Várj egy percet!

Wait a minute!

Breakdown of Várj egy percet!

• te: you
• egy: a
• várni: to wait
• perc: the minute

Questions & Answers about Várj egy percet!

What exactly does the word Várj mean here, grammatically?

Várj is the 2nd person singular informal imperative of the verb várni (to wait; also to expect). It’s what you say to one person you’re on informal terms with: “Wait!”

• Root: vár-
• Imperative marker: -j
• Person/number: 2nd person singular (informal)
• Closest English equivalent: “Wait!” or “Hold on!”

How would I say this politely or formally?

Use the formal imperative forms:

• To one person formally: Várjon egy percet!
• To several people informally: Várjatok egy percet!
• To several people formally: Várjanak egy percet!

You can soften with please-expressions:

• Kérem, várjon egy percet!
• Várjon egy percet, legyen szíves!
• Informal please: Kérlek, várj egy percet!

Why does percet end with -t?

That’s the accusative case marker, used for direct objects. In Hungarian, durations can be expressed as a direct object:

• egy percet = “one minute” as an object (“wait one minute”)
• Linking vowel: perc + -et (not just perct) because Hungarian avoids that cluster and perc has front vowels, so it takes -et.

Why is there no word for “for” (as in “wait for a minute”)?

Hungarian doesn’t need a preposition here. The verb vár can take a direct object to express duration, so Várj egy percet! is idiomatic. You can also use a time suffix instead:

• Várj egy percig! = “Wait for a minute.”

Both are common.

Is there any difference between egy percet and egy percig?

Both mean “for one minute,” and both are fine. Nuance is small:

• egy percet (accusative): very common in speech for durations.
• egy percig (with -ig “until/for”): slightly more explicit as a duration marker, sometimes a touch more careful/neutral.

In practice, you can use either here.

Does egy mean “a” or “one” here?

Egy can mean both. In this set phrase it usually functions like English “a minute,” not necessarily exactly 60 seconds. Context can make it mean exactly “one” if needed.

Could I drop egy and say just Várj percet!?

No, that’s unidiomatic. You need a quantifier for time-as-object. Use:

• Várj egy percet!
• Or a vaguer version: Várj egy kicsit! (“Wait a little.”)

Why not Várd egy percet?

Because várd is the definite imperative (used when the object is definite), but egy percet is indefinite. You need the indefinite imperative: Várj egy percet!

• Definite imperative examples: Várd meg a végét! (“Wait for the end.”), Várd meg őt! (“Wait for him/her.”)

How do I pronounce Várj and percet?

• Várj: á is long (as in “father” but longer); j sounds like English “y”; pronounce it like “vaar-y.”
• percet: c is pronounced [ts], so “PER-tset.” Stress is always on the first syllable: VÁRj EGY PERcet.

Is there a more casual or more emphatic version of Várj?

Yes, Várjál! (or Várjál egy percet!). The -jál/-jél variant is colloquial and can sound more pleading or emphatic. All of these are common:

• Várj!
• Várjál!
• Várj egy percet!
• Várjál már egy percet! (with már adding impatience/emphasis)

Can I change the word order?

Yes, for emphasis:

• Neutral: Várj egy percet!
• Emphasizing the amount: Egy percet várj!
• Adding focus words: Csak egy percet várj! (“Just wait a minute!”)

Are there common synonyms for “a minute” here?

Yes:

• Várj egy pillanatot! = “Wait a moment!” (pillanatot is the accusative of pillanat, and since it has back vowels, it takes -ot.)
• Várj egy kicsit! = “Wait a little (bit)!”

Is the exclamation mark required?

No, it’s optional. Imperatives often use ! to show the command/request force, but Várj egy percet. is also grammatically fine.

Does várni always take a direct object, or can it use other constructions?

It can be used:

• Without an object: Várunk. (“We’ll wait.”)
• With a direct object: Várlak. (“I’m waiting for you.”)
• With -ra/-re (sublative): Rád várok. / Valakire/valamire várok. (“I’m waiting for you/something.”)

For pure duration with vár, prefer the accusative or -ig: egy percet / egy percig.

How would I address more than one person informally?

Use the 2nd person plural imperative:

• Várjatok egy percet! (“Wait a minute, guys!”)