német

Német is the Hungarian word for German. It functions as both a noun and an adjective: as a noun it refers to a person of German nationality or descent (a német, plural németek); as an adjective it denotes things related to Germany or the German language (német nyelv, német autó). The adverbial form is németül.

Historically, German-speaking communities have lived in the Kingdom of Hungary since the Middle Ages. German settlers were invited to the region to settle, mine, and trade, particularly along the Danube and in parts of Transdanubia and Transylvania. In Hungarian usage these communities are often described as Szászok (Saxons) or Svábok (Swabians). They contributed to agriculture, crafts, mining, and culture. After World War II and subsequent population movements, many left or assimilated, but some communities remain and preserve bilingual traditions and cultural institutions.

The German language is a West Germanic language and one of the major world languages, spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and parts of Italy and Belgium, among others. In Hungary, German is taught as a foreign language, and in municipalities with German minority presence it is used in education and local cultural life. There are German-language media, cultural associations, and archives that serve both communities and learners.

Usage in Hungarian extends beyond the noun and adjective forms: németül means “in German,” and német refers broadly to anything connected with Germany or the German people. The term is neutral and standard in contemporary Hungarian.