22 Comments
Is there a way to break down the meaning of this word into individual roots?
212
Let me break it down a bit further for you, cause the agglutination is the really sexy thing about the Hungarian language.
Viszont means 'likewise', 'same to you'.
Lát is 'to see', látás makes it a noun (the seeing), and the suffix -ra usually declares a movement onto something. Think of German "Auf Wiedersehen" if you're familiar.
So, taken together, you'll have something like "Unto seeing each other (again)."
Viszont also means "back" like "getting back at someone". You cannot say that "same to you" has anything to do with "viszontlárásra"
viszont látásra, meaning something like "to see [each other] again"
thanks :) mind you, "viszont" actually means however, in turn, so I guess this is a very old thing, I couldn't really find any sources on the internet about the etimology.
It's like "on seeing (each other) again" so I think it must come from a longer phrase like "Let's drink on seeing each other again." But this is just my wild idea. :D
- 212
Better: Hungarian letter 's' is pronounced like English 'sh'.
Hungarian letter 'sz' is pronounced like English 's'.
Here's a handy video on how to pronounce each of the 44(!) letters of the alphabet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwtwZTRDvYI
'S' = English 'sh', but you also have to pronounce the r. And I suggest you start practising your rolled 'R's.. ;)
Is there an occasion when viszontlátásra should be used rather than viszlát? Viszontlátásra is a bit of a mouthful after all
- 212
In more formal settings, with people you don't yet know, it's expected (or at least advisable) to use complete words. Like you would say "Goodbye" instead of just "Bye" at the end of a call with a customer of your company, for instance.
Hungarian is full of mouthfuls. :)
Its a more respectful way of saying goodbye but my stupid tongue cant say it or remember how to spell it
