"A fiatal óvónő vár."

Translation: The young kindergarten teacher is waiting.

[ray.meredith]

Is there a male version of this work (the for which, I'm guessing, would be "óvó"), or are there only female kindergarten teachers in Hungary?

[negyvenketto]

i'd say "óvóbácsi" for the male version. i don't have any statistics, but i think more than 95 % of kindergarten teachers are female. (there are two reasons for this in my opinion: 1) hungary is still quite patriarchal and looking after small children is considered women's work. many parents wouldn't trust a man with their children, and people would also look funny on a man who chooses to spend his days with children 2) kindergarten teachers' salaries are ridiculously low, so men tend to not choose it as a profession.)

[willcan]

All these reasons are heavily interconnected. Underpaid 'because it's a "woman's" job. Don't trust/look funny on men because it's not "traditionally" a male's role. It's time society changed and shared roles and remuneration fairly.

[Stuttgart3]

'Óvóbácsi' is the male version of kindergarten teachers, but I've never seen any.

[BenceFerdinandy]

Officially it is just "óvó" (http://www.tok.elte.hu/oktatas), but "óvó bácsi" would be used in general speak, in contrast with "óvó néni".

[as-a-deer]

If you want to be really formal, you can say óvodapedagógus and that's gender neutral. Btw my mum's colleague is an óvóbácsi and the kids adore him.

[ray.meredith]

Köszönöm szépen! All of the replies have been quite helpful (both here and in the facebook group).

[theQM]

Thanks to you I now know there's a facebook group! Thank you!

[Sir_Percival]

Kindergarten is the correct spelling.

[gkelt1]

Beginners would greatly benefit by having a slow-speaking option to listen to. It would help Beginners begin to comprehend the subtle pronunciation differences among the 44 characters of the Hungarian alphabet.

[Butka4]

What's the difference between 'is waiting' and 'waits'

[Marie-Line228804]

It's only a difference that you can find in english language:" is waiting" means that it's a progressive action, and "waits" that the action just happens.

[SzabadosAgi]

You can say óvónéni if you want to be cute.