick to te and Ön. You will almost never need to use maga yourself, but it’s good to recognize it if you hear it.

When in doubt: what should you do?

Here’s a simple rule of thumb: If you’re not sure, always start with Ön.

It is always better to be too polite than too familiar. No one will be offended if you use Ön. If the person feels the situation is informal enough, they will invite you to switch to the informal te. They’ll say something like:

This is your cue to switch to te for the rest of the conversation.

Quick summary chart

Here’s everything in one simple table.

Mastering te and Ön is a key step toward sounding natural and respectful in Hungarian.

Sok sikert! (Good luck!)