CHAPTER XIII

GENDER

The Hungarian language has no grammatical gender. Names of males are masculine, and those of females are feminine.

To the name or title of a man the suffix =-né= is added to denote the wife of that person: as, Deákné, the wife of Deák; szinészné, the wife of an actor. If the lady were herself an actress, she might be called szinész (actor or actress); but usually the word nő (woman) is joined to it, and to similar words, to denote that the person spoken of is a woman; as, szinésznő, actress.

If a Christian name is mentioned as well as the surname, the ending -né is added, not to the surname, but to the Christian name.

Thus, Mrs. Déri would be Déri-né, but Mrs. Charles Déri would be Déri Károly-né.

_N.B._—In Hungarian, Christian names always _follow_ the surname instead of preceding it, as in English.

It would not be correct form to address Mrs. Déri as Dériné simply, though one might speak of her so in the third person. In addressing an envelope to her some such word as nagyságos, or urnő (madam), must be used.

Thus, Nagyságos Dériné urnő, Dériné urnő, or Dériné ő nagysága.

It is better, if possible, to add the Christian name of the husband in addressing a married woman.

Thus, Nagyságos Déri Károlyné.

In speaking to a lady the name is never mentioned. Instead of saying Mrs. or Miss So-and-so, some such word as asszonyom or nagysád (madam) must be used.

Asszonyom can only be used in addressing married women; nagysád can be used for either married or single.

In addressing a gentleman, it is customary to use his title or office, if he has one, _e.g._ titkár, secretary; tanár, professor; tanácsos, councillor; kapitány, captain, &c.

On an envelope: Nagyságos Győry Loránd miniszteri osztály tanácsos urnak (urnak is composed of ur, sir, and the suffix -nak, to).

In speaking to Győry Loránd one would say tanácsos ur.

The chief titles of courtesy employed are:—

Ő Felsége, his or her Majesty. Ő Fensége, his or her Highness. Kegyelmes, or Nagyméltóságu, his Excellency (for ministers, privy councillors, &c.). Méltóságos (for such members of the House of Lords as are not styled kegyelmes, secretaries of State, and ministerial counsellors). Nagyságos (for most persons who in England would be addressed as esquire). Tekintetes (used for country gentlemen, but it is going out of use and giving place to nagyságos).

The sex of _animals_ is expressed by placing hím (male), or nőstény (female), before the respective name; as—

hím farkas, he-wolf. nőstény farkas, she-wolf.