Magyar News, 1992. szeptember-1993. augusztus (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1993-03-01 / 7. szám
HOW DO WE RELATE IN HUNGARIAN? nagyszülők grandparents nagyapa nagymama grandfather grandmother r unokatestvér cousin nagybátya apa anya nagynénje uncle father mother aunt szülök parents-1BL unokaöcs unokahug vőlegény ■ mennyasszony nephew niece groom bride nászin-law naszur in-law father apos father-in-law sógor brother-in-law vő son-in-law anyós mother-in-law szógomő sister-in-law meny daughter-in-law nászasszony in-law mother gyermek child házas társ spouse férj husband I feleség wife fiú boy I leány girl unoka grandchild csecsemő infant keresztszülők godparents keresztapa godfather keresztanya godmother koma child’s godfather kománé child’s godmother Trying to describe how one is related to another person is sometimes very difficult. Especially when it is done in a language that the person has limitations with. An American lining up all the few words of Hungarian would be saying something like: my mother’s mother’s father’s brother’s son’s son has a daughter that I am related to by marriage. Well, you figure it out To cut a few comers, I put together a chart sorting out who is who among relatives. There are also refinements to the chart that you should know. The Hungarian language doesn’t lend itself to say, for example, “MA” instead of mother. In Hungarian anya could be changed to anyuka, or even to thenicest way of saying, to édesanya. This goes for apa, too. Édes means sweet but in this case it is the birth parent. Brothers and sisters are also treated in this manner. Practically, it is limited to immediate relatives. Grandparents, uncles, etc. are not in this category. Since we are talking about the person’s relatives, “my relatives” the possessive suffix should be used. Like feleségem, fiam, nagyapám, and all the others. But if you only know what is in the boxes of the chart, then you are ahead of the game. To avoid any confusion, I am choosing another time to talk about step relatives, foster parents and others. Joseph F. Balogh Page 7 öcs younger brother fivér older brother én I nővér older sister hug younger sister testvér brother/sister
