szervusz
See also: servus
Hungarian
Hungarian phrasebook
 | This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other Hungarian entries on this topic, see Greetings or Farewells. |
Alternative forms
Etymology
The greeting evolved from the commoners’ greeting in Latin servus humillimus (“your humblest servant”), said to lords.[1] No subservience is implied in modern use. Compare Slovak servus, Romanian servus, German servus, Swedish tjenare. See also the similar etymology at csaó and alászolgája.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈsɛrvus]
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: szer‧vusz
- Rhymes: -us
Usage notes
- (hello; goodbye):
Used both for hello and goodbye to someone whom the speaker addresses in the second person. When greeting a group of people, szervusztok is used. Szervusz is more formal and polite than the colloquial szia. It may be used, for example, if one is on first-name terms with the other (see tegeződik) but still wants to convey a respectful attitude.
- (cheers):
| Variations of “cheers” | ||
| Singular | Plural | |
| Informal “you” | egészségedre | egészségetekre |
| Formal “you” | egészségére | egészségükre |
| Oneself included | “we (all)” egészségünkre | |
| Other alternatives: fenékig, szervusz, csincsin, egs (colloquial) | ||
References
- szervusz in Zaicz, Gábor (ed.). Etimológiai szótár: Magyar szavak és toldalékok eredete (‘Dictionary of Etymology: The origin of Hungarian words and affixes’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2006, →ISBN. (See also its 2nd edition.)
Further reading
- szervusz in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
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