Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Hungarian way to ask 'Who is it?' when someone knocks or you see someone unfamiliar.
- Means: 'Who is that?' or 'Who is it?' used for identifying people.
- Used in: Answering the door, identifying people in photos, or asking about strangers.
- Don't confuse: Never use 'Mi az?' (What is it?) for people; only use 'Ki'.
내 수준에 맞는 설명:
뜻
Asking for identification of a person.
문화적 배경
In apartment buildings, people often use the intercom (kaputelefon). When the buzzer rings, you pick up the phone and say 'Halló, ki az?' or simply 'Igen?'. In villages, 'Ki az?' is often shouted from a window or across a fence. It's a way of monitoring the neighborhood and starting a conversation. When knocking on an office door, 'Ki az?' is a standard prompt for the visitor to identify themselves before being told 'Szabad!' (Come in). During the socialist era, 'Ki az?' was a phrase of caution. Today, it is used more casually, but the habit of identifying visitors through the door remains.
The 'Key' Rule
Always use 'Ki' for people. Think of a 'Key' opening a door to a person.
No 'Van'
Don't say 'Ki az van?'. The verb 'is' is invisible in Hungarian for this phrase.
The 'Key' Rule
Always use 'Ki' for people. Think of a 'Key' opening a door to a person.
No 'Van'
Don't say 'Ki az van?'. The verb 'is' is invisible in Hungarian for this phrase.
Pluralize Both
If you see two people, don't forget to change both words: 'Kik azok?'.
Intonation Matters
Rise the pitch on the word 'Ki' to make it sound like a natural question.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the missing word to ask 'Who is that?'
___ az?
'Ki' is used for people, 'Mi' for things.
Which phrase is correct for asking about a group of people?
Asking about multiple people:
Both 'Ki' and 'az' must be pluralized to 'Kik' and 'azok'.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: Someone knocks on your door.
'Ki az?' is the standard response to a knock.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kopp-kopp! B: ___ A: Én vagyok, Anna.
This is the most natural way to ask who is knocking.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
5 연습 문제___ az?
'Ki' is used for people, 'Mi' for things.
Asking about multiple people:
Both 'Ki' and 'az' must be pluralized to 'Kik' and 'azok'.
Situation: Someone knocks on your door.
'Ki az?' is the standard response to a knock.
A: Kopp-kopp! B: ___ A: Én vagyok, Anna.
This is the most natural way to ask who is knocking.
🎉 점수: /5
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문Usually no. For animals, Hungarians use 'Mi az?' (What is it?), unless the pet is treated very much like a person, then 'Ki az?' might be used jokingly.
No, it is neutral. However, shouting it very loudly through a door might sound a bit aggressive. A calm tone makes it perfectly polite.
'Ki az?' refers to someone further away or behind a door. 'Ki ez?' refers to someone right next to you or in a photo you are holding.
You can say '[Your Name] vagyok' (I am [Name]) or 'Én vagyok' (It's me).
Hungarian uses a zero-copula in the 3rd person singular present tense for definitions and identifications.
It's mostly a spoken phrase. In a letter, you would use more specific language like 'Ki az az illető, akiről szó van?' (Who is the individual in question?).
Always use a question mark in writing to indicate the rising intonation.
If you hear a noise and aren't sure, 'Mi az?' is safer. If you suspect it's a person, use 'Ki az?'.
No. Hungarian has no grammatical gender. 'Ki az?' works for men, women, and non-binary individuals.
In the past tense, you MUST use the verb: 'Ki volt az?'.
관련 표현
Ki ez?
similarWho is this?
Mi az?
contrastWhat is it?
Kik azok?
builds onWho are they?
Ki beszél?
specialized formWho is speaking?
Kicsoda?
similarWho exactly?
어디서 쓸까?
Answering the door
Visitor: (Knocks on door)
Host: Ki az?
Visitor: A futár vagyok a pizzával.
Looking at old photos
Friend A: Nézd ezt a régi képet!
Friend B: Ki az a kisfiú ott a bal oldalon?
Friend A: Az az öcsém, Peti.
Unknown caller
Person A: (Phone rings)
Person B: Ki az?
Person A: Nem tudom, rejtett szám.
Seeing a celebrity
Fan 1: Nézd, mindenki fotózza azt a nőt!
Fan 2: Ki az? Talán egy híres színésznő?
Office knock
Employee: (Knocks on manager's door)
Manager: Ki az? Szabad!
Late night noise
Homeowner: Hallottad? Valaki van a konyhában.
Partner: Ki az? Menj és nézd meg!
암기하기
기억법
Think of a 'Key' (Ki) opening a door to see 'As' (Az) many people as possible.
시각적 연상
Imagine a giant question mark shaped like a keyhole in a door. Through the keyhole, you see a person pointing at themselves.
Rhyme
Ki az? / A kopogó kisinas.
Story
You are in a dark castle. You hear a sound: 'Kopp-kopp'. You hold up your lantern and shout 'Ki az?'. A friendly ghost appears and says 'Csak én vagyok!' (It's just me!).
In Other Languages
In Russian, 'Kto eto?' (Who this?) follows the same zero-copula logic. In English, we must add 'is' to make 'Who is it?'.
Word Web
챌린지
Next time you hear a knock or a notification on your phone, say 'Ki az?' out loud before checking.
Review this every time you enter a new room and see someone.
발음
Pronounced like the English word 'key'.
The 'a' is a short, open back rounded vowel, similar to the 'o' in 'hot' (British English).
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Szabad kérdeznem, ki az? (Home/Office)
Ki az? (Home/Office)
Ki az? (Home/Office)
Ki van ott? (Home/Office)
Derived from the Proto-Uralic interrogative root *ke- (who) and the Finno-Ugric demonstrative root *o-/*a- (that).
재미있는 사실
The word 'Ki' is one of the oldest words in the Hungarian language, remaining virtually unchanged for over 3,000 years.
문화 노트
In apartment buildings, people often use the intercom (kaputelefon). When the buzzer rings, you pick up the phone and say 'Halló, ki az?' or simply 'Igen?'.
“Halló, ki az? A postás vagyok.”
In villages, 'Ki az?' is often shouted from a window or across a fence. It's a way of monitoring the neighborhood and starting a conversation.
“Ki az? Csak a szomszéd, hoztam egy kis almát.”
When knocking on an office door, 'Ki az?' is a standard prompt for the visitor to identify themselves before being told 'Szabad!' (Come in).
“Kopp-kopp. - Ki az? - Kovács úr vagyok.”
During the socialist era, 'Ki az?' was a phrase of caution. Today, it is used more casually, but the habit of identifying visitors through the door remains.
“Ki az? Rendőrség! (A common trope in old films).”
대화 시작하기
Nézd azt a képet! Ki az?
Valaki kopog az ajtón. Mit mondasz?
Látsz egy híres embert az utcán. Mit kérdezel a barátodtól?
자주 하는 실수
Mi az?
Ki az?
L1 Interference
Ki az van?
Ki az?
L1 Interference
Ki az ember?
Ki az az ember?
L1 Interference
Ki az?
Ki beszél?
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¿Quién es?
Spanish requires a verb; Hungarian does not.
C'est qui?
Word order and the use of 'c'est'.
Wer ist das?
German uses the verb 'sein'.
誰ですか？ (Dare desu ka?)
Japanese uses a question particle; Hungarian uses rising intonation.
من هذا؟ (Man hadha?)
Almost no difference in logic, only in script and sounds.
是谁？ (Shì shéi?)
Chinese keeps the verb but can drop the pronoun.
누구세요? (Nugu-seyo?)
Korean's mandatory honorifics.
Quem é?
Presence of the verb 'ser'.
Spotted in the Real World
“Ki az? - A postás.”
A classic scene where characters identify each other through a door.
“Ki az a lány?”
A popular pop song asking about a girl in a club.
“Ki az? Csak én vagyok, Taki bácsi.”
Frequent use when neighbors visit each other's apartments.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners use 'What' instead of 'Who' for people.
Remember: People = Ki, Things = Mi.
Learners mix up 'that' (az) and 'he/she' (ő).
Use 'az' for someone you are identifying for the first time. Use 'ő' for someone you are already talking about.
자주 묻는 질문 (10)
Usually no. For animals, Hungarians use 'Mi az?' (What is it?), unless the pet is treated very much like a person, then 'Ki az?' might be used jokingly.
usage contextsNo, it is neutral. However, shouting it very loudly through a door might sound a bit aggressive. A calm tone makes it perfectly polite.
practical tips'Ki az?' refers to someone further away or behind a door. 'Ki ez?' refers to someone right next to you or in a photo you are holding.
grammar mechanicsYou can say '[Your Name] vagyok' (I am [Name]) or 'Én vagyok' (It's me).
practical tipsHungarian uses a zero-copula in the 3rd person singular present tense for definitions and identifications.
grammar mechanicsIt's mostly a spoken phrase. In a letter, you would use more specific language like 'Ki az az illető, akiről szó van?' (Who is the individual in question?).
usage contextsAlways use a question mark in writing to indicate the rising intonation.
grammar mechanicsIf you hear a noise and aren't sure, 'Mi az?' is safer. If you suspect it's a person, use 'Ki az?'.
practical tipsNo. Hungarian has no grammatical gender. 'Ki az?' works for men, women, and non-binary individuals.
grammar mechanicsIn the past tense, you MUST use the verb: 'Ki volt az?'.
grammar mechanics
