Muszáj

Muszáj is a native Hungarian noun meaning obligation or necessity, used to express that something must be done. It is most often employed with an infinitive verb, as in the impersonal construction muszáj + infinitive: Muszáj menni (one has to go / I must go). It can also take a dative subject to indicate who has to do something, for example: Nekem muszáj hazamenni (I have to go home), Neked muszáj pihenni (You have to rest).

In addition to the infinitive pattern, muszáj can appear in a clause introduced by hogy: Muszáj, hogy menj (You must go). The construction can be negated with nem muszáj, meaning “it isn’t necessary.” Past reference is formed with volt: Muszáj volt (it was necessary; I had to).

Muszáj is often contrasted with Kell, Szükséges, and Kötelező. Kell is a broader, more direct sense of obligation, while muszáj emphasizes necessity arising from circumstances or personal obligation rather than formal rules. Szükséges denotes necessity or requirement in a more neutral sense, and Kötelező expresses a formal or external obligation, such as a rule or requirement.

Usage notes: muszáj conveys immediacy and personal relevance in everyday language and is common in both speech and writing. It can carry a slightly stronger or more urgent nuance than kell, depending on context.

See also: Hungarian grammar, verbs of obligation, comparative usage of kell, szükséges, kötelező.