Meaning
Dismissing something as insignificant.
Cultural Background
Hungarians often use 'Nem fontos' as a form of modesty. If you praise someone's help, they might say 'Nem fontos' or 'Szóra sem érdemes' to downplay their effort. In many Central European cultures, including Hungary, there is a distinction between 'important' (objective) and 'mattering' (subjective). 'Nem fontos' covers both, but is softer than the German 'Egal'. In a Hungarian office, saying 'Nem fontos' about a task can be a sign of poor prioritization unless you are the boss. It is better to say 'Nem sürgős' (Not urgent). On Hungarian Facebook or Instagram, 'Nem fontos' is often used in captions to show a relaxed, 'living in the moment' attitude.
The 'Sh' Sound
Remember that 's' in Hungarian is always 'sh'. So it's 'fontosh', not 'fontos'.
Don't be too cold
If someone is telling you a secret, don't say 'Nem fontos' unless you want to end the friendship!
Meaning
Dismissing something as insignificant.
The 'Sh' Sound
Remember that 's' in Hungarian is always 'sh'. So it's 'fontosh', not 'fontos'.
Don't be too cold
If someone is telling you a secret, don't say 'Nem fontos' unless you want to end the friendship!
Combine for Politeness
Say 'Tényleg nem fontos' (It's really not important) to sound extra kind when someone apologizes.
Modesty
Use it to deflect compliments if you want to sound like a humble local.
Test Yourself
Someone apologizes for a small typo in a text. What is the most natural response?
Bocs, elírtam a szót!
'Nem fontos' is the standard way to dismiss a small error.
Complete the sentence to say 'It was not important.'
Nem ____ fontos.
'Volt' is the past tense of 'is' (van) in the third person singular.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You forgot to bring a book you promised to lend.
This dismisses the mistake and offers a solution.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Mit akartál mondani? B: Á, semmi, ____.
This is a common way to drop a thought you started.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Nem Fontos vs. Mindegy
Practice Bank
4 exercisesBocs, elírtam a szót!
'Nem fontos' is the standard way to dismiss a small error.
Nem ____ fontos.
'Volt' is the past tense of 'is' (van) in the third person singular.
You forgot to bring a book you promised to lend.
This dismisses the mistake and offers a solution.
A: Mit akartál mondani? B: Á, semmi, ____.
This is a common way to drop a thought you started.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot exactly. 'Nem fontos' means the thing itself lacks value. If you want to say you don't care about a choice, use 'Mindegy'.
Usually no, it's very polite. It only becomes rude if you use it to dismiss someone's feelings or a serious topic.
Just remove the 'nem' and add 'nagyon': 'Nagyon fontos'.
If you are talking about multiple things, use 'Nem fontosak'.
Yes, it's perfectly fine for neutral business or personal emails.
Young people might say 'Hagyjad már' or just 'Mindegy'.
No, Hungarian has no gender. It's the same for everyone!
'Nem számít' is slightly more idiomatic, like 'It doesn't count'. They are 90% interchangeable.
Yes, it means 'It's not important to me'.
Add 'már': 'Már nem fontos'.
Related Phrases
Mindegy
similarIt's all the same / I don't care
Nem számít
synonymIt doesn't count / matter
Lényegtelen
specialized formIrrelevant
Hagyjuk
similarLet's drop it
Nem érdekes
similarNot interesting
Szóra sem érdemes
builds onNot even worth mentioning
