köszi

Köszi is an informal Hungarian interjection used to express gratitude, equivalent to “thanks” or “thank you” in English. It is a casual shortened form of the standard köszönöm (I thank you) and is widely used in everyday speech, text messaging, and online communication.

Etymology and form: Köszi is formed from the root of köszön, with the typical informal restructuring that occurs in spoken Hungarian. It is written with the umlauted ö and the sz digraph, reflecting standard Hungarian orthography. The pronunciation is roughly [ˈkøsi], with the stress on the first syllable. The word conveys friendliness and familiarity and is generally accepted in informal settings among friends, family, and colleagues in casual contexts.

Usage and context: Köszi is appropriate for informal interactions and is commonly used after a favor, help, or courtesy. In more formal situations, or when addressing someone in a professional or distant context, speakers typically use köszönöm or köszönöm szépen. In addition to standalone use, it appears in phrases such as “Köszi a segítséget” (Thanks for the help) or “Köszi szépen” (Thanks a lot).

Variants and related terms: A shorter variant is kösz, used even more casually. Other related expressions include köszönöm, köszönöm szépen, and the plural form köszönjük for “we thank you.” Köszi is widely understood across Hungary and Hungarian-speaking communities and remains a staple of informal communication in contemporary usage.