What to watch to learn Hungarian
Everything one working Hungarian teacher told us they would actually put in front of a learner, with a note on why each one works and the level it suits.
11
Recommendations
1
Teachers
Picked by
You might wonder why so many of my picks are cartoons. Think about your level: would you rather sit through a long, serious film full of complicated sentences, or a fun 15-minute story with simple words, slower speech and a happy ending? Hungary makes fantastic cartoons, and some of them were never really meant for children. When you want more of a challenge, the films are waiting.
See Anna Kerezsi’s picks
A Mézga család
A cult 1960s–70s cartoon about a chaotic Budapest family, free to watch on the public broadcaster's site. Short episodes, everyday family arguments and jokes written as much for the parents as for the kids.
Beginner
A nagy ho-ho-ho horgász
István Csukás's classic about a determined fisherman and his best friend, the bait. The episodes are short and the jokes are mostly visual, so you can follow every story from the pictures and pick the words up as you go.
Beginner
Frakk, a macskák réme
Frakk the dog spends every episode trying to outwit the two lazy house cats, Lukrécia and Szerénke. Ten-minute stories, clear speech and plenty of repetition make it one of the gentlest places to start.
Beginner
Hungarian Highlights
My own channel, where I show you the logic, melody and playfulness of Hungarian one small piece at a time. Learning it doesn't have to be painful.
Beginner
Kérem a következőt!
Doctor Bubó the owl treats a forest full of hypochondriac animals, helped by his nurse Ursula. Each episode is one patient and one short scene, which makes the dialogue easy to follow and fun to replay.
Beginner
Stuffed Cabbage Adventures
Ákos from Budapest shows you Hungary the way a local would, in English, and often slips in a mini lesson of words you will actually need there. A good way to get to know the culture behind the language.
Beginner
Macskafogó (Cat City)
The 1986 animated spy parody where secret agent Nick Grabowski saves the mice from the cats' mafia. Every Hungarian knows its lines by heart, so you will hear them quoted for years after you watch it.
Beginner-Intermediate
Liza, a rókatündér (Liza the Fox-Fairy)
A lonely nurse in a retro-styled Budapest is haunted by the ghost of a Japanese pop singer, and every man who falls for her dies. A colourful, quirky romantic comedy with simple dialogue that is easy to follow.
Intermediate
Pesti balhé (Budapest Heist)
When a friend dies, a group of childhood mates pull off his last wish: smuggling one of his paintings into Budapest's most exclusive art auction. A light heist comedy with natural, everyday banter between old friends, best watched with Hungarian subtitles on.
Intermediate-Advanced
Van valami furcsa és megmagyarázhatatlan (For Some Inexplicable Reason)
Áron is about to turn 30, just got dumped, and drifts around Budapest's bars and his parents' flat working out what to do next. This is how young Hungarians actually talk to each other: casual, ironic and quick.
Intermediate-Advanced
Valami Amerika (A Kind of America)
A young director and his two brothers try to win over an American producer who promises to fund his first film. One of the most quoted Hungarian comedies of the 2000s, with plenty of slang and quick banter.
Advanced
Frequently asked
What can I watch to learn Hungarian?
Anna Kerezsi of Hungarian lessons on Preply recommends A Mézga család, A nagy ho-ho-ho horgász, Frakk, a macskák réme and Hungarian Highlights, 11 teacher-chosen picks in total. Each links out to where you can watch or listen, with a note on the right learner level.
What shows can I watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime to learn Hungarian?
Anna Kerezsi, who teaches Hungarian at Hungarian lessons on Preply, recommends A Mézga család, A nagy ho-ho-ho horgász, Frakk, a macskák réme, Kérem a következőt!, Macskafogó (Cat City), Liza, a rókatündér (Liza the Fox-Fairy), Pesti balhé (Budapest Heist), Van valami furcsa és megmagyarázhatatlan (For Some Inexplicable Reason) and Valami Amerika (A Kind of America). These are all TV series and films, so you will usually find them on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Each one links out to where to watch it, with a note on the level it suits.
What are the best YouTube channels to learn Hungarian?
Anna Kerezsi, who teaches Hungarian at Hungarian lessons on Preply, recommends Hungarian Highlights and Stuffed Cabbage Adventures. Each one links out to where you can watch or listen, with a note on the level it suits.