hív

• IPA^(key):
• Rhymes: -iːv

Uncertain. Perhaps from Proto-Uralic *kaŋe- (“to call”).^[1][2]

hív

2. (transitive) to call (to request, summon, or beckon)

   Perfective: meghív

3. (transitive) to call (to contact by telephone)

   Perfective: felhív

   Hívom a rendőrséget. ― I'm calling the police.

4. (transitive) to call (to name or refer to)

   Hogy hívnak (téged)? (informal) ― What’s your name? (literally, “How do they call you?”) Also: “what’s my/our name?”. Ambiguity may be averted with téged, titeket, engem, or minket.

   Hogy hívják (önt/magát)? (formal) ― What’s your name? (literally, “How do they call you?”) Also: “what’s his/her/its/their name?”. Ambiguity may be averted with önt, önöket, magát, magukat, őt, őket, ezt/azt, or ezeket/azokat.

In terms of introducing people, the verb’s indefinite form (e.g. hívnak in present tense) is used to express when someone calls (literally “they call”) me, us, or you in the informal way, singular or plural (or an indefinite, unspecified person), that is, when I am called, we are called, or (informal) you are called, i.e. I am introduced, we are introduced, or (informal) you are introduced.

On the other hand, its definite form (e.g. hívják in present tense) is used to express when someone calls (literally “they call”) him, her, it, them, or you in the formal way (or one or more definite person/people), that is, when he/she/it is called or they are called or (formal) you are called, i.e. he/she/it is introduced, they are introduced or (formal) you are introduced.

See also Definite and indefinite conjugations of Hungarian verbs in Wikipedia.

(With verbal prefixes):

A variant form of hű (“loyal”).

hív (comparative hívebb, superlative leghívebb)

2. (archaic) Alternative form of hű (“loyal, faithful, devoted”)

hív (plural hívek)

2. (with a possessive suffix) follower (one who follows), adherent

   Synonyms: követő, támogató

3. (with a possessive suffix) devotee, admirer, enthusiast, fan

   Synonyms: rajongó, hódoló

4. (religion, plural only) the faithful, parishioners, the congregation

   Synonyms: gyülekezet, egyházközség

Normally it is only used with possessive suffixes: hívem, híved, híve, etc., see below in the box "Possessive forms of hív".

• hisz (“to believe, think”) → hívő (unrelated to the above verb)

• (to call, invite): hív in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
• (faithful; follower): hív in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (“The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language”, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN