Meaning
Giving directions to continue forward.
Cultural Background
Hungarians value clear, direct instructions. When giving directions, they often use hand gestures to emphasize the 'straightness' of the path. In the capital, 'egyenesen' often implies following one of the major boulevards (Körút or Sugárút) until a major square is reached. In smaller villages, directions might be less about 'straight' and more about landmarks like 'the big oak tree' or 'the priest's house'. In Hungarian offices, using the formal 'Menjen' is a sign of professional respect and maintains a necessary boundary between colleagues who are not close.
The 'GY' Sound
Practice the 'gy' in 'egyenesen' by placing your tongue behind your bottom teeth and making a soft 'd' sound.
Formal vs Informal
Always default to 'Menjen' (formal) if you are unsure. It is never rude to be too formal in Hungary, but being too informal can be.
Meaning
Giving directions to continue forward.
The 'GY' Sound
Practice the 'gy' in 'egyenesen' by placing your tongue behind your bottom teeth and making a soft 'd' sound.
Formal vs Informal
Always default to 'Menjen' (formal) if you are unsure. It is never rude to be too formal in Hungary, but being too informal can be.
Hand Gestures
Use a flat hand pointing forward to reinforce the meaning. It helps locals understand you even if your pronunciation is off.
Politeness
Adding 'legyen szíves' (be so kind) before the phrase makes you sound like a native expert in politeness.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct formal way to say 'Go straight' to a stranger.
Elnézést, merre van a posta?
The formal 'menjen' and the adverbial 'egyenesen' are required.
Fill in the missing adverbial suffix.
Menjen egyenes__ a lámpáig.
The adjective 'egyenes' takes the '-en' suffix to become an adverb.
Complete the dialogue with the most appropriate phrase.
Taxi Driver: Hova vigyem? Passenger: A Deák térre, kérem. Itt az utcában ...
The passenger should use the formal 'menjen' with the driver.
Match the phrase to the correct social context.
Which phrase would you use with your best friend?
Friends use the informal 'te' form.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesElnézést, merre van a posta?
The formal 'menjen' and the adverbial 'egyenesen' are required.
Menjen egyenes__ a lámpáig.
The adjective 'egyenes' takes the '-en' suffix to become an adverb.
Taxi Driver: Hova vigyem? Passenger: A Deák térre, kérem. Itt az utcában ...
The passenger should use the formal 'menjen' with the driver.
Which phrase would you use with your best friend?
Friends use the informal 'te' form.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, 'Menjen egyenesen' is perfectly fine for driving, though 'Hajtson egyenesen' is more specific to operating a vehicle.
It is singular formal. If you are talking to a group of people formally, you would say 'Menjenek egyenesen'.
If it's the main road, you can still say 'Menjen egyenesen', but 'Kövesse az utat' (Follow the road) is more precise.
Because 'egyenes' is an adjective (straight). To describe the action of going, you need the adverbial form 'egyenesen' (straightly).
Yes, almost all Hungarian GPS voices use 'Menjen egyenesen' as the standard instruction.
You would say 'Menjen egyenesen vissza'.
Only if you are giving someone directions to your office. It's a spoken command primarily.
The informal version is 'Menj egyenesen'.
No, that would be 'azonnal'. However, 'egyenesen' can sometimes mean 'directly' (e.g., 'Go directly to the boss').
Yes, but 'Tessék egyenesen menni' is even more traditional and polite for elders.
Related Phrases
Forduljon balra
similarTurn left
Forduljon jobbra
similarTurn right
Álljon meg
contrastStop
Haladjon tovább
builds onContinue further
Menjen vissza
contrastGo back
