This is the third and last post in a 3-part explanation of different conjunctions in Hungarian. This particular one will focus on more literary or formal conjunctions, some of which are used in common speech and others that you will more often see in literature. You can read my post about connecting/contrasting/comparing conjunctions here. The post about explanatory conjunctions is here.
viszont – ellenben – azonban: BUT/HOWEVER/NEVERTHELESS
These three words essentially mean the same thing, but they all have different connotations and nuances. Courtesy of the lovely Alex, I can give you all an in-depth explanation of the differences that otherwise are never fully explained in textbooks.
viszont
This is the most casual out of the three, and it gets used regularly. It’s essentially a stronger version of “de”. It could be translated as ‘but’, ‘however’, ‘on the other hand’, depending on the context.
While teachers might ‘correct’ you, it’s still very common for people to say “de viszont”, which is basically “but, on the other hand”.
Meg akartam venni ezt a könyvet, viszont elhagytam a pénztárcámat (I wanted to buy this book, but I forgot my wallet)
Most esik az eső, viszont nem hoztam az esernyőmet (It’s raining right now, but I didn’t bring my umbrella)
Szeretnék beszélni vele, viszont túl félénk vagyok (I’d like to talk to xem, however I’m too shy)
De, viszont, and azonban have less of a ‘direct’ oppositional meaning. To emphasize that the information you’re introducing is directly oppositional to what you have been saying, you would use ellenben.
ellenben
This is much more like “on the OTHER hand”, and as mentioned above is used to emphasize directly oppositional information. It is just a tad more distinguished than de or viszont, but you can use it in your everyday speech to give your style an ironic, distinguished air (if you so wish).
Nem akar az iskolába járni, ellenben tetszik neki a tanulás (Xe doesn’t want to go to school, (but) on the other hand xe likes learning).
A film unalmas volt, ellenben szerettem a könyvet (The movie was really boring, (but) on the other hand I really liked the book)
azonban
The meaning is about the same as viszont, but is much more literary and it is the one we would recommend keeping out of your everyday speech if you want to sound natural. If used in regular speech/conversation, depending on the type of person using the word, it can give different impressions.
An elderly man with a beard, hat, and tweed jacket, smoking a pipe? You’ve got ‘quirky literature professor’ vibes.
From a young person (I’d say millennials and younger), there is a high chance of coming across as some kind of hipster using them as either 1) a mannerism to look smarter than everyone else, or 2) to mix them with lowbrow style of speaking and profanity to seem more ‘urban’ and ‘cool’ and ‘detached’.
It would basically be the same as unironically using the word “nevertheless” in everyday English speech (it’s perfectly fine to use ironically for exaggerated or comedic effect).
A magyar nyelv nehéz lehet, azonban megtanultam (Hungarian can be difficult, but I’ve learned it nevertheless)
Tudtad, hogy nem szeretem a brokkolit, te azonban (mégis) hoztál nekem! (You knew I don’t like broccoli, but you (still) brought me some nevertheless!)
Nem akartam táncolni, azonban mégis megtettem (I didn’t want to dance, but I did so nevertheless)
mivel – ugyanis – hiszen: AS, BECAUSE, SINCE
mivel & ugyanis
These are about at the same level in terms of formality. Slightly more refined than just mert, but still used commonly in everyday speech. Stylistically, it’s up to personal taste and choice which one you use, but there isn’t much of a difference otherwise.
Nincs macskám, mivel allergiás vagyok (I don’t have a cat, since I am allergic)
Maradtam az ágyban, ugyanis szomorú voltam (I stayed in bed, because I was sad)
Nem szólt az apjához, mivel/ugyanis nem engedte, hogy kimenjen a moziba (Xe wouldn’t speak to xir father, because he wouldn’t let xem go out to the cinema)
hiszen
This can go up there with azonban for words you don’t use in everyday speech unless you want to sound like a hipster (unless using it for ironic/comedic effect). Hiszen also gives the vibe of ‘pointing out the obvious’.
Nem fogok kimenni, hiszen esik az eső! (I’m not going outside, (because) it’s raining!)
Nem akarok beszélni vele, hiszen mindig csak autókról beszél (I don’t want to talk to xem, (because) xe always just talks about cars)
Azt fel nem veszem, hiszen az túlságosan kicsi (I’m not going to wear that, (because) it’s way too small)
Hiszen can have an additional meaning of ‘alas!’ or ‘behold!’ It can also be shortened to just ‘hisz’.
example: guy enters a pub, and someone in the corner goes,
‘Hiszen ez a Laci! Hát téged is látni, tesó?’ (Well if it isn’t Laci! For you of all people to turn up, bro!’)
In both senses hiszen is pretty archaic, so you’d want to avoid putting this in your everyday speech.
Hiszen megölték a kutyát! Azt a filmet többé nem fogom megnézni! (Why, they just killed the dog! I’m not going to watch any more of this movie!)
Note: While mert can be replaced by mivel, ugyanis, or hiszen in most sentences, it can not be replaced in sentences with the azért…mert construction (they’re like a couple, do not separate).
vagyis – azaz – tudniillik: IN OTHER WORDS, NAMELY, THAT IS (TO SAY)
vagyis
This one is the most casual and natural of the three. It can also be used to reword a sentence in the middle of speaking.
“Szerintem Attila nem kér kávét – vagyis…tudod mit, hozzál neki is, max majd megiszom én”
(I don’t think Attila wants coffee – or, well…you know what, bring him one as well, if nothing else I’ll drink it)
Menjünk moziba – vagyis, a jegyek olyan drágák. Talán maradjunk otthon.
(Let’s go to the cinema – then again, the tickets are so expensive. Maybe we’ll just stay home.)
azaz
This one is less casual and you once again risk venturing into hipster territory. It kind of depends on the person speaking whether it sounds natural or not.
Menjünk moziba – azaz, a jegyek olyan drágák. Talán maradjunk otthon.
(Let’s go to the cinema – then again, the tickets are so expensive. Maybe we’ll just stay home.)
tudniillik
If used in regular speech, you will sound like the hipster-est of the hipsters. Unless being sarcastic, this is a word best left for literature. However, if using tudniillik at the beginning of a sentence to add more information in order to clarify something, then it is okay (i.e. ‘my mother and aunt don’t get along. Tudniillik, (reason(s) why they don’t get along)’)
Nem szerettem a filmet, tudniillik nem volt érdekes (I didn’t like the film, that is to say it was boring)
Better Hungarian 
Leave a comment