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"Bocsánat" and "elnézést" seem to be interchangeable in Duolingo. Is that true to native speakers? I thought "elnézést" meant "excuse me" and "Bocsánat" meant "sorry".
Yes, 'bocsánat' can be uses as 'excuse me' also, not just 'sorry'. The one difference is that 'elnézést' is formal and 'bocsánat' is neutral, it is used both in formal and informal speech.
I've just moved to Budapest so learning Hungarian is brand new for me! I hear bocs more often than bocsánat so it's interesting to learn the different formalities.
Yeah it is more causal. Like saying "thanks" instead of "Thank you". But talking to elders or strangers, you should use Bocsánat
Bocs is apparently not good to say. It is a snotty sorry. Bocsi is better if informal.
I guess it depends on the company. Personally, I prefer 'bocs', because it's short and simple, while I find 'bocsi' too cute. That added '-i' is a diminutive suffix, and for me, saying 'bocsi' is less of a serious apology than 'bocs'. and both can be said with the right uncaring attitude to imply that the other one is a fool ;)
Difference between the literal translation of bocs and bocsánat!? Why is the -ánat added?
Bocsánat is more formal/polite than bocs. In fact, bocsánat itself is a noun, and it means forgiveness or apology. So, bocs is just a shortening of the word.
There are several expressions using bocsánat, like bocsánatot kérni (= to ask for forgiveness) or bocsánatot nyerni (= to be forgiven)
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There is no "added '-ánat'". The original word is "bocsánat" that is shortened - as Nitram already wrote :)
Thanks a lot! I just figured someone could ask these kind of obvious questions, since the course was just released. I always like to dive right into understanding the mechanics of a given language even if it is at first learning kind of frozen phrases like greetings and expressions.
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This is the most important, get the basics clear as soon as possible, and this type of "obvious" questions help a lot in it! Thank you for asking! Have a lingot for being brave enough to ask the "obvious" ;)
I would like to say Excuse me here, which is how I have seen it being used. Excuse me, to have somebody's attention, not necessarily because I am sorry or have made something to which I have to apologize for.
"Pardon!" is rejected as wrong, while this is a correct translation into English.
No, it is not a correct translation. Bocsánat does not mean pardon. You might say kérem to mean pardon.
If you learn just one expression meaning "sorry", it should be "bocsánat". It can be used in both formal and informal situations, it is rather neutral, nobody would be offended, but at the same time you wouldn"t sound as formal as an elderly butler. :)
