The Hungarian (or magyar, pronounced [ˈmɒdʒɒr] in Hungarian) belongs to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic language family. It was originally written in right-to-left Old Hungarian runes but later, when Stephen I of Hungary established the Kingdom of Hungary in the year 1000, the old system was gradually discarded in favor of the Latin alphabet and left-to-right order. Hungarian has complex grammar and specific pronunciation and spelling rules which make the language one of the most challenging for foreigners to learn. Writing system: Latin (Hungarian alphabet) Official language in: Hungary, Vojvodina, Burgenland, European Union