Hungarian Business Culture - Meeting people, Adresses, Attire

Hungarians extend warm greetings. However, initial introductions in business are
formal.

If you do not speak the language, greet people with a firm handshake, look in their
eyes and say your name.

If you speak some Hungarian, say "Üdvözlöm" plus your name (eg. John Smith
vagyok) and "Örülök, hogy megismerhetem." (I’m glad to meet you.)

Shake hands again when leaving the meeting.

Give a business card when you meet someone. Your cards should show your
organizational title and any advanced degrees. Expect to exchange cards with
each business person you meet.

It is polite for men to wait for the woman to extend her hand. Male visitors are no
longer expected to kiss a woman's hand; instead, a slight bow may accompany
the handshake.

Informal greetings between men and women friends and relatives are often a kiss
on the cheeks, first left, then right. Kisses on the cheeks are usually not
appropriate between men except for close relatives and certain groups!

When introduced, address your counterparts by their professional or academic
title plus family name. Colleagues, friends and relatives address each other by
first names.

The family name precedes the personal name. Hungarians do not expect you to
change your own name around; it would confuse them if you do so.

Attire

How you dress mostly depends on the purpose of the meeting or presentation. It
may be more formal the first day of your visit and casual the other days: it would
go from a business suit to a more creative ensemble.

A skirt or dress should be fine for a woman. Hungarian women do not generally
wear stockings or pantyhose in the summer. A dark blue suit might be more
appropriate for a board meeting or a meeting with important people. Pants are
also accepted if they fit with the rest of the attire.

Men should wear a business suit initially, and, depending on circumstances, take
a more casual outfit for later: separate jacket and pants. There is no "dress-down"
practice at all but men could occasionally take their tie off, depending on the
setting.

Things are changing, though, and depending on the industry and geographic
location you may be surprised to see your Hungarian colleagues in jeans or
similarly casual outfits on a routine basis. In some trendy professions like
advertising and public relations, or in certain departments like programming,
dress can be quite original!

Hungarian people do not always consider it important to wear something different
every day of the week. Clothing is relatively expensive and they prefer a small
number of quality items than many cheaper ones. Don't be surprised to see
someone wear the same outfit two days in a row.

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clothing, etiquette, manners, protocol

Address

Meeting People

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HUNGARIAN
BUSINESS CULTURE
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Habits & Customs | Values, Behavior & Thinking | Business Culture

Hungarian
Culture, Language & Relocation Resources

Hungarians are well aware of this difference and many would introduce
themselves to non-Hungarians changing their names the western way, Christian
name first, for your convenience. On book-covers, Hungarian authors’ names
appear in the Hungarian way, family name first, and international authors’ names
appear in the international way, Christian name first.

Mailing addresses look like this: H 1114 Budapest XI. Bocskai u. 23. II.6. The
postal code and town/city come first, district number is followed by the street
name, building number, floor (Roman numerals, pls. note the different numbering
schema! ground floor, first floor, etc.) and apartment number. Postal codes are 4-
figure numbers. The middle two digits of the postal code in addresses show the
district e.g. H 1196 postal code means 19th. district. (This is valid for real
addresses in Budapest, postal codes with post box numbers are different).