Cultural Knowledge Exam: Why is the name of Hungary ‘Magyarország’, and not ‘Hungária’?

Where does the name of our country come from? The history of the name goes back more than a thousand years and is closely intertwined with the origins of the Hungarian people, the Conquest of the Carpathian Basin, and the foundation of the state.

We use the name of our homeland —’Magyarország’— naturally and daily, yet few people know its origin and true meaning. The history of the name stretches back over a thousand years and is closely intertwined with the origins of the Hungarian people, the conquest of the Carpathian Basin, and the foundation of the Hungarian state. Therefore, understanding its background is essential for those preparing for the cultural knowledge exam.

The term 'Magyar' was a key expression of the tribal alliance that settled in the Carpathian Basin. In addition to mystical legends (such as the story of Hunor and Magor) and various linguistic interpretations, one of the most widespread theories suggests that the word 'Magyar' derives from the name of the 'Megyer' tribe, a prominent group within the pre-state tribal confederation. From the 9th century onwards, the name gradually came to represent the entire nation, becoming an ethnic identifier for the group arriving in the Carpathian Basin. However, it's important to note that scholarly opinion is far from unified regarding the etymology of the name.

The word 'ország' (meaning 'country' or 'land') has been used in the Hungarian language since the Middle Ages to denote a political or territorial entity. Thus, 'Magyarország' originally meant simply: 'the country, or the land of the Magyars'.

In many other languages, the name of Hungary (Magyarország) derives from the Latin form Hungaria (Hungarus). This naming convention is rooted in a medieval association with the Huns, which became widespread across Europe during the reign of King Saint Stephen.

Examples include: in English - Hungary, in German - Ungarn, in French: Hongrie.

These names have persisted to the present day and, interestingly, reflect not the Magyar origin but rather a reference to the Huns.

The name Magyarország is one of the most significant expressions of our ethnic and historical identity. Composed of the ethnonym “Magyar” and the territorial term 'ország', it has designated our homeland for over a thousand years—carrying with it the historical and cultural legacy that defines the Hungarian nation.

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Authors: Csaba László Vig and Kenéz Bogdány

May 27 2025