hungarians

Hungarians, or Magyars, are an ethnic group native to Central Europe, primarily associated with the nation of Hungary. They form the majority population in Hungary and are also present in sizable communities across neighboring countries and in the global diaspora. Worldwide, ethnic Hungarians are estimated at roughly 12–15 million, with about 9–10 million residing in Hungary and the remainder in Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Austria, the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

The Hungarian language, or Magyar, is the official language of Hungary. It belongs to the Uralic language family, in the Finno-Ugric branch, and is not closely related to most neighboring Indo-European languages. It is highly agglutinative, using extensive suffixing to express grammar, and features vowel harmony and a rich system of derivation and compounding.

Historically, the Magyar ancestors migrated into the Carpathian Basin in the late 9th or early 10th century, establishing the medieval Kingdom of Hungary in 1000. The state persisted through centuries of medieval and early modern history, but much of its territory was altered after World War I by the Treaty of Trianon. In the 20th century, many ethnic Hungarians lived as minorities in surrounding countries, and emigration contributed to a broad diaspora.

Culture and identity among Hungarians include distinctive music, literature and cinema, with a cuisine known for dishes such as goulash and paprika-based flavors. Religious affiliation has been diverse, including Catholics, Reformed Christians and Lutherans, among others, while a substantial portion of the population is secular.