How to Learn Hungarian Cheaply and Efficiently (Even If You’re Busy)

21/11/2025

How to Learn Hungarian Cheaply and Efficiently (Even If You’re Busy)

Practical, ethical and budget-friendly strategies for Hungarian language learners

Learning Hungarian can feel intimidating - especially if you're short on time, money, or access to a teacher. But the good news? You don’t need an expensive course or hours of free time to make real progress.

I’m Csilla, the creator of the Plain Hungarian Podcast, and in this post I’ll walk you through the best ways to learn Hungarian cheaply, efficiently and ethically. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an intermediate learner, these tips will help you build a solid routine and stay motivated.

If you prefer to study with structured materials (transcripts, vocabulary lists, explanations, and weekly live sessions), you can join the Plain Hungarian Club - learn more here: https://plainhungarian.supercast.com/.


🎥 How to Learn Hungarian Cheaply and Efficiently - Video Version

(English subtitles available)

Prefer reading? Scroll down for the full written guide.

1. What not to do: illegal PDF downloads

Let’s start with the obvious:
Many learners look for free, pirated PDF versions of Hungarian textbooks.

Please avoid this. Not only is it unethical, but in most cases totally unnecessary - good Hungarian textbooks are affordable and widely available worldwide.

A great example is the MagyarOK series, which ships internationally and is worth the investment.

So if you want to study Hungarian on a budget and be ethical, you have plenty of better options. Let’s explore them.


2. Use podcasts - but use them correctly

Podcasts are one of the most effective (and cheapest!) tools for learning Hungarian.

But most learners make one big mistake:
They listen once, then move on.

Instead, try this method:

  • Listen to only 3–5 minutes at a time

  • Repeat the same segment several times

  • Focus on understanding more details with each listening

  • Only later move to the full episode

If you're not advanced yet, repetition beats novelty. The goal isn’t to listen to more episodes - it’s to understand one episode deeply.

You can also read along while listening if you’re a member of the Plain Hungarian Club.


3. Join a monthly membership for structure + materials

A subscription-based club can give you:

  • full transcripts

  • vocabulary lists

  • grammar and cultural explanations

  • example dialogues, model answers

  • conversations starter questions

  • weekly speaking sessions

  • community support

In the Plain Hungarian Club, we go further than that - but more on this at the end.
If you enjoy my podcast, the Club is the natural next step for structured, affordable learning.


4. Use YouTube and Netflix - but not passively

Just watching videos with English subtitles won’t help your Hungarian.

Here’s how to make YouTube and Netflix actually useful:

  1. Break the content into short parts (e.g., 3 × 10 minutes)

  2. Watch with subtitles

  3. Then watch without subtitles

  4. Pay attention to the Hungarian audio, not the English text

  5. Repeat key scenes multiple times

A fantastic free tool is Language Reactor, a browser extension that shows two sets of subtitles at once (Hungarian + your native language).
Great for building confidence and comprehension.


5. Speak, speak, speak - even when it feels scary

If your goal is to speak Hungarian, you must practice speaking Hungarian.
Reading, filling in worksheets, and watching videos won't magically turn into conversation skills.

Speaking is a skill, just like playing an instrument or swimming.

  • It becomes easier the more you practice it.

  • It feels uncomfortable at the beginning, and that’s completely normal.

  • You will make mistakes, hesitate, forget words , and that’s part of the process, not a sign of failure.

Language exchange partners are perfect for this, and many platforms are completely free.
Choose a topic in advance, then talk for 15 minutes in Hungarian and 15 minutes in your partner’s language.

I’ll link some free language-exchange sites in the podcast transcript. If you’re in the Club, you already have them.

6. Use social media and forums actively, not passively

The internet is full of free Hungarian input - but scrolling is not enough.

To learn effectively:

  • follow Hungarian content creators

  • join Facebook or Reddit communities in Hungarian

  • comment and write short posts in Hungarian

  • listen to Hungarian music and read the lyrics (Spotify is great for this)

Daily micro-practice leads to big progress over time.


7. How AI can support your Hungarian learning

AI can be an excellent tool for:

  • practicing dialogues

  • rewriting texts into easier or harder versions

  • creating example sentences

  • checking vocabulary

Ask the AI to play a waiter, a friend, or a colleague and practice dialogues.
Let it invent the situation for you!

But:
AI is not perfect. Always double-check grammar explanations, and when you can, ask a Hungarian teacher or exchange partner to review your writing.

For reliable grammar explanations, I strongly recommend:

Both include Hungarian and English explanations and exercises.
I especially recommend Rendszerező Magyar Nyelvtan for beginners because of its excellent vocabulary and clear structure.


8. How to study one podcast episode for an entire month

This is one of my favourite, highly efficient techniques.

Here’s a step-by-step method using the Plain Hungarian Podcast:

Week 1

  • Choose an episode that interests you

  • Listen once for overall meaning

  • Listen again for details

  • Listen again while reading the transcript (available in the Club)

  • Review the vocabulary

Week 2

  • Read the transcript

  • Study the grammar, cultural notes, and word explanations

  • Complete any exercises

Week 3

  • Answer the conversation starter questions

  • Write your answers

  • Ask a teacher (or me, if you are a Club member) or native speaker to correct them

  • Read the model answers inside the Club

Week 4

  • Record voice messages about the topic

  • Discuss the episode with a language partner

  • Talk about it in the weekly Club meeting

With these steps, you practice listening, reading, writing, and speaking - all from one episode.

As a Club member, you also get access to a huge knowledge base:
two years of transcripts, worksheets, study guides, e-books, cultural notes, and every resource I’ve ever created.


Final thoughts: Affordable Hungarian learning is absolutely possible

You don’t need expensive private lessons.
You don’t need to study for hours every day.

Consistent, small daily sessions are far more effective than occasional “marathon” study days.

You don’t need to feel overwhelmed.

With the right plan, the right tools, and a bit of consistency, you can make progress every single week - even with a busy schedule.

If you enjoyed these tips and want structured support, join the Plain Hungarian Club here: https://plainhungarian.supercast.com/

Inside, we meet every week, and I help you build a study system that actually works.