MAGYARS  , the name of the dominant

race in Hungary, or Hungarians proper . Though they have become physically assimilated to the western peoples, they belong in origin and language to the Finno-Ugrian (q.v.) division of the Ural-Altaic race . They form barely half of the population of Hungary, but are by far the largest and most compact of all its racial groups . Magyar is the official language of Hungary, the official name of which (Magyarorzag, or " country of the Magyars ") enshrines the Magyar claim to predominance . While all Magyars are properly Hungarians, all Hungarians are not necessarily Magyars . " Hungarian " may be used as a generic term covering all the various races of Hungary, while " Magyar " is strictly specific to a single group . The Magyars themselves, indeed, sometimes apply the name Magyarorzag to Hungary " proper, " excluding Croatia-Slavonia, the whole kingdom being called Magyarbirodalom, the Magyar monarchy or realm .