The markers például, többek között, vagyis, azaz, más szóval, ami azt illeti, and egyébként help a Hungarian speaker shape a stretch of discourse. They label an illustration, repair a formulation, define a term, open a topic, or add a side comment. Their grammar is compact, but using them well requires attention to what the listener already knows and what kind of contribution comes next.
Choosing and placing examples
Use például when one instance makes a more general idea concrete. The example can be a noun phrase, an activity, or a complete situation. Its placement normally keeps it close to the material it illustrates.
Sok mindent elintézhetsz az alkalmazásban, például időpontot is foglalhatsz.
You can take care of many things in the app; for example, you can also book an appointment.
A környéken például szombatonként termelői piacot tartanak.
In the neighborhood, for example, they hold a farmers' market on Saturdays.
The first például illustrates the general claim sok mindent. The second selects the neighborhood as the domain and presents the Saturday market as an example relevant to it. In both, the marker is integrated into the clause rather than isolated according to an English punctuation habit.
Többek között is appropriate when it matters that the named examples form only part of a larger inventory. The construction frequently combines with is, which confirms that the mentioned item belongs to the set without closing it.
A kutatás többek között azt vizsgálja, hogyan változtak az ingázási szokások.
Among other things, the study examines how commuting habits have changed.
A rendezvényen többek között két korábbi olimpiai bajnok is részt vett.
Among others, two former Olympic champions took part in the event.
Clarifying what you mean
The three principal reformulation markers overlap, but their communicative goals differ. Vagyis says “interpret the first formulation through this second one.” It works for clarification, practical consequence, and spontaneous correction.
A belépés regisztrációhoz kötött, vagyis előbb létre kell hoznod egy fiókot.
Admission requires registration; in other words, you first need to create an account.
Holnap délután hívlak — vagyis inkább este, mert ötig tárgyalok.
I'll call you tomorrow afternoon—or rather in the evening, because I'm in meetings until five.
The repair use is especially natural in conversation (informal). Intonation and a pause make clear that the speaker is replacing the previous wording.
Use azaz when the second expression identifies the first exactly: a date, abbreviation, referent, or definition. It is at home in neutral explanatory prose and formal documents.
A támogatás a harmadik negyedév elején, azaz július elsején indul.
The grant program starts at the beginning of the third quarter, that is, on the first of July.
A medián, azaz a sorba rendezett adatok középső értéke, kevésbé érzékeny a szélsőségekre.
The median, that is, the middle value of an ordered data set, is less sensitive to extremes.
The second example is (academic). The material after azaz supplies a definition, not merely an easier opinion about the term.
Use más szóval when the goal is accessibility or a fresh perspective. It explicitly promises different wording, so it is helpful after jargon, dense reasoning, or an indirect explanation.
A szolgáltatás skálázható. Más szóval: nagyobb terhelés mellett is bővíthető.
The service is scalable. In other words, it can be expanded even under a heavier load.
English speakers sometimes use “in other words” as filler before simply repeating themselves. Hungarian más szóval creates a real expectation of reframing. The second version should help the listener understand the first.
Opening or redirecting a topic
Ami X-et illeti establishes X as the domain about which the next comment is valid. This is useful when a conversation contains several pending questions.
Ami a határidőt illeti, péntek helyett hétfőt javasolnék.
As for the deadline, I would suggest Monday instead of Friday.
Ami engem illet, maradnék a már bevált megoldásnál.
As for me, I would stick with the solution that has already proved itself.
The frame can signal a measured shift and often carries an evaluation. In a rapid casual exchange, simple topical word order may sound lighter: A határidőről majd holnap beszéljünk “Let's discuss the deadline tomorrow.” Ami ... illeti is not excessively formal, but it is deliberate.
Egyébként handles looser relations. Turn-initially, it can introduce an aside or a question prompted by the conversation. Within a statement, it can mean “apart from that” or “otherwise.”
Egyébként sikerült végül elérned az ügyfélszolgálatot?
By the way, did you manage to reach customer service in the end?
A vacsora kissé későn kezdődött, de egyébként minden remekül sikerült.
Dinner started a little late, but otherwise everything went very well.
The second use does not change the topic completely. It brackets one exception and evaluates the remainder. English anyway is dangerous here: it can express dismissal or return to a prior topic, whereas Hungarian egyébként often contributes a calmer “in other respects.”
A dialogue in action
– Több programot is kinéztem, például a péntek esti koncertet. – Ami a koncertet illeti, arra már elfogytak a jegyek. Egyébként szombaton lesz egy ingyenes szabadtéri előadás is. – Vagyis akkor inkább szombatra tervezzünk?
‘I've picked out several events, for example the concert on Friday evening.’ ‘As for the concert, tickets have already sold out. By the way, there will also be a free outdoor performance on Saturday.’ ‘So, in other words, should we plan for Saturday instead?’
The markers organize turns. Például supports a proposal with a concrete option. Ami ... illeti selects that option as the next topic. Egyébként contributes related side information, and vagyis checks the practical interpretation. This is why discourse markers cannot be mastered through isolated dictionary equivalents alone.
Formal and informal patterns
In formal or academic prose, azaz, többek között, and carefully scoped más szóval are common because they make logical organization explicit. Ami ... illeti can structure an interview answer or report. Egyébként is not forbidden in writing, but its “by the way” use often sounds conversational; a formal text may instead name the relation directly.
A rendelet többek között az adatmegőrzés időtartamát szabályozza, azaz meghatározza, meddig tárolhatók a nyilvántartások.
Among other things, the regulation governs the retention period, that is, it determines how long the records may be stored.
In informal conversation, vagyis readily repairs speech and egyébként opens side questions. Register affects frequency, but it does not erase the semantic distinction. An azaz definition remains more exact than a más szóval paraphrase in any register.
English-transfer traps
English speakers often place a comma after every initial discourse adverb, translate both “that is” and “in other words” with one favorite marker, or use English anyway as a universal equivalent of egyébként. Hungarian punctuation follows syntactic integration, and marker choice follows discourse function. Review the form patterns on the core forms page and the broader logic of contrast and result markers.
Common Mistakes
Do not use többek között for an exhaustive list.
❌ A hét két szabadnapja többek között a szombat és a vasárnap.
Incorrect: the expression presents an already complete two-member list as nonexhaustive.
✅ A hét két szabadnapja a szombat és a vasárnap.
The two days off in the week are Saturday and Sunday.
Do not use azaz when the second statement is merely an example rather than an identity.
❌ Szeretek szabadtéri programokra járni, azaz például túrázni.
Incorrect for the intended relation: hiking is one example, not an exact definition of all outdoor activities.
✅ Szeretek szabadtéri programokra járni, például túrázni.
I enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking.
Keep the accusative ending in ami X-et illeti.
❌ Ami az új szerződés illeti, még kérnék egy napot.
Incorrect: 'szerződés' must be the accusative object of 'illeti.'
✅ Ami az új szerződést illeti, még kérnék egy napot.
As for the new contract, I would like one more day.
Do not use egyébként where only a causal conclusion is meant.
❌ Lekéstük a buszt, egyébként taxit hívtunk.
Incorrect for the intended result: 'egyébként' presents an aside, not a consequence.
✅ Lekéstük a buszt, ezért taxit hívtunk.
We missed the bus, so we called a taxi.
Key Takeaways
- Place például close to the material it illustrates; use többek között for an explicitly open list.
- Choose vagyis for broad reformulation or repair, azaz for exact identification, and más szóval for accessible rewording.
- Ami X-et illeti establishes X as a deliberate topic frame; X takes the accusative.
- Egyébként can introduce an aside or mean “apart from that,” and context selects the reading.
- These markers organize evidence, interpretation, and turns; their placement and punctuation follow that work rather than an English template.
Now practice Hungarian
Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.
Start learning Hungarian →Related Topics
- Examples, Reformulation, and Topic Shift: Forms and Core PatternB1 — Learn the forms, punctuation, and core functions of Hungarian markers for examples, restatement, and topic management.
- Contrast, Cause, Result, and Inference Markers: Meanings and UsageB1 — Use Hungarian discourse markers to contrast viewpoints, identify causes, state consequences, and draw evidence-based conclusions.
- és, meg, vagy, de, viszont, and azonban: Meanings and UsageA1 — Coordinate Hungarian words and clauses with additive, alternative, and adversative connectors suited to discourse and register.
- hát and ugye: Meanings and UsageA2 — Choose natural hát and ugye for hesitant replies, conclusions, surprises, shared plans, confirmation checks, challenges, and polite interaction.