Miklos Torkenczy

Practicai
Hungarian
Grammar

CORVINA

Published in Hungary by
Corvina Books Ltd.
1051 Budapest
Vorosmaity ter 1.

Contents

Copyright Miklos Torkenczy, 2002

All rights reserved.
No pait of this book may be reproduced
in any form or by any means
without the prior written consent of the publishers
ISBN 963 13 5131 9
Printed in Hungaiy

6
Abbreviations .....................................................................
Pronunciation, letter-to-sound
correspondences .............................................................
7
Articles ................................................................................ 16
N o u n s.................................................................................... 19
Noun stems .......................................................................... 30
Postpositions ........................................................................ 41
Pronouns .............................................................................. 44
Adjectives and A d v erb s...................................................... 57
Numerals .............................................................................. 64
Verbs ..................................................................................... 68
Definiteness: the Definite and Indefinite
C onjugations................................................................... 69
The Present Tense ............................................................... 73
The Past T e n se ............. ........................................................ 78
The C ondiional................................................................... 86
The Conjunctive-lmperative .............................................. 92
The F u tu re ............................................................................104
Usage: Tenses, Condiional,
Conjunctive-lmperative ................................................106
Non-finite forms ................................................................. 111
-ik V erb s................................................................................ 116
Verb S te m s............................................................................ 119
Verbal Suffixes ................................................................... 138
P re v erb s................................................................................ 141
Word Formation: Derivational Suffixes .......................... 146
Constructions and S entences..............................................160
Index of S u b jects................................................................. 173
Index of Words ................................................................... 177
Index of Derivational Suffixes ......................................... 184

Abbreviations

Isg
2 sg

3sg
Ipl
2 pl
3pl
lsg s 2 sg/pl
acc
abl
all
poss/pers
adj
comp
cond
conj
def
el
ill
imp
indef
iness
inf
instr
Pl
poss
pres
sublat
sg
spr

/NO/
C
V
?

first person singular

second person singular
third person singular
first person plural
second person plural
third person plural
Isg subject 2 sg/2 pl object
accusative
ablative
allative
possessive/person
adjective
comparative
condiional
conj unctive-imperative
definite
elative
illative
imperative
indefinite
inessive
infinitive
instrumental
plural
possessive
present
sublative
singular
superessive
indicates that the preceding consonant has to be doubled
stands before an ill-formed sentence/phrase/form
consonant (in charts and formulae)
vowel (in charts and formulae)
stands before a sentence/phrase/form which is not used
by some speakers or obsolete

1. Pronunciation, letter-to-sound
correspondences

1.1

T h e alphabet

The Hungarian alphabet has 44 letters. They are listed below together with
the pronunciation of the name of each letter in Hungarian. The transcriptions appear in the International Phonetic
Alphabet (IPA).
a

b
c
cs
d
dz
dzs
e
e
f
g
gy

h
i

[o:]
[a:]
[be:]
[tse:]
[t/e:]
[de:]
[dze:]
[d 3 e:]
[e:]
[e:]
[ef:]
[ge:]

[je:]
[ha:]
[i:]

j
k
1

iy
m
n
ny
o
o
o
o

p
q
r

[i:]
[je:]
[ka:]
[el:]
[el(:)ipsilon]
[em:]
[en:]
[eji:]
[o:]
[o:]

s
sz
t
ty

U
U
ii
u

V
w

[0:]
[0:]

[pe:]
[ku:]
[er:]

z
zs

[e/:]
[es:]
[te:]
[ce:]
[u:]
[u:]
[y:]
[y:]
[ve:]
[duplove:]
[iks]
[ipsilon]
[ze:]
[3e;]

Note that in the pronunciation of the name of a vowel letter, the vowel is
long even if the name refers to a short vowel sound. Thus, the last vowel
letter in hosszu u long u and rovid ii short ii are spelt differently, but
are both pronounced with a phonetically long [y:] (unless one wants to
emphasize the difference). Note also that the names of consonant letters
that consist of a single closed syllable are pronounced with a final long
consonant (e.g.r =[er:], Z=[el:], etc.) unless the syllable ends in a conso
nant cluster x= [iks].
Acute accents on vowel letters represent length (and never stress). Thus,
i is the long counterpart of i, u is the long counterpart of ii, o is the long
counterpart of o, etc.
7

1 . P ro n u n cia tio n , le tte r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

1 . P ron u n ciation , lette r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

Consonant letters (other than q, w, x, y) can be doubled to denote phonetically long consonants, e.g. hali [hali] hear, oll [ol:o:] scissors, csepp
[t/ep:] drop, roppan [ropion], crack, kinn [kin:] outside, enni [en:i]
to eat, etc. In the case of digraphs only the first letter is doubled to
express length, e.g. ruzzsal [1-11:3 :3!] with lipstick, meggy [mej:] sour
cherry, konny [k 0 q:] pus, klassz [klos:] great etc. In a few words con
sonant length is not indicated by the spelling: e.g. egy [ej:], lesz [Ies:].
This is always the case with one-syllable words that end in eh (a foreign
digraph): e.g. pech [pex:] bad luck, krach [krox:] breakdown, stich
[Jtix:] glitch, etc.

Somewhat more regular differences between the spelling and the phonetic
value involve length (as opposed to quality). This length difference may
be systematic:

The consonant letters q, w, x, y are foreign the sense that they only appear
in foreign or archaic words such as Wesselenyi [ve/ele:qi] (family name),
xerox [kseroks], yoghurt [jo k h u rt], quattrocento [k v o tro t/en to :], etc.
These letters cannot be doubled.
1.2 Vowels

Hungarian has the following vowels:

Sound
(IPA symbol)
[i]
[i:]
[y]
[y:]
[e]
[e:]
[0 ]
[0 :]
[u]
[u:]
[0 ]
[0 :]
[3]
[a:]

Letter

Example

hisz
Hz
iit
tuz
nem
fe l
ot
hos
fu t
suly
fog
szol
nagy
nyl

ii
u
e
e
0
0

u
u
0
0

In Hungarian, a vowel letter typically has a constant phonetic value, i.e.

generally there is a one-to-one correspondence between vowel letters and
vowel sounds. As a rule, a given vowel sound is represented by the same
vowel letter, and a given vowel letter always stands for the same vowel
sound. Irregular exceptions are proper names with archaic spelling, e.g.
Dessewffy [de 30 :fi], Dory [d 0 :ri], etc.
8

(i) Hungarian words/stems cannot end in short [0 , o], so loans ending

in o are regularly pronounced with [o:]: e.g. quattrocento [k v o tro t/ento:] quattrocento, anno [311:0 :] anno, mono [mono:] mono,
etc;
(ii) in colloquial standard Hungarian words/stems of more than one
syllable are pronounced with a final short [y, u] (even) if they end
in a vowel letter spelt with a long u, u: compare tu [ty:] needle and
gyuru [jy :ry ] ring, bu [bu:] sorrow and gyu [a:ju] cannon,
etc.
Sometimes however the length difference is rather unpredictable: posta
[po:/to] post office, sznhz [si:nha:z] theatre, ors [0:r/] squad, etc.
There are no diphthongs in standard Hungarian, so adjacent vowels are
pronounced as separate syllables: Idalakul [kiolsku:!] develop, fi e
[fia:e:] that of his sons, etc. Adjacent identical short vowels other than
e, a can be pronounced as separate identical vowel sounds or as the corresponding long vowel: e.g. vkuum vacuum [va:kuum /va:ku:m ], zoolo
gia zoology, [zoolo:gio/zo:lo:giD], (coAipare leesik fall down [lee/ik]
but not !*[le:/ik]). Again, some archaically spelt proper names are excep
ional, e.g. Gal [ga:l], Wedres. [v 0 r 0/] , etc.
1.3 Consonants

Hungarian has the following consonants

Sound
(IPA symbol)
[Pl
[b]
[t]
[d]
[c]
[J]
[k]
[g]
[f]
[v]

Letter
P
b
t
d
ty
gy
k
g
f
V

Example
pek
bako
pata
ad
latyak
megy
lakat
gep
kefe
teve
9

1 . P ro n u n cia tio n , le tte r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

[s]
[z]
[/]
[ 3]
[ts]
[dz]
[f]
[dzs]
[m]
[n]
M
[l]
[r]
[j]
[h, x]

sz
z
s
zs
c
dz
cs
dzs
m
n
ny
l
r
j. ly
h

szep
ez
has
zsk
lecke
dzeta
csk
dzsessz
lma
nem
enyeleg
hal
rpa
jo , foly
ha, doh

Each of the consonant sounds above exists in long (geminate) form as well,
e.g. [n :\fenn up; [ts:] hecc prank; [l:] hali hear; etc. In spelling, this is
indicated by doubling the consonant letter or the first letter of the digraph
that stands for the sound: hecc prank, meccs m atch.
Within the word h is pronounced [h] before vowels (e.g. ha if , rohadt
rotten, dohos musty) and [x] before consonants and at the end of the
word (e.g. doh musty smell, dohtl from the musty smell).
s3Note that in the word cseh Czech the letter h is not pronounced before
a consonant and word-finally: cseh Czech [t/e], csehtol from (a)
Czech [t/et0:l], but csehek Czech, pl. [t/ehek], Other words which
can behave in the same way (but have an alternative pronunciation with
pronounced h before a consonant and word-finally) include juh sheep,
meh bee, ceh guild, duh anger, riXh scabies, olh Wallachian.

1 . P ron u n ciation , lette r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

1.3.1 Regressive voice assimilation

The voiced obstruents [b, d, j, g, dz, d 3 , v, z, 3 ] change to their voiceless counterparts [p, c, k, ts, t/, f, s, / ] respectively, when followed by
the voiceless obstruents [p, t, c, k, ts, t/, f, s, /, h]: e.g. dobtam [doptom ] I threw it; can give adhat [o th o t] can give; gytl from (the)
bed [a:cto:l]; fogtam [foktom ] I held it; edzhet [etshet] may train;
szivtam [si:ftom] I smoked it; meztol [m e:st 0 :l] from honey; ruzstl
[ru:/to:l] from lipstick; etc.
The voiceless obstruents [p, t, c, k, ts, f, f, s, / ] change to their voiced
counterparts [b, d, j, g, dz, d 3 , v, z, 3 ] respectively, when followed
by their voiced obstruents [b, d, j, g, dz, d 3 , z, 3 ]: e.g. kepzes [ke.bze:/] training; hetbol [he:db 0 :l] from seven; zskbol [3 a:gbo:l] out
of (the) bag; ketrecben [k e tre d z b e n ] in (the) cage, csbol [a:d3 bo:l]
from (a) carpenter; szefben [se:vben] in (the) safe; meszbol [m e:zb 0 :l] out of lime; hasba [ l ^ b o ] in (the) stomach; etc.
Note that [v] does not cause voice assimilation (i.e. the voiceless obstru
ents [p, t, c, k, ts, t/, f, s, / ] preceding [v] remain voiceless: nyolcvan [qoltsvon] eighty; ltvny [la:tva:r)] spectacle; etc.); and h
does not undergo voice assimilation (i.e. it does not become voiced
when followed by a voiced obstruent ([b, d, j, g, dz, d 3 , z, 3 ]: e.g.
dohbol [doxbo:l] from fdie) musty smell).
1.3.2 Degem ination (shortening of long consonants)

Long consonants become short when preceded or followed by another

consonant: e.g. akttal [oktol] with a nude, varrtam [vortom ] I sewed,
otthon [o th o n ] home, etc.
1 .3.3 Affrication (sz, s assim ilation)

The consonant letter to consonant sound correspondence is quite constant:

a given sound is usually spelt with the same letter (combination), and vice
versa a given letter (combination) usually stands for the same sound. Unsystematic counterexamples are some archaically spelt proper names (e.g.
Szechenyi [se:t/e:r)i], Kossuth [ko/ut], Tdrkenczy [t0rkentsi]), foreign
spellings (e.g. pech [pex] bad luck, Herz cbrand name> [h ertsj) and
the sound [j] which is (unpredictably) sometimes spelt as j ihajo ship)
and sometimes as ly (foly river). Assimilations that are not indicated by
the spelling are systematic counterexamples to the above rule. The major
ones are the following:
10

When the stops [t, d, c, j] are followed by [sj, the combination is pro
nounced as the geminate affricate [ts:]: e.g. metszet [m ets:et] etching;
dtddszdr [0 t 0 ts: 0 r] for the fifth time; negyszer [ne:ts:er] four tim es,
etc.
When the stops [t, d, c, j] are followed by [/], the combination is pro
nounced as the geminate affricate [t/:]: e.g. ketseg [ke:t/:e:g] doubt;
fradsg. [fa:rot/:a:g] trouble; egyseg [et/:e:g] unit; etc.

11

1. P ro n u n cia tio n , le tte r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

1.3.4 Palatalization U assim ilation)

[t, d, c, j, n, q, l] become [c:, j:, c:, j:, q:, q:, j:] respectively, when
followed by |J]: e.g. ltja [la:c:o] s/he sees it; adja [ d j : d ] s/he gives it;
btyja [ba:c:o] his/her elder brother; nagyja [noj:o] most of it; sznja
[sa:q:o] his/her sleigh; hnyja [ha:q:o] s/he throws it; tolja [toj:o] s/he
pushes it; etc.
1.3.5 Nasal place assim ilation

The nasal [n] becomes [m] before [p, b, m], [i]] before [c, j, q], and
[q] before [k, g]. This is obligatory within the word (e.g. angyal [oqjol]
angel; gong [goqg] gong), but opional across a word boundary (szenpor [se:m por, se:npor] coal-dust; nagyon kros [nojoqka:ro/, nojon
k a:ro /] very harmful; olyan ms [ojom ma:/, ojonm a:/] so different,
etc).
1.4 Vowel harm ony

In Hungarian most suffixes harmonize with the stem they are attached to,
which means that most suffixes exist in two or three alternative forms
(altemants) differing in the suffix vowel, and the selection of the suffix
alternant is determined by the stem vowel(s).
*
The basic facts are the following. Vowels either belong to the front set (i,
i, ii, u, e, e, o, o) or the back set (u, u, o, 6, a, ). Front vowels are either
rounded (ii, u, o, o) or unrounded (i, f, e, e).

1. P ron u n ciation , le tter-to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

o, another with the front unrounded vowel e, and a third with the front
rounded vowel d: e.g. -hozl-hezl-hoz to, -onl-enl-dn on, etc.
According to the rule of Vowel Harmony:
i) Back vowel stems (those that only contain back vowels) take the back
altemants of the two-form and three-form suffixes:
-banl-ben in
-hozl-hezl-hoz to

ii) Front vowel stems (those that only contain front vowels) take the
front altemants of the two-form and three form suffixes:
-banl-ben in
-hozl-hezl-hoz to

These suffixes have just one form, which they do not change regardless what the stem vowels are: e.g. -ig until, -kent as, -kor at, -ne
Mrs., etc;
b) Harmonic two-form
These suffixes have two alternative forms, one with one of the front
vowels and another containing one of the back vowels: e.g. -banl-ben
in; -toU-tol from ; -ull-ul in [a language], etc;
c) Harmonic three-form

kertben in (the) garden

kerthez to (the) garden

iii) Mixed vowel stems (those that contain back vowels and front vowels)
generally take the back altemants of the two-form and three-form
suffixes:
-banl-ben in

tnyerban in (the) plate

betyrban in (the) outlaw
papirban in (the) paper
vilgban in (the) world

-hozl-hezl-hoz to

tnyerhoz to (the) plate

betyrhoz to (the) outlaw
papirhoz to (the) paper
vilghoz to (the) world

Suffixes may be
a) Non-harmonic

hzban in (the) house

hzhoz to (the) house

ier If the last vowel of a mixed stem is e and there is a back vowel in the
preceding syllable, some stems take suffix altemants with a front vowel
(e.g. oktberben in October), others vacillate (e.g. dzsungelbanl dzsungelben in the jungle).
iv) Stems with rounded front vowels (ii, u, o, o) in their final syllable
take the rounded front (o) alternant o f the three-form suffixes:
-hozl-hezl-hoz to

korhoz to (the) circle

fiilhdz to (the) ear

-onl-enl-dn on

koron on (the) circle

fiilon on (the) e ar

These suffixes have three alternative forms, one with the back vowel
12

13

1. P ro n u n cia tio n , le tte r -to -so u n d c o r r e s p o n d e n c e s

bs" Note that some three-form suffixes have the unrounded front alternant
after Lowering Stems: compare the plural suffix in fiilek ears (a low
ering stem) and kdrdk circles (a non-lowering stem). See the discussion of Lowering Stems in Section 4.1.
ss- Anti-harmonic stems: there are about 60 excepional front vowel stems
(most of them with Hi, some with e) that take the back altemants of the
two-form and three form suffixes:
srban in (the) grave

srhoz to (the) grave

1. P ron u n ciation , letter-to -so u n d c o r r e sp o n d e n c e s

1.5 Final a , e lengthening

Stem-final a and e lengthen into and e respectively before suffixes.

apa father
alma apple
teve cam ei
kefe brush

-t acc.

-roll-rol
about

-ban!-ben
in

-nakl-nek
for

apt
almt
tevet
kefet

aprol
almrol
teverl
keferol

apban
almban
teveben
kefeben

apnak
almnak
tevenek
kefenek

etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.

Examples include:
cel aim
derek waist
ferfi m an
fing fart
fiu son
gyk lizard
hej crust
hd bridge
hv caii
hzik get fat
indt start
j bow
r write
iszik drink
nyi'l arrow
nyttik open
nyit open
sr cry
sr grave
szid scold
szv inhale
vist scream
zsr fat

14

ce lom my aim
derekam my waist
ferfiak m en
fingok I fart
fiam my son
gykom my lizard
hejam my crust
hidam my bridge
hvom I calF
hzom I get fat
indtom I start
jam my bow
rom I write
iszom I drink
nyilam my arrow
nylhat may open
nyitom I open
srok I cry
srom my grave
szidom I scold
szv om I inhale
vist om I scream
zsr om my fat

i" Note that there is no lengthening before some suffixes:

adjective forming -i
-kent as
-kor at the time o f
-sg/seg -ness
-szeru -like
-szorl-szerl-szdr times

megyei county (adj.)

fakent as a tree
tvoztakor at the time of
his departure
katonasg army
faszeru treelike
lambdaszor multiplied by lambda

1.6 Word stress

Stress always falls on the first syllable of the word in isolation. Words may
lose stress when incorporated into phrases and sentences.

15

2 . A rticles

informai

2. Articles

formal

Hol van a Kristof?

Hol van Kristf?

Where is Christopher?

Beszeltem a Kovccsal.

Beszeltem Kovccsal.

I have talked to Kovcs.

2.1

The indefinite article is egy. The definite article is a or az. The variant a is
used before consonant-initial words and az is used before vowel-initial
ones: a sas the eagle, az ajto the door.

En meg hallottam a Ruttkayt eloadni. En meg hallottam Ruttkayt eloadni.

In neutral (non-contrastive, non-emphatic sentences) the articles are not

stressed.

os" Note that the colloquial use of the definite article before personal names
implies a degree of familiarity/irreverence/informality. Thus

The articles may not receive inflectional or derivational endings (thus

they are not inflected for case, number, etc.).
a sas the eagle
az ajto the door
egy hal a fish

a sasok the eagles

az ajtk the doors
-

a sasnak
for the eagle
az ajtnak for the door
egy halnak
for a fish

2.2

The definite article is used before certain kinds of proper nouns, in partic
ular, the names of mountain ranges (az Alpok the A lps), hills/mountains
(a Jnos hegy Jnos hill), rivers (a Duna the Danube), seas (a Fekete
tenger the Black Sea), lakes (a Balaton Lake Balaton), regions (az Alfold the Great Hungarian Plain), streets (a Csopaki utca Csopaki Street),
roads (a Rkczi ut Rkoczi Roadj, squares (a Rkczi ter Rkoczi
Square), countries consisting of more than one unhyphenated word (az
Amerikai Egyesiilt Allamok the United States of Am erica), newspapers
(a Magyar Hrlap), books (az Edes A m a) and institutions (a Magyar Tudomnyos Akademia the Hungarian Academy of Sciences).
No article is used before the names of continents (Afrika A frica),
countries/states of one word or more than one hyphenated word (Magyarorszg Hungary, Eszak-Irorszg Northern Ireland), counties (Baranya),
cities/ towns/villages (Budapest).
kt- In

colloquial/informal usage the definite article is often used before

personal names (first names or sumames). This usage is sometimes
penalised by purists.

16

I was fortunate enough to hear Ruttkay lecture.

En meg hallottam a Ruttkayt Shakespeare-rl eloadni.

I was fortunate enough to hear Ruttkay lecture on Shakespeare.
is OK, but
/NO/ En meg hallottam a Ruttkayt a Shakespeare-rol eloadni.
I was fortunate enough to hear Ruttkay lecture on Shakespeare.
is unlikely to occur.
2.3

Usually no article is used before nouns or noun phrases functioning as

subject complements:
Jnos rendor.
John is a policeman.

Einstein fiziku s volt.

Einstein was aphysicist.

A kobra hiillo.
The cobra is a reptile.

Ez a hz palota lesz.
This house will be a palace.

E? In colloquial usage the indefinite article is used before singular nouns

or noun phrases functioning as subject complements. This usage is
sometimes penalised by purists.
Jnos egy rendor.
John is a policeman.

Einstein egy fiziku s volt.

Einstein was a physicist.

A kobra egy hiillo.

The cobra is a reptile.

Ez a hz egy palota lesz.

This house will be a palace.

2 . A r tc le s

2.4

Note that (unlike in English) the definite article is used with uncountable
nouns and plural countable nouns even if the expression has generic reference:
a S(jr
may mean
beer in general
A sor veszelyes lehet.
Beer may
be dangerous.
a lnyok
A lnyokhoz vonzodott.

may mean
girls in general
He/she/it was attracted to girls.

3. Nouns

3.1 Structure

The noun in Hungarian consists of the stem plus five inflectional slots, i.e.
positions where inflectional suffixes can occur. The first slot indicates
n u m b e r , the second slot indicates p o ss e s siv e / p e r s o n , the third slot indi
cates n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e , the fourth slot indicates n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e
n u m b er and the fifth slot indicates c a se . Each of these slots may be empty
as the unmarked status of these categories (singular, non-possessive, nonpossessor, singular possessed, nominative) is always a nuli suffix. The
n o m in a l po ss e s siv e n u m b e r can only be plural if the n o m in a l p o ss e s siv e
slot is flled.
Thus, schematically the structure of the noun is:
0
I
II
III
Stem + NUMBER +POSSESSIVE + ( n o m in a l po ssessiv e +

IV

n o m in a l po ssessiv e n u m b e r )

+ CASE

Examples:
0

bart
bartot
bartok
bartom
barte
bartomat
bartome
bartomet
bartomeit
bartaimeit

bart
bart
bart
bart
bart
bart
bart
bart
bart
bart

III

IV

ot
ok
om
e

ai

om
om
om
om
m

at
6
e
e
e

i
i

t
t
t

Gloss
friend
friend a c c
friends
my friend
that of a friend
my friend a c c
that of my friend
that of my friend a c c
those of my friend a c c
those of my friends a c c

oa" Note that the first form above (the uninflected singular stem in nominal
case) is the usual dictionary form for nouns in Hungarian.
o1Note that grammatical gender does not exist in Hungarian.

18

19

3 . N ou n s

3 . N oun s

Singular possessed

3 .2 N u m b er

The singular is unmarked in Hungarian.

Isg

-oml-eml-dm
-m

Ipl

-unk/-iink
-nk

3.2.1

2 sg

2 pl

The plural is a harmonising three-form suffix -okl-ekl-ok where the choice

of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel Harmony (See Section
1.4):

-od/-ed/-dd
-d

-otokl-etekl-otok
-tokl-tekl-tok

3sg

-ja /je
-a/-e

3pl

-jukl-jiik
-ukl-iik

lnyok girls
cskok kisses

ember ek people
retek meadows

tokok pumpkins
siinok hedgehogs

s" The suffix vowel is a/e instead of the regular o/e/d after Lowering Stems
(see Section 4.1), a appears after back-vowel stems and e appears after
all front-vowel stems (including the ones that have a rounded vowel
in the stem-final syllable).
fa la k walls
fogak teeth

szdgek nails
fiilek ears

The suffix vowel is unstable: it does not appear if the stem ends in a vowel.
Thus, the plural is -k after vowel-final stems:
hollk ravens

kocsik carts

vesok chisels

These suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the

choice of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel Harmonv (See
Section 1.4).
J
bot stick

kes knife

kor circle

Isg
2 sg
3 sg

botom
botod
botja

kesem
kesed
kese

korom
korod
kore

Ipl

botunk
bototok
botjuk

kesilnk
kesetek
kesiik

koriink
korotok
koriik

2 pl

3pl

The iniial vowel in the Ist and 2nd person suffixes is unstable and does
not appear after vowel-final stems.

3 .2 .2

haj ship

Erzsi Beth

kesztyu glove

The p lu ra l is th e su ffix -il-jait-jeit-ait-ei (in s te a d o f -ok/-ek/-dk/-k) if th e

Isg
2 sg
3 sg

hajom
hajod
hajdja

Erzsim
Erzsid
Erzsije

kesztyum
kesztyud
kesztyuje

Ipl

hajnk
hajtok
hajjuk

Erzsink
Erzsitek
Erzsijuk

kesztyunk
kesztyutok
kesztyujiik

n o u n is m a rk e d f o r

p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n :

hollim my ravens kalapjaim my hats lnyaim my daughters

vesoim my chisels kertjeim my gardens szemeim my eyes
For the choice between the variants see Section 3.3 on
suffixes.

p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n

3 .3 Possessive/Person

The noun referring to the thing possessed is marked with the

p e r s o n suffix: (botom my stick, botunk our stick, etc.).

p o s s e s s iv e /

3.3.1

The suffixes expressing the possessor of singular possessed nouns are the
following:
20

2pl

3pl

far The iniial suffix vowel is ale instead of the regular ol el o in the 2nd
person (singular and plural) and the Ist person singular after Lowering
Stems (see Section 4.1). a appears after back-vowel stems and e appears
after all front-vowel stems (including the ones that have a rounded
vowel in the stem-final syllable).
fog tooth

fiii ear

fog tooth

fiii e a r

Isg fogam
2 sg fogad
3 sg foga

fulem
ftiled
fiile

Ipl
2 pl

fiilunk
fiiletek
fiiliik

3pl

fogunk
fogatok
foguk

21

3 . N ou n s

3 . N ou ns

The choice between the j-less and the j-initial variants in the 3rd person
(singular and plural) is determined partly by the last sound of the stem
and partly by the class the stem belongs to:

The non-harmonizing -i variant appears if the stem ends in a vowel which

ic
i*
is nnt
not r.
haj ship

kesztyu glove

hajo ship

kesztyu glove

Vowel-final stems take j-initial variants (e.g. hajoja his/her/its ship ).

Isg

Consonant-final stems take j-less variants if the final consonant is sz, z,

s, zs, c, cs, ty, gy, ny,j, ly, m, h (e.g. hegye his/her/its mountain, lnya
his/her/its daughter, szeme his/her/its eye, etc). Other consonant-final
stems may (more-or-less unpredictably) take the j-initial variants (botja
his/her/its stick, padja his/her/its bench, karja his/her/its arm , etc.)
or the j-less one (szele his/her/its edge, vere his/her/its blood, etc.)

kesztyuim
kesztyuid
kesztyui

lpl

2 sg

2pl

kesztyuink
kesztyuitek
kesztyuik

Altemating Stems and Lowering Stems usually take j-less variants

(bokra his/her/its bush, hala his/her/its fish; see Chapter 4 and Sec
tion 4.1).
cs? Note that there are many irregularities (e.g. bune his/her/its sin, farmja his/her/its farm , reggele his/her/its m oming, etc.)
3 .3 .2

The suffixes expressing the possessor of plural possessed nouns are the
following:
Plural possessed

3sg

Erzsi Beth
Isg
2sg
3sg

Erzsijeim kocsijaim
Erzsijeid kocsijaid
Erzsijei
kocsijai

Erzsi Beth

kocsi car

lpl

kocsijaink
kocsijaitok
kocsijaik

2pl

3pl

Erzsijeink
Erzsijeitek
Erzsijeik

The choice between the variant in ai as opposed to e*is determined by

Vowel Harmony (See Section 1.4):
bot stick

kes knife

kor circle

Isg

keseim
keseid
kesei

kdreim
koreid
kdrei

keseink
keseitek
keseik

koreink
koreitek
kdreik

2 sg -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + -d

2pl -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + -tokl-tek

2 sg

3sg -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + 0

3pl -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + -k

3 sg

keseitek yourpl knives

koreitek yourpl circles

kocsi car

The choice between the j-less and j-initial variants of the suffix express
ing plural possessed is determined by the same factors as in the case of the
singular possessed 3rd person forms discussed above. If a form for singu
lar possessed is j-less, it is j-less for plural possessed too if it is j-initial
for singular possessed, it is j-initial for plural possessed as well.

lpl -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + -nk

botjaitok yourpl sticks

boraitok yourpl wines

3pl

hajink
hajoitok
hajoik

If the stem itself ends in an i, the suffix is always harmonizing -jail-jei. The
choice between -jail-jei is determined by Vowel Harmony (See Section 1.4):

Isg -il-jail-jeil-ail-ei + -m

The plural possessed suffixes consist of the plural marker and the p o s s e s
s iv e / p e r s o n markers. The latter have just one form except in the 2nd per
son plural where it is the harmonizing two-form suffix -tokltek. The choice
between the variants is determined by Vowel Harmony (See Section 1.4):

hajim
hajid
haji

botjaim
botjaid
botjai

lpl botjaink
2 pl botjaitok

3pl botjaik

Er Note that the j-initial suffix variants may cause assimilation which is
unindicated in the spelling (e.g.padja [pDj:o]). For the actual pronun
ciation of the consonant clusters consisting of a consonant+y see Section
1.3.4 on Palatalization.

iar Note that there is no marker in the 3rd person singular.

The choice of the plural before the
mined by several factors.

22

p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n

marker is deter

3 .4 Nominal possessive

The n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e is used when the possessor noun occurs alone

standing for the whole possessive construction (noun phrase). The nominal
possessive suffix is non-harmonic -e\
23

3 . N ouns

3 . N ouns

Compare:
Az a kutya a lnyome.
That dog is my daughters.

Az a kutya a lnyom kutyja.

That dog is my daughters dog.

Az a kdnyv a tandre.
That book is the teachers.

Az a kdnyv a tnr konyve.

That book is the teachers book.

bote that of the stick

bore that of the wine
haje that of the ship

kese that of the knife

kore that of the circle
kocsie that of the car

See Section 23.1 on the Possessive Construction.

3 .5 Nom inal possessive n um ber

The plural marker of the n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e n u m b e r is the non-harmo

nic suffix -i which only appears together with the n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e
mark -e and expresses that there is more than one thing possessed by the
referent of the noun:
Azok a kutyk a lnyomei.
Those dogs are my daughters.

Azok a kutyk a lnyom kutyi.

Those dogs are my daughters dogs.

Azok a konyvek a tandrei.

Those books are the teachers.

Azok a konyvek a tnr konyvei.

Those books are the teachers books.

botei those of the stick

bor ei those of the wine
hajoei those of the ship

kesei those of the knife

korei those of the circle
kocsiei those of the car

3 .6 Case

In Hungarian a lot of the prepositional meanings found in English are

expressed by cases. The case suffixes and case(-like) endings are the fol
lowing (approximately equivalent English prepositions are given when
possible):

24

Form(s)

Name

<P
-otl-etl-otl-t
-nakl-nek

ACCUSATIVE
DATIVE

to, fo r

-val!-vel
-ert
-v/-ve

INSTRUMENTAL
CAUSAL-FINAL
TRANSLATIVE

with
fo r
(tuming) into

n o m in a t iv e

-banl-ben
-onl-enl-onl-n
-nl/-nel

INESSIVE
SUPERESSIVE
ADESSIVE

in
on
at

-bal-be
-boll-bol
-rol/-rol
-ral-re
-toU-tol
-hozl-hezl-hoz
-ig
-kor
-ontal-entel-ontel
-ntal-nte

ILLATIVE
ELATIVE
DELATIVE
SUBLATIVE
ABLATIVE
ALLATIVE
TERMINATIVE

into
out o f
from, about
onto
from
to
up to, until

TEMPORAL
DISTRIBUTIVE-TEMPORAL

at
repeatedly,
every...

-onkentl-enkentl
-dnkentl-nkent
-ostul/-estul/
-ostul/-stul/-stul
-kent
-iii

DISTRIBUTIVE
ASSOCIATIVE

repeatedly,
every...
together w ith

FORMALIS
ESSIVE

as, like
as, like

3.6.1 Functions

The cases in group A are syntactic cases, i.e. their use is determined by
the function of the word in the sentence/construction. The subject in a
Hungarian sentence is in the n o m in a t iv e (Miklos ajndekot adott K ris
tofnak. Kristofnak ajndekot adott Miklos. Nicholas gave Christopher a
present.), the direct object is in the a c c u sa t iv e (Miklos ajndekot adott
Kristofnak. Kristofnak ajndekot adott Miklos. Nicholas gave Christopher
a present.), and the indirect object is usually in the d a t iv e (Miklos ajn
dekot adott Kristofnak. Kristofnak ajndekot adott Miklos. Nicholas gave
Christopher a present.) Some verbs and complex verbs in infinitival con
structions take a d a tiv e subject (Kristofnak kell rjonnie. Christopher
must find out., see Section 23.5.2). The d a t iv e is also used in the posses
sive construction (Kristofnak az ajndeka Christophers present, see
Section 23.1). Note that the d a t iv e has non-syntactic uses as well, e.g.
Nekidolt a falnak. He leaned against the wall.
The cases in group B express instrument ( in s t r u m e n t a l , e.g. Baltval
vgta a ft. He cut wood with an axe ), purpose ( c a u s a l - f in a l , e.g.
A szabadsgert harcoltak. They fought for freedom.) and result (tr a n sl a t iv e , e.g. Pillangov vltozott. She tumed into a butterfly.).
25

3 . N ou n s

3 . N ou n s

The cases in group C reiate to place. For example, A szobban olvas.

(S)he is reading in the room. ( in e s s iv e ).
The cases in group D express direction. Some of them can be used in both
spaial and temporal senses, e.g. Elsetlt a hzig. He walked up to the
house.: Nyolci dolgozunk. We work until eight. ( t e r m in a t iv e ).
The cases in group E have to do with time. For example, Tallkozzunk
nyolckor. L ets meet a_eigh.( t e m p o r a l ); Naponta tallkoztunk. We
met every day/daily. ( d is t r ib u t iv e - t e m p o r a l ).
The cases in group F are a mixed bag. The d ist r ib u t iv e is like the d ist r ib
u t iv e - t e m p o r a l , but it can be used non-temporally (Kdnyvenkent adom
el a kdnyvtramat. I am selling my library by the book.). Other exam
ples: Kutystul beugrott a toba. (S)he/it jumped into the lake together
with her/his/its dog.; Emberkent nem fogadhatom el az egyenlotlenseget.
As a human being I cannot accept inequality.; Emberul viselkedett. (S)he
behaved as a human being.
ist -

In addition to these uses, verb s/no uns/adjecti ves often require that their
dependent noun(s) appear in a certain case (govemment). The required
cases are (more-or-less) unpredictable and must be leamt separately
for each verb/noun/adjective. For example, vgyik N+sublative long
for N : Bekere vgyik. (S)he/it longs for peace; alkalmazkodikN+allatw e adapt to N : Alkalmazkodtunk a meleg idoirshoz. We adapted
to the hot weather; szerelmes /V+ILLAtive in Iove with N Szerelmes
Amandba. (S)he/it is in Iove with Amanda.

3 .6 .2 Form s

Some of the case suffixes are harmonizing three-form suffixes (like -hoz/
-hez/-hdz) or two-form suffixes (like -nak/-nek), others are non-harmonic
(like -kor). The choice between the variants of the harmonic suffixes is
determined by Vowel Harmony (See Section 1.4):

NOMINATIVE
ACCUSATIVE
DATTVE
INSTRUMENTAL
CAUSAL-FINAL
TRANSLATIVE
INESSIVE
SUPERESSIVE
26

d o b d r u m

s z e m e y e

k o d f o g

dob
dobot
dobnak
dobbal
dobert
dobb
dobban
dobon

szem
szemet
szemnek
szemmel
szemert
szemme
szemben
szemen

kdd
kodot
kodnek
kdddel
kddert
kddde
kddben
kodon

kodnel
kddbe
kddbol
kodrol
kodre
kodtol
kddhdz
kodig
kddonkent
kddostiil
kddkent

szemnel
szembe
szembol
szemrol
szemre
szemtol
szemhez
szemig
szemenkent
szemestul
szemkent

dobnl
dobba
dobbol
dobrol
dobra
dobtol
dobhoz
dobig
dobonkent
dobostul
dobkent

ADESSIVE
ILLATIVE
ELATIVE
DELATIVE
SUBLATIVE
ABLATIVE
ALLATIVE
TERMINATIVE
DISTRIBUTIVE
ASSOCIATIVE
FORMALIS

3 .6 .2.1 temporal and distributive-temporal

The te m po r a l and the d ist r ib u t iv e - t e m p o r a l suffixes behave as normal

harmonic suffixes, but only combine with temporal expressions (naponta,
every day, hetente, every week, csutortdkdnte, every Thursday).
3.6.1.2 accusative
The iniial vowel of the

a c c u sa t iv e

-otl-etl-ot is unstable.

(i) It does not appear (and thus we get the -t variant)

a. if th e ste m e n d s in a v o w e l
hajot ship+A CC kocsit car+ACC

kesztyut

glove+A C C

b. if the stem ends in a vowel followed by the consonants sz, z, s, zs,

j, ly, l, r, n, ny, ssz, zz, ss, ll, rr, nn, nny, ns, nsz,
reszt
gozt
kest
garzst
shajt
sulyt
dalt
bort
sznt
lnyt

part+A CC
vapour+ A C C
k in fe+ A C c
garage+A C C
sigh+A CC
w eight+A C C
S o n g + A c c
W in e+ A cc
colour+A C C
girl+A CC

protestnst
renesznszt
pem t

p ro te s ta n t+ a c c
renaissance+ A C C
m oney+ A C C

dzsesszt
vigyzzt
brosst

jazz+ACC
A ttention!+ A C C
brooch+A C C

futballt
orrt
fnnt
genny(e)t

football+A C C
nose+A CC
F in n + A c c
pUS+ACC

27

3 . N ouns

3 . N ou n s
a sso cia tiv e

d ist r ib u t iv e - t e m p o r a l

d ist r ib u t iv e

a. when the stem ends in a consonant or consonant cluster other than

the ones listed above:

fo g a s tu l

n y a r a n ta

fo g a n k e n t

together with (a) tooth

every summer

for every tooth

d o b o t d ru m + A C c

fe je s tiil

te le n te

fe je nkent

together the head

every winter

(ii) The unstable vowel appears

s z e m e t eye+A C C

k o d o t fo g + A C c

b. if the stem is a Lowering Stem, in which case the unstable vowel is

irregularly a le (see Section 4.1 on noun stems). The choice of a vs.
e is determined by Vowel Harmony (See Section 1.4):
est- Note that the accusative of Lowering Stems d o e s h a v e a vowel even
when the stem happens to end in a consonant after which there is no
vowel in regular stems.
h a s a t stom ach+ A C C
v r t C a stle + A cc

te h e n e t c o w + a c c
v iz e t w ater+A C C

f i i l e t ear+ A C c
k d n n y e t tear+A CC

ESf- Note that the unstable vowel appears in the accusative of Vowel-delet
ing Stems even when they happen to end in a consonant after which
there is no vowel in a regular stem. (See Section 4.2).
dkdl
dkdr

f is t
o x

d k ld t
d k ld t

fist+A CC
o x + a c c

3.6.2.3 superessive, associative, distributive-temporal, distributive

The iniial vowel of the s u p e r e s s iv e (-o n l-e n t-o n ), the a s s o c i a t i v e (-o stu l!
-e stiill-o stiil) the d i s t r i b u t i v e - t e m p o r a l ( -o n ta l-e n te l-o n te ) and the d is
t r i b u t i v e (-o n k e n tt-e n k e n tt-o n k e n tt-n k e n t) is unstable: it does not appear
after stems ending in a vowel:
SUPERESSIVE

a sso c ia t iv e

DISTRIBUTIVE

h a j n

h a j s tu l

h a jo n k e n t

on (a) ship

together with (a) ship

for every ship

k o c s itt

k o c s is tu l

k o c s in k e n t

on (a) car

together with (a) car

for every c ar

te v e n

te v e s tiil

te v e n k e n t

on (a) camei

together with (a) camei

for every camei

per head
fiile n k e n t

fu le s tiil

for every ear

together with (an) ear

s u p e r e s s iv e
fo g o n on (a) tooth
f e je n on the head
fu l o n on (an) ear

BUT

3.6.2.4. instrumental, translative

The i n s t r u m e n t a l (-va l/-vel) and the t r a n s l a t i v e (-v l-v e ) are only v-initial after stems that end with a vowel:
in str u m en ta l

h a j v a l
k o c s iv a l
k e s z ty u v e l

with (a) ship

with (a) car
with (a) glove

t r a n sl a t iv e

h a j v
k o c s iv
k e s z ty u v e

(turn) into a ship

(turn) into a car
(turn) into a glove

Otherwise, when the stem ends with a consonant, the iniial v of -v a it-v e l,
-v l-v e becomes identical with the stem-final consonant:
in st r u m e n t a l

dobbal
szem m el
to k k e l

with (a) drum

with (an) eye
with (a) pumpkin

t r a n sl a t iv e

dobb
szem m e
td k k e

(turn) into a drum

(tum) into an eye
(turn) into a pumpkin

ier Not all v-initial suffixes behave in this way. There are non-altemating
v-inital suffixes as well (such as -v a n -ty: h a tv a n sixty, deverbal
noun-forming - v n y t-v e n y : l tv n y sight, deverbal adverb-forming
-v a t-v e : lo p v a stealthily), which are v-initial after vowel-final stems,
but whose iniial v remains unchanged even after consonant-final stems.

After Lowering Stems (See Chapter 4 on noun stems) the iniial vowel
of the the a s s o c i a t i v e , the d i s t r i b u t i v e - t e m p o r a l , the d i s t r i b u t i v e ,
b u t n o t th e s u p e r e s s iv e is -a /e instead of the regular -o/e/o:

28

29

4 . N oun s t e m s
ks" For

further examples see Section 3.2.1 for the p l u r a l , Section 3.3.

for the relevant p o ss e s siv e / p e r s o n suffixes, and Section 3.6.2. for the
a c c u sa t iv e , the s u p e r e s s iv e , the a s so c ia t iv e , the d is t r ib u t iv e - t e m p o r a l and the d is t r ib u t iv e .

4. Noun stems

The following is a list of some common nominal Lowering Stems:

Hungarian stems typically do not change when suffixes are added to them.
Regular exceptions to this generalisation result from the sound rules dis
cussed in Chapter 1: Regressive Voice Assimilation (Section 1.3.1), Degemination (Section 1.3.2), Affrication (Section 1.3.3), Palatalization (Section
1.3.4), Nasal Place Assimilation (Section 1.3.5), and Final a, e Lengthening (Section 1.5). These are regular in the sense that they automatically
and exceptionlessly apply to the last sound of every stem that comes under
the purview of any of these rules. Regressive Voice Assimilation, Degemination, Affrication, Palatalization and Nasal Place Assimilation are not
indicated by the spelling, but Final a, e Lengthening is.
There are, however, some irregular stem types, which do change when
suffixes are added to them or cause unpredictable changes in the suffixes.
The nominal ones'are the following:
4.1 Low ering Stem s

Lowering Stems do not change themselves, but cause some irregularities

in the choice of the suffix variants. After these stems
(i) the suffix-initial unstable vowel is -ale instead of the regular -olel5
(not in the Superessive!), and
(ii) the unstable vowel of the accusative is retained even after stem-final
consonants that otherwise cause the deletion of the unstable vowels.
Compare
REGULAR STEM

LOWERING STEM

dalok
song+ P L
ketelyek d oubt+ P L
tejfolom so u r c re a m + p o ss/P E R s :lsg

falak
helyek
olem

w all+ P L
p lace+ P L

d a lt

falat
helyet
olet

W all+ A cc
place+A C C
a p + A c c

ketelyt
tejfdlt
30

S o n g + A c c
doubt+A C C
so u r cream+POSS/PERS: 1 sg

lap+POSs/PERS:lsg

agr
g
agy
agy
r
rny
bogr
bj
bel
esik
eso
esond
darzs
daru
del
er
esz
fo l
falu
fe j
fe l
ferj
fonl
fog
fo ld
ful
fu
gally
gyr
haj
hal
has
hz
hej
hely

greyhound
branch
brain
bed
price
shadow
beetle
charm
bowels
stripe
pipe
silence
wasp
crane
noon
vein
m ind
wall
village
head
half
husband
thread
tooth
earth, ground
ear
grass
tw ig
factory
hair
fish
stomach
house
peel
place

hld
hold
ho
holgy
n
kanl
kez
kosr
konny
kdnyv
ko
kut
lb
level
lo
lud
lyuk
rnadr
mj
mell
mez
mesz
mocsr
mu
nyak
nyr
nyel
nyl
nyul
oldal
dl
ov
parzs
pohr
rez

bridge
moon
snow
lady
tendon
spoon
hand
basket
tear
book
stone
well
leg
leaf
horse
goose
hole
bird
li ver
breast
honey
lime
marsh
work of art
neck
summer
handle
arrow
rabbit
side
lap
belt
ash
glass, cup
copper

rud
sr
sugr
szamr
szakll
szj
szrny
szel
szen
szo
szdg
szrny
szuz
ti
talp
trgy
trs
tehen
tej
tet
tel
ter
to
toii
to
togy
tolgy
torzs
tuz
ur
ut
tigy
iirtigy
ujj
vgy

pole
m ud
ray
donkey
beard
mouth
wing
wind
coal
word
nail
m onster
virgin
dish
sole
object
partner
cow
milk
louse
winter
square
lake
feather
stem
udder
oak
tribe
fire
gentleman
road
affair
pretext
finger
deire
31

4 . N oun s t e m s

vr
vaj

castle
butter

vll
vszon

4 . N oun s t e m s

shoulder
linen

vz
volgy

water
valley

Although it is unpredictable which nominal stem is a Lowering Stem, some

irregular noun classes are always lowering as well. All nominal v-stems
and Vowel-shortening Stems are Lowering Stems (See Sections 4.3 and
4.4).

c a u sa l - fin a l -ert, and n o m in a l po sse ssiv e -e are excep

ional because they begin with a vowel, but do not cause vowel deletion
in Vowel-deleting Stems:
-ert
-e
-ig
bokor bush
bokorig
bokorert
bokore
eper strawberry
eperig
eperert
epere
dkdr ox
okorig
okorert
okore

us Note that in the

4.1.1 Low ering suffixes

Not only stems, but suffixes may be lowering too. For example, the PLURAL
and the p o s s e s s iv e / pe r s o n suffixes lower:
bartokat ' s tic k + PLURAL+ACC c o m p a re
bartomat S tick+ PQSS/PERS: 1s g +ACC

T erm in a tiv e -ig,

bartot

a cc u sa tiv e the unstable vowel of the accusative suffix

appears after Vowel-deleting Stems even when they happen to end in
a consonant after which there is no vowel in the a c c u sa t iv e in a regu
lar stem. (See Section 3.6.2.2).

'S tic k + A c c

okol
okor
haszon
torony
bagoly
bajusz^

The noun-forming -sgZ-seg -ship, -ness does not:

bartgot friend+ ship+ A C C c o m p a re

bartot

S tic k + A c c

kt Inflectional

suffixes are lowering, derivational suffixes are non-lowering (unless they are adjective-forming [See Chapter 22 on derivational
suffixes])

Some stems are subject to changes depending on the shape of the suffix
(altemating stems). The nominal ones are the following:
4 .2 Vow el-deleting Stem s

These stems all end in a vowel followed by a single consonant. The vowel
preceding the stem-final consonant is regularly otetd (there are four excep
ional nominal stems: vacak worthless thing, kazal haystack, ajak lip,
bajusz moustache).
In Vowel-deleting Stems the vowel preceding the stem-final consonant
deletes if the suffix attached to the stem begins with a vowel. Suffixes
with iniial unstable vowels keep their suffix-initial vowels and behave
like vowel-initial suffixes:
C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

bokor bush
bokorban in (a) bush
bokrok
bushes
eper strawberry eperben in (a) strawberry eprek
strawberries
dkdr ox
dkorben
in (an) ox
dkrdk
oxen
32

bs- Some

T is t
o x
p r o f it
to w e r
o w l
m o u s ta c h e

oklot
dkrot
hasznot
tornyot
baglyot
bajszot

fist+A CC
ox + a c c
p ro fit+ A C c
tow er+ A C C
ow l+A CC
m o u stach e+ A C C

nominal Vowel-deleting Stems are Lowering Stems as well.

The following is a list of some common nominal Vowel-deleting Stems

(the underlined ones are Lowering Stems):
ajak
lom
rok
tok
bagoly
bajusz
btor
birodalom
bokor
csokor
cukor
dolog
eper
ezer
erem
ertelem
erzelem

lip
dream
trench
curse
owl
moustache
brave
empire
bush
bunch of flowers
sugar
thing
strawberry
thousand
medal
sense
emotion

farok
fjdalom
ftyol
felelem
feszek
figyelem
fogalom
for ga lom
forradalom
fogoly
godor
gyomor
gyotrelem
gyozelem
haszon
hatalom
hrom

tail
pain
veil
fear
nest
attention
notion
traffic
revolution
prisoner
pothole
stomach
suffering
victory
profit
pow er
three
33

4 . N oun s t e m s

twin
iker
literature
irodalom
izgalom
excitement
muscle
izom
reward
jutalom
clasp
kapocs
kereskedelem commerce
comfort
kenyelem
bark of a tree
kereg
soot
korom
kid
kolyok
nail
korom
malom
mill
marok
grip
riverbed
meder
monkey
majom
poison
mereg
bay
obol
fist
okol
ox
okor
lead
lom
filth
piszok

pokol
sarok
stor
selyem
szatyor
szerelem
szirom
szobor
trsadalom
telek
terem
titok
torok
torony
tortenelem
tiicsok
ttikor
tiirelem
vacak
vszon
veszedelem
vodor

4 . N oun s t e m s

hell
corner
tent
silk
bag
Iove
petal
sculpture
society
land
hali
secret
throat
tower
history
cricket
m irror
patience
worthless thing
linen
danger
bucket

4 .3 v-stem s

There are a small number of stems that end in a vowel in isolation and
before a consonant-initial suffix, but end in the consonant v when followed by a vowel-initial suffix.
os- T erm in a tiv e -ig, c a u sa l - f in a l -ert, a n d n o m in a l p o ss e s siv e -e d o n o t
trig g e r th e c h a n g e s to th e ste m s d e s c rib e d b elo w , i. e. a lth o u g h th e y
a re v o w e l-in itia l, th e sh a p e o f v -stem s p re c e d in g th e m is th e s a m e as
in iso la tio n . (e.g . tig, faluert, toe etc.)

vs- Note that all nominal v-stems are also Lowering Stems (e.g. lovak horses, csdvek pipes).
4.3.1

v-adding Stem s

Lo horse, fu grass, nyu maggot, to stem, , cso pipe, ko stone, mu

work of art, ho snow, szo word and to lake add a final v before vowelinitial suffixes (suffixes with an unstable iniial vowel count as vowel-ini
tial suffixes).
4.3.1.1

Lo h o r s e , fu g r a s s , nyu m a g g o t, to s te m , cso p ip e , ko s to n e sh o rte n

th e ir v o w e ls w h e n th e y ta k e a v b e fo re a v o w e l-in itia l su ffix :

Note that all Hungarian nouns ending in -aloml-elem are Vowel-deleting Stems.
i- Note that vowel-deleting nouns ending in -alom are all Lowering Stems.
(Nouns ending in -elem are also Lowering Stems, but this in undetectable in Standard Hungarian [the dialect described in this book]).
osNote that in three words pehely fluff, kehely chalice and teher
weight, not only is there a vowel loss, but the consonants flanking
the unstable stem vowel change places when the vowel is deleted:

teher weight
kehely chalice
pehely fluff

C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

teherben in (a) weight

kehelybenin (a) chalice
pehelyben in (a) fluff

terhek weights
kelyhek chalices
pelyhek fluffs

lo horse
cso pipe

C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

lban
in (a) horse
csoben in (a) pipe

lovak horses
csdvek pipes

car- Note that the vowel of mu work of art is a v-adding Stem, but does not
shorten: muvek works of art.
4.3.1.2

In the three stems h snow, szo word and to lake stem-final changes
into av before a vowel-initial suffix:

ho
szo
to

s n o w
w o r d
la k e

C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

hban in s n o w
szoban in (a) w o rd
toban in (a) la k e

havat snow +A C C
szavak w o rd s
tavak
la k e s

tsf Note that the Accusative of szo word is szt.

35

4 . N oun s t e m s

4 . N oun s t e m s

4 .3 .2 V o w e l-to -v Stem s

In the three stems falu village, daru craneanima] and tet louse the stemfinal vowel changes into v before a vowel-initial suffix:

fa lu village
daru crane
tetu louse

C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

faluban in (a) village

daruban in (a) crane
te tube n in (a) louse

falvak villages
darvak cranes
tetvek lice

i N o te th a t th e s e ste m s c a n b e u s e d in a r e g u la r n o n - a lte m a tin g w a y

( e .g .fa lu k v illa g e s ) an d so m e tim e s it is m o re u su a l to u s e th e m in a
r e g u la r w a y (e.g . darut crane+A C C , tetut o u se + A c c ).

4 .4 Vowel Shortening Stem s

Some stems shorten their last (or only) stem vowel when followed by
vowel-initial suffixes:
nyar summer
kez hand
tuz fire
is? T e r m in a t iv e -ig,

C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

nyrban in (a) summer

kezben in (a) hand
tuzben in (a) fire

nyarak summers
kezek hands
tiizek fires

-ert, and n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e -e do
not cause vowel shortening (e.g. nyrig, tuzert, keze, etc.), although
they are vowel-initial.
c a u s a l - f in a l

i* Note that the su pe r e s s iv e -onl-enl-dn does not cause vowel shortening

in most cases (e.g. nyron, keze, etc.). It optionally can if the vowel
is i or u (tuzon [ty :z 0 n / t y z 0 n]; vizen [v i:z en /v iz e n ] on w ater).
F grass always shortens in the s u p e r e s s iv e : fuvon
f Note that all Vowel-shortening Stems are Lowering Stems (e.g. nyarak
summers, tiizek fires).
The following is a list of some common nominal Vowel-shortening Stems:
agr
bel
bogr
cso
darzs
del
36

greyhound
bowels
beetle
pipe
wasp
noon

derek
eg
eger
eleg
er
esz

waist
sky
mouse
enough
vein
mind

fedel
fe l
fenek
fonl
fu
gydker

lid
h alf
buttocks
thread
grass
root

het
hid
m
jeg
kanl
kenyer
kerek
kez
kosr
kotel
kdzep
ko
kut
le
legy
lelek
level

week
bridge
tendon
ice
spoon
bread
wheel
hand
basket
rope
middle
stone
well
juice
fly
soul
letter

lo
lud
madr
mesz
mocsr
nehez
nev
nyr
nyel
nyl
nyul
parzs
pohr
rez
rud
sr
sugr

horse
goose
bird
lime
marsh
heavy
name
summer
handle
arrow
rabbit
embers
glass, cup
copper
pole
mud
ray

szamr
szeker
szel
szemet
szen
szz
tehen
tel
tenyer
ter
to
tuz
ur
ut
vereb
viz

donkey
cart
wind
litter
coal
virgin
cow
winter
palm
square
stem
fire
lord
road
sparrow
water

s Note that lelek soul is the only Shortening Stem in which the shortenin g v o w e l is n o t in th e la st s y lla b le o f th e ste m : lelket soul+A CC (it is
also a Vowel-deleting Stem).
4 .5 Unrounding Stem s

There are a few stems with final o and o that change these vowels into e
and a respectively when followed by certain p o ss e s siv e / p e r s o n suffixes,
in particular the ones that may begin with i or j (i.e. all the Plural Possessed
suffixes (see Section 3.3.2) and the Singular Possessed 3rd person suffixes
(see Section 3.3.1)):
erdo
ajto

forest
door

erdeje herforest
ajtaja his door

erdeitek your forests

ajtaitok yourdoors

The commonest Unrounding Stems are the following:

ido
erdo
ajto
teto
zszl

time
forest
door
top
flag

esztendo
ero
tiido
mezo

year
pow er
lung
field

However, these stems may behave in a regular way, i.e. the change is
sometimes opional (e.g. erdoje her/his forest).
37

4 . Noun s t e m s

4 . Noun s t e m s

4 .6 Final Vow el-deleting Stem s

There are three stems, borju calf, varju crow, and ifju youth, that may
delete their stem-final vowels in the same environment as the one in Sec
tion 4.5 and before the p l u r a l :
borju
ifju
varju

borja its calf

borjaitok your calves
ifja
her youth ifjaitok
youryouths
varja his crow varjaitok yourcrow s

borjak
ifjak
varjak

s in g u l a r p o ss e s se d

3sg

calves
youths
crows

However, these stems may behave in a regular way, i.e. the change is
sometimes opional (e.g. varjuja her/his/its crow, borjuk calves).

Isg
2 sg

lpl
2 pl

3pl
pl u r a l po ss e s se d

Isg
2 sg

3sg
4 .7 M iscellaneous irregular stem s

lpl

est fiu son has irregular singular and plural possessed forms (it deletes
the final vowel and is a back-harmonic Lowering Stem). Note that fiu
boyfriend is regular:

2 pl

SINGULAR POSSESSED

fiu son

fiu bovfriend

Isg
2 sg
3sg

fiam
fiad
fia

fium
fiu d
fiuja

lpl
3pl

fiu n k
fiatok
fiu k

fiu n k
fiutok
fiu ju k

Isg
2 sg
3sg

fiaim
fiaid
fia i

fiuim
fiuid
fiu i

lpl
2 pl
3pl

fia in k
fiaitok
fia ik

fiu in k
fiuitok
fiu ik

2pl
p l u r a l po ss e s se d

3pl
er only have

p o ss e s siv e

anya mother

apm
apd
apja

anym
anyd
anyja

apnk
aptok
apjuk

anynk
anytok
anyjuk

apim
apid
apjai/api

anyim
anyid
anyjai/anyi

apink
apitok
apjaik/apik

anyink
anyitok
anyjaikl anyik

forms.

par Some of the singular and plural possessed forms of szj mouth have
irregular alternative variants (in which the stem-final j is deleted and
the appropriate suffix-variants attach to the vowel-final stem).
szj mouth
s in g u l a r p o ss e s se d

Isg
2 sg

3sg
lpl
2 pl

3pl
pl u r a l po ss e s se d

us- Some of the singular and plural possessed forms of apa father and anya
mother are irregular (in these forms the stem-final vowel is deleted
and the appropriate suffix-variants attach to the consonant-final stem).

apa father

Isg
2 sg

3sg
lpl
2pl

3pl

szm/szjam
szd/szjad
szja
sznk/szjunk
sztoklszjatok
szjuk
szjaim
szjaid
szjai
szjaink
szjaitok
szjaik

car The a c c u sa t iv e and the p l u r a l of bir judge are brt (rare) and blrk respectively in addition to the regular forms brot and birok. The
38

39

4 . N oun s t e m s

singular and plural possessed forms also have irregular alternative variants (in which the stem-final o changes to an ).

5. Postpositions

br iu d g e
SINGULAR POSSESSED

Isg
2 sg

3sg
Ipl
2 pl

3pl
PLURAL POSSESSED

Isg
2 sg

3sg
Ipl
2 pl

3pl
i" The

plural

birm! bir om
brdlbrd
birjalbirja
brnklbronk
birtok/birotok
birjuk/birojuk
brim! broim
biridlbroid
btri/biroi
birinkl biroink
biritok/biritok
bfrik/biroik

offerfi man, m ale is fetfiak.

Some o f the prepositional meanings found in English are expressed in

Hungarian by postpositions. In this respect postpositions are like case
endings. However, they are not attached to the noun itself, but follow it
as a separate word (az eloads utn after the performance) and may even
refer to more than one noun or a nominal group (az eloads es a vacsora
utn after the performance and the dinner). As their name suggests post
positions normally follow the noun or nominal group they refer to.
The most important postpositions are the following:
P o stp o s itio n

Orientation

Meaning

U sa g e

elott
ele
elol

STATE
PIRECTION;)tO
d ir e c t io n :<fro m

in fro n t o f, b e f o r e
to + in fro n t o f
fro m + in fro n t o f

SPACE, TIME
SPACE

mdgdtt
moge
mogiil

STATE

b e h in d
to + b e h in d
f ro m + b e h in d

alatt
al
aloi

40

d ir e c t io n :>to

DiRECTiON:f-from
STATE
d ir e c t io n :>to

DiRECTiON:f-from

spa ce
spa ce
spa ce
spa ce

u n d er, b elo w , d u r in g SPACE, TIME

SPACE
to + b e lo w
SPACE
fro m + b e lo w

folottlfelett STATE
DIRECTION:-)tO
fole
d ir e c t io n :f -f ro m
foliil

a b o v e , o v e r
to + a b o v e
a b o v e

SPACE
SPACE
SPACE

mellett
melle
melll

STATE
DIRECTION:)tO
d ir e c t io n : f-f ro m

n e x t to
to + n e x t t o
fro m + n e x t t o

SPACE
SPACE
SPACE

kdzdtt
koze
koziil

STATE

b e tw e e n , a m o n g
SPACE, TIME
to + b e tw e e n /a m o n g
SPACE
fro m + b e tw e e n /a m o n g spa ce

fele
felol

DIRECTION:)tO
d ir e c t io n : f-f ro m

d ir e c t io n :>to
d ir e c t io n

:f-fro m

SPACE
to w a rd s
fro m th e d ire c tio n o f SPACE

5 . P o s tp o s itio n s

5 . P o stp o s itio n s

belul
kviil

STATE
STATE

inside, within
outside, except

SPACE, TIME
SPACE, ABSTRACT

tul

STATE

beyond

innen
t

STATE

on this side
through, across,
for(-f-time)
through, across,
for(-f-time)

SPACE, TIME,
ABSTRACT
SPACE, ABSTRACT
SPACE, TIME

keresztul

6t
SPACE, TIME

mulva
ota
tjt
kdzben

after, in(+time)
since
around, about
while

TIME
TIME
TIME
TIME

helyett
ellen
miatt
nelkiil
szerint

instead o f
against
because o f
without
according to

ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT

The nouns postpositions refer to are usually in the n o m in a t iv e : a hz elott

in front of the house, a f k kdzdtt between/among the trees, Kristffele
towards Christopher, Julia miatt because of Julia, etc. There are, however, some excepional ones that require the noun to receive some case
(other than the n o m in a t iv e ): keresztul, t, tul, belill, kviil require the noun
to be in the s u p e r e s s iv e (e.g. a szobn keresztul across the room a hatron tul beyond the border, etc), andfogva requires the noun to be in the
a b l a t iv e (attl a naptol fogva from that day).
Just as some verbs/adjectives/nouns require that their dependent nouns
should appear in a certain case (see Section 3.6.1), some verbs/adjectives/
nouns require that their dependent nouns should be followed by a certain
postposition: kill N + mellett stand up for N : Killt az egyenjogusg
mellett. (S)he stood up for equal rights.; erzes N + szemben: Bizonyta
lan erzesei voltak Amandval szem ben. (S)he/it had uncertain feelings
about Amanda. The required postpositions are (more-or-less) unpredictable
and must be leamt separately for each verb/noun/adjective.
Similarly to the forms of pronouns inflected for case (like nekem for m e,
toled from you, etc. see Chapter 6 ), some postpositions may form postpositional pronominal forms. These forms consist of a postposition plus
the regular p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n endings (see Section 3.3 ). Of the postposi
tions above the following ones enter into postpositional pronominal forms.
42

C
ca

. o
. o
: jj
O
6 :
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4
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v>

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cu 'j 'O :o
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s5 ^s: *5
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R
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s;
sa
Ns; 'o
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53 .2

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s s s *0 *3 "a O TS ;0 ?P s s s

13

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s

1v<i?3 - :3;r^ sas ^

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SJ K KI
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(:o rs lo lo

s ^ O S s ,
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s ^2
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^ 3'o
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O
cs[
S S S qqq
SI
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'o 5 :o o :o

SI cu Cu Cu S S S

g
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tUD.0
tUD.tUD

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CU

sfc

sfi:
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N

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S *3 *3 "a

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^
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H to
n
C

6 . P ron ou n s

They may be used attributively to qualify a noun in which case the demon
strative pronouns of the basic set are always followed by the definite article
alaz:

6. Pronouns

6.1 D em onstrative pronouns

The commonest demonstrative pronouns are the following:

a) basic set

Ez a kutya fekete.
Azok a fekete kutyk nem ugatnak.

This dog is black.

Those black dogs do not bark.

Ekkora kutyt kaptam.

I got this big a dog.

They may be used non-attributively (pronominally):

Ez egy fekete kutya.
Peter nem olyan mint azok.
Ltom ezeket.
Ennyit kaptam.

ez
ezek

th is
t h e s e

az
azok

t h a t
th o s e

ugyanez
ugyanezek

th e s a m e
th e sam e+ P L

ugyanaz
ugyanazok

th e s a m e
th e sam e+ P L

ilyen
ilyenek

s u c h
such+ P L

olyan
olyanok

s u c h
su ch + P L

n o m in a t iv e

ugyanilyen
ugyanilyenek

sa m e as th is
sa m e as that+ P L

ugyanolyan
ugyanolyanok

effele
ejfelek

th is k in d
th e s e k in d s

ekkora
ekkork

th is s iz e
th is size+ P L

b) e x te n d e d se t

This is a black dog.

Peter is not like those.
I can see them.
I got this much.

Demonstrative pronouns can take case endings like nouns. The special
feature of the demonstrative pronouns of the basic set is that the final z of
ez, az completely assimilates to the iniial consonant of the attached case
endings (other than the a c c u sa t iv e ):
ez

az

s a m e as th a t
sa m e as th at+ P L

ACCUSATIVE
DATIVE

ez
ezt
ennek

az
azt
annak

t h is /th a t
this/that+ A C C
f o r th is /th a t

affele
ajfelek

th a t k in d
th o s e k in d s

akkora
akkork

INSTRUMENTAL
CAUSAL-FINAL
TRANSLATIVE

evvellezzel
ezert
ezze

avval/azzal
azert
azz

w ith th is /th a t
f o r th is /th a t
(tu rn ) in to th is /th a t

th a t s iz e
th a t size+ P L

ugyanekkora
th is s a m e s iz e
ugyanekkork th is s a m e size+PL

ugyanakkora
ugyanakkork

th a t sa m e s iz e
th a t sa m e size+ P L

INESSIVE
SUPERESSIVE
ADESSIVE

ebben
ezen
ennel

abban
azon
annl

in th is /th a t
o n th is /th a t
a t th is /th a t

ennyi

th is m u c h

annyi

th a t m u c h

ugyanennyi

th is s a m e a m o u n t

ugyanannyi

th a t s a m e a m o u n t

ILLATIVE
ELATIVE
DELATIVE
SUBLATIVE
ABLATIVE
ALLATIVE
TERMINATIVE

ebbe
ebbol
errol
erre
ettol
ehhez
eddig

abba
abbl
arrl
arra
attl
ahhoz
addig

in to th is /th a t
o u t o f th is /th a t
fro m th is /th a t
o n to th is /th a t
fro m th is /th a t
to th is /th a t
u p to th is /th a t

akkor

a t th is /th a t tim e

03 Note that ennyi this m uch, annyi that m uch, ugyanennyi this same

amount, ugyanannyi that same amount do not have plural forms.

TEMPORAL
ekkor
DISTRIB UTIVE-TEMPORAL

44

45

6 . P ronouns

6 . P ron ou n s

DISTRIBUTIVE
ASSOCIATIVE

f o r m a l is

ekkent

akkent

ESSIVE

S in g u l a r

po ssessed

lik e th is /th a t

Demonstrative pronouns of the basic set that qualify nouns have to agree
with the noun in number and case:
ezt a feher galambot
this+ACC w h ite p igeon+ A C C
ezeket a feher galambokat
this+PL+ACC w h ite pigeon+PL+A CC
ennek a feher galambnak
this+DATlVE w h ite pigeon+DA TIVE
ezeknek a feher galamboknak this+PL+DATlVE w h ite pigeon+PL+D ATIVE
Demonstrative pronouns of the extended set do not agree with the noun
in number and case when they qualify nouns (they stand in the sin g u l a r
n o m in a t iv e ):

ilyen
ilyen
ilyen
ilyen

galamb
galambok
galambot
galambokat

a p ig e o n lik e th is
p ig e o n s lik e th e s e
a p ig e o n lik e this+A C C
p ig e o n s lik e these+A C C

P lural

po ssessed

enyem
tied, tied
ove

m ine
yours
his/hers/(its)

mienk, mienk
tietek, tietek
ovek

ours
yours
theirs

enyeim, enyemek
tieid
ovei, ovek

m ine
yours
his/hers/(its)

mieink
tieitek
oveik

ours
yours
theirs

a* Note that there is no gender distinction in the 3rd person singular. Pos
sessive pronouns may receive the usual case endings (e.g. a c c u sa t iv e
oveit, d a t iv e enyemnek, etc.).
6.3 Personal Pronouns

The personal pronouns are:

usNote that the accusative of ilyen, olyan is typically ilyet, olyat instead
of the regular ftyent, olyant (which are also used):
Lttl mr ilye(n)t?
Nem akarok olya(n)t.

Have you seen anything like this?

I dont want something like that.

6 .2 Possessive Pronouns

Unlike English, Hungarian has just one set of possessive pronouns. Only
the nominal (mine) series exists, the attributive (my) series does not.
Possessive pronouns stand alone as true pronouns and are not used to qual
ify nouns. In attributive positions the p o sse ssiv e is expressed by personal
pronouns in the Nominative, and case endings (see Section 23.1 on the
Possessive Construction). Each possessive pronoun exists in singular and
plural according to the number of the possessed things:
Ez a galamb az enyem.
Ezek a galambok az enyeim.

46

This pigeon is mine.

This+PLURAL p ig e o n s are mine+PLURAL

Isg en I

Ipl

2 sg te you

2 pl

3sg o (s)he/it

3sg

mi w e
ti younI
ok

o The 2nd person pronouns te, ti have alternative forms on, onok and
maga, maguk which are used in more formal styles. The difference
between te, ti vs. on, onok / maga, maguk corresponds to the difference
between German du, ihr vs. Sie. The pronouns on, onok / maga, maguk
take the regular nominal case endings (e.g. Accusative ont, magf,
Dative onnek, magnak, etc). Note that although these pronouns are
second person pronouns, they require third person verb forms.
Compare:
Tehovam esz?
M aga/On hova megy?

Where are you going?

Where are you going?

ns" Note that there is no gender distinction in the 3rd person singular. O and
its corresponding inflected forms may equally mean he or she (or
rarely it)

47

6 . P ro n o u n s

6 . P ron ou n s

6.3.1 Case

Personal pronouns may be inflected for most of the cases. Most of the
inflected pronominal forms consist of a given variant of a case suffix functioning as a stem plus a p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n ending. Personal pronouns
show no gender distinction.
lg

2g

3g

en T
engem me
nekem for me

te you
teged you
neked for you

o he/she/it
ot him/her/it
neki for him/her/it

CAUSAL-FINAL

velem with me
ertem for me

veled with you

erted for you

translative

vele with him/her/it

erte for him/her/it

INESSIVE
SUPERESSIVE
ADESSIVE

bennem in me
rajtam on me
nlam at me

benned in you
rajtad on you
nlad at you

benne in him/her/it
rajta on him/her/it
nla at him/her/it

ILLATTVE
ELATIVE
DELATIVE
SUBLATIVE
ABLATIVE
ALLATIVE
TERMINATIVE

belem into me
belolem out of me
rolam abput me
rm onto me
tolem from me
hozzm to me

beled into you

beloled out of you
rlad about you
rd onto you
toled from you
hozzd to you

bele into him/her/it

beldie out of him/her/it
rola about him/her/it
r onto him/her/it
tole from him/her/it
hozza to him/her/it

NOMINATIVE
accusa tive
dative
instrum enta l

TEMPORAL
DISTRIBUTIVETEMPORAL

bennetek in you
rajtatok on you
nlatok at you

benniik in them
rajtuk on them
nluk at them

ILLATTVE
ELATIVE
DELATIVE
SUBLATIVE
ABLATIVE
ALLATIVE
TERMINATIVE

belenk into us
belolunk out of us
rolunk about us
rnk onto us
toliink from us
hozznk to us

beletek into you

beloletek out of you
rolatok about you
rtok onto you
toletek from you
hozztok to you
-

belejiik into them

belluk out of them
roluk about them
rjuk onto them
toliik from them
hozzjuk to them
-

TEMPORAL
DISTRIBUTIVETEMPORAL
DISTRIBUTIVE
ASSOCIATIVE
FORMALIS
ESSIVE

Similarly to the forms of pronouns inflected for case, some postpositions

may form postpositional pronominal forms (see Chapter 5).
6 .4 Reflexive Pronouns

The reflexive pronouns are the following:

Isg
2 sg

3sg

ca u sa l -fin a l

2pl
Ie !
mi we
ti you
minket/benniinket us titeket!benneteket you
nekiink for us
nektek for you
veliink with us
vele tek with you
ertunk for us
ertetek for you

TRANSLATIVE

in strum ental

benniink in us
rajtunk on us
nlunk at us

6.4.1 Form

DISTRIBUTIVE
ASSOCIATIVE
FORMALIS
ESSIVE

NOMINATIVE
ACCUSATIVE
DATIVE

INESSIVE
SUPERESSIVE
ADESSIVE

magam m yself
magad yourself
maga himself/herself/itself

lpl

magunk
magatok
3pl maguk

2 pl

ourselves
yourselves
themselves

They can sometimes appear prefixed with on- (e.g. onmagam, onmagad,
etc.) and sajt (sajt magam, sajt magad, etc.).
ok they
oket them
nekik for them
veliik with them
ertiik for them

Reflexive pronouns can be inflected for case like regular nouns (e.g. a c c u
sa t iv e magam(at), d a tiv e magamnak, su p e r e s s iv e magamon, etc.), may
receive singular and plural n o m in a l p o s s e s s iv e endings (e.g. magame
that of my ow n, magadei those of your o w n ), and may have singular
and plural n o m in a l p o ss e s siv e suffixes + c a s e suffixes (e.g. magamet
that of my own+ACCUSATiVE, magadeinak those of your ow n+D A TivE)

48
49

6 . P ronouns

6 . P ron ou n s

ns Note that the

ending is opional in the l st and 2nd persons.

a c c u sa t iv e

Lttam magama a tiikorben.

Lttam magam a tiikorben.
6 .4 .2

I saw myself in the mirror.

I saw myself in the mirror.

Reflexive pronouns are used in object or adverbial position if the subject

of the sentence and the object/adverbial refer to the same person/thing:
(S)he can see herself/himself in the mirror.
S(he) talks to herself/himself.

Some verbs require a reflexive pronoun as a dependent:

elnevet burst out laughing Elnevette magt. (S)he burst out laughing.
Reflexive pronouns can be used instead of personal pronouns to express
emphasis:
M agam megyek oda.
M agt az elnokdt sertettek meg.

I myself will go there.

They insulted the president
himself/herself.

They can be used to express the meaning alone:

M agad vagy a vilgban.
6.5

You are alone in this world.

Reciprocal pronoun

There is only one reciprocal pronoun:

egyms

each-other

Egyms ca n b e in fle c te d fo r c a se lik e re g u la r n o u n s (e.g . a c c u sa tiv e egymst, d a t iv e egymsnak, s u pe r e s s iv e egymson, e tc .), m a y re c e iv e s in

g u la r a n d p lu ra l n o m in a l p o sse ssiv e en d in g s (e.g. egymse th a t o f e a c h o th e r , egymsei th o s e o f e a c h - o th e r ), a n d m a y h a v e sin g u la r a n d p lu ra l
n o m in a l po ss e s siv e su ffix es + c a se su ffix es (e.g . egymset th a t o f e a c h o th e r + a c c u s a t iv e , egymseinak th o se o f each-other+D A TiV E).
Szeretjiik egy mst
Nem lehettek egymsei.

50

6.6.1 Interrogative pronouns

The interrogative pronouns introduce wh-questions. They are the

following:

Usage

Ltja magt a tiikorben.

M agban beszel.

6.6 Interrogative and Relative Pronouns, Interrogative

and Relative A d verbs

We Iove each-other.
They could not be lovers/husband and wife.
literally: They could not be each-other s.

ki?
mi?
melyikl
milyenl
m ife le l

mekkora?
hnyl
mennyil
hnyadik, hanyadikl

who?
what?
which?
what kind?
what sort?
what size?
how many?
how much?
which one (in a sequence: Ist, 2 n d ,...)?

The interrogative pronouns may receive the plural and the same case end
ings as nouns:
mit?
miket?

w hat+A C C ?
w hat+PL+ACC?

ACCUSATIVE
ACCUSATIVE

milyennek?
milyeneknek?

f o r w h a t k in d ?
f o r w h a t k ind+ P L ?

DATIVE
DATIVE

hnyadikkal?
hnyadikakkal?

w ith w h ic h (in a s e q u e n c e ) ?
w ith w h ic h (in a se q u en c e)+ P L ?

INSTRUMENTAL
INSTRUMENTAL

mifeleve?
mifelekke?

(tu rn ) in to w h a t s o r t?
(tu rn ) in to w h a t sort+ P L ?

TRANSLATIVE
TRANSLATIVE

melyikben?
melyikekben?

in w h ic h ?
in w h ich + P L ?

INESSIVE
INESSIVE

mennyibol?

fro m h o w m u c h ?

ELATIVE

mekkornl?
mekkorknl?

a t w h a t s iz e ?
a t w h a t size+ P L ?

ADESSIVE
ADESSIVE

hnytl?
etc.

fro m h o w m a n y ?

ABLATIVE

tar Note that hny?, mennyi? do not have a plural. Note also that hnykoi ?
means at which hour?

51

6 . P ronouns

6 . P ro n o u n s

ns Note that the accusative of milyen? is typically milyet? instead of the

regular milyent? (which is also used):
Milye(n)t lttl?

What kind did you see?

The interrogative pronouns melyik?, milyen?, mifele?, mekkora?, hny?,

mennyi?, hny adik?, hanyadik? may only receive case endings in truly
pronominal function, i.e. when they stand alone. They have no case end
ings when they qualify a noun or an adjective:
M elyik kdnyvet olvastad?
M ennyi vizben fiirddtel?
M ilyen kulccsal nyitottad
k ia za jt t?

Which book have you read?

How much water did you bathe in?
What kind of key did you open
the door with?

6 .6 .2 Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns stand at the beginning of dependent (relative clauses)

and refer back to something already mentioned in the main clause (their
antecedent). They are formed by prefixing a- to interrogative pronouns:
aki
amely
ami
amelyik
amilyen
amifele
amekkora
ahny
amennyi
ahnyadik

who, that
which, that
which, that
which
the kind of which
the sort of which
what size
how m any
how much
which one (in a sequence: Ist, 2 nd...)

With the exception of ahny, amennyi relative pronouns may receive the
plural, and they have to agree with their antecedent in number:
Lttam a lnyt, aki a szobban uit.
I saw the girl who was sitting in the room.
Lttam a lnyokat, akik a szobban iiltek.
I saw the girls who were sitting in the room.
Similarly to interrogative pronouns, relative pronouns may receive case
endings as well (their inflection is identical with that of the interrogative
pronouns), but they do not have to agree with their antecedent according
to case:
52

Adtam nehny csontot a kutvnak, amelyik a szobban uit

I gave a few bones to the dog that was sitting in the room.
A lny, akit lttam, a szobban uit.
The girl I saw was sitting in the room.
6 .6 .3 Interrogative and relative adverbs

Interrogative adverbs and relative adverbs have a function similar to nterrogative pronouns and relative pronouns respectively, but they cannot
receive case and plural endings. They are the following.
6.6.3.1 Interrogative Adverbs

hon
merrel
hova.1 / hovl
meddigl
honnanl
merroll
mettoll
mikorl
miotal
meddigl
hogy(an)l
mennyi ideig?
Merre mesz?
Honnan jon?
Hogy erzik magukat?
Meddig ersz r?

where?
in which direction?
to where?
up to which point?
from where?
from which direction?
from which point in time/space?
when?
^since when?
until when?
how?
how long?
In which direction are you going?
Where is he/she/it coming from?
How do they feel?
Until when are you free?

6.6.3.2 Relative Adverbs

ahol
amerre
ahova / ahov
ameddig
ahonnan
amerrol
amettol
amikor
amita
ameddig
ahogy(an)

where
in which direction
to where
up to which point, as long as
from where
from which direction
from which point in time/space
when
since when
until when
how

53

6 . P ron ou n s

6 . P ron ou n s

She met one of her fnends.

She met one (of them).

Elmentem a hzhoz, ahonnan jdttem.

I went to the house where I came from.

Valnme.Mk bartival tallkozott.

Tallkozott valamelyikkel.

Mondd meg a pontos idot, amikor tallkozzunk.

Tell me the exact time when we should meet.

Akrmekkora kdvet fel tudott emelni. He could lift a stone of any size.
Akrmekkort fel tudott emelni .
He could lift one of any size.

Sometimes the a- prefix of relative pronouns and adverbs can be left out:
Julia olvasott, (a)mikor hazaertem.
Julia was reading when I got home.
iar Note that there is always a comma before a relative pronoun/adverb,
regardless whether the relative clause it introduces is restrictive or nonrestrictive.

When used non-attributively, these pronouns may receive the usual nom
inal case endings, and with the exception of the ones ending in -hany,
-mennyi may occur in the plural.
Tallkozott valamelyikkel.
Akrmekkort fel tudott emelni.

She m et one (of them ).

He could lift one of any size.

6 .8 Universal pronouns

The universal pronouns are the following:

6.7 Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns begin with the prefix vala-, br- or akr-, which is
added to interrogative pronouns. The commonest ones are the following:
valaki
valamely
valami

valamelyik
valamilyen
*
valamifele
valamekkora
valahny
valamennyi
valahnyadik/valahanyadik

someone
some
something
one or the other
some kind o f
some kind o f
some size
some number o f
some number/amount o f
some item (in a sequence: l st, 2 nd...)

brki
brmely
brmi
brmelyik
brmilyen
brmifele
brmekkora
brmennyi

akrki
akrmely
akrmi
akrmelyik
akrmilyen
akrmifele
akrmekkora
akrmennyi

brhnyadik/
brhanyadik

akrhnyadik

anyone
no matter which
anything
no matter which
no matter what kind
no matter what kind
no matter what size
no matter how
much/many
no matter which one (in
a sequence: l sl, 2 n< ..)

Most of them may be used attributively to qualify a noun or non-attributively (pronominally):

mindenki
minden
mindegyik
mindenfele

everybody
everything/all
every, each
<aH kinds

Most of them may be used attributively to qualify a noun or non-attribu

tively (pronominally). Mindenki is typically not used attributively.
M indesvik bartival tallkozott.
Tallkozott mindeeyikkel.

She met all of her fnends.

She met all (of them).

Mindenfele konyvet el tudott olvasni.

Mindenfelet el tudott olvasni.

He could read all kinds of books.

He could read all kinds
(of things).

--------- -----

When used non-attributively, these pronouns may receive the usual nomi
nal case endings, and may occur in the plural.
Tallkozott m indeyikkel.
Mindenfelet el tudott olvasni.

She met alllNSrR(of hem).

He could read all kindsAcc
(of things).

6.9 Negative pronouns

The negative pronouns are the following:

senki
semmi
semelyik

nobody ^
nothing
nt anY them
55

54

6 . P ron ou n s

semmilyen
semmifele
semekkora

not of any kind

not of any kind
not of any size

7. Adjectives and Adverbs

Most of them may be used attributively to qualify a noun or non-attributively (pronormnally). Senki and semmi are typically not used attributively.
(oee Section 23.4 on double negation).
Semelyik bartjvql nem tallkozott.
Nem talalkozott emelyikkej sem.

She met none of her friends

She met none (of them).

Semmilyen konyvet nem tudott elolvasni. He could read no kind of book

Semmilye(n) t nem tudott elolvasni.
He could read no kind.
When used non-attnbutively, these pronouns may receive the usual
nominal case endings, and may occur in the plural.
Nem tallkozott semejyikkel sem.
Semmdye(n)t sem tudott elolvasni.

She met nonelNSTO(of them).

He could read no kindAcc.

7.1 Adjectives

Adjectives may be used attributively or non-attributively. In attributive

function they precede the nouns (or the nouns modified by other adjec
tives) that they modify:
esv nagy kutya
a szep lny
het szomoru szurke szamr

a big dog
the beautiful girl
seven sad grey donkeys

In attributive function adjectives may not receive CASE or the pl u r a l , and

thus appear unsuffixed:
nav kutyk
a big dogs
a szep lnyrol
about the beautiful girl (d ela tiv e )
het szomoru szurke szamrnak ^ for seven sad grey donkeys (dative )
Adjectives in non-attributive function are basically predicative. In this case
they agree in number with the subject:
Ez a hz hatalmas.
This house is huge.

Ezek a hzak hatalmasak.

These houses are huge.

A szeme sdtetkek volt.

Her/his eye was dark blue.

A szemei sdtetkekek voltak.

Her/his eyes were dark blue.

Adjectives can stand for adjective+noun groups whose noun has already
been mentioned or is known from the context (just like pronouns can stand
for nouns or noun groups):

56

Melyik Io nyert?
Which horse won?

A fekete.
The black one.

Ket dik volt a szobban.

There were two students
in the room.

A szoke olvasott.
The blond one was reading.

57

7 . A d je c tiv e s an d A dverbs

7 . A d je c tiv e s and A dverbs

When adjectives stand for adjective+noun groups, they function as nouns

and thus may receive the usual nominal c a se endings and the plu ra l suffix:
A ket kutya kdziXl a feketenek afiilefeher.
Of th e tw o d o g s th e b la c k o n e s (+ d a t ) e a r is w h ite .
Ne vedd meg a dragat, amikor az olcso is eleg jo.
D o n t b u y th e e x p e n siv e one(+A CC) w h e n th e c h e a p o n e (n o m ) is g o o d
enough

A rosszakrl ne is beszeljunk!
L e t s n o t ta lk a b o u t th e b a d ones(+PL+D EL).

Annak a magasnak hoztam egy kis ajndekot.

T v e b ro u g h t a little p r e s e n t f o r th a t a ll one(+DAT).

3 Note th a t a d je c tiv e s b e h a v e as Lowering Stems when th ey re c e iv e su ffix e s: e.g. magasat ta ll+ A C c , magasak ta ll+ P L , voroset r e d + A c c ,
vorosek red+ P L , zoldet green+A C C , zdldek g reen + P L etc.
T h e re are so m e e x c e p io n a l n o n -lo w e rin g a d jec tiv a l stem s: agg v e ry o ld :
aggok v e ry old+ P L , aggot v e ry old+A CC, nagy b ig nagyok b ig + P L ,
nagyot big+ACC. AII a d je c tiv e s d e n o tin g n a tio n a litie s a re n o n -lo w e rin g :
gorogok G reek+ P L , angolok E n g lish + P L , etc.

m- Note that the adjective kis small cannot be used predicatively; in pred
icative function the adjective kicsi small occurs instead:
Ez egy kis!kicsi kdnyv.
Ez a kdnyv kicsi.

This is a small book.

This book is small.

et*When

proper names are used as adjectives they usually no longer begin

with a capital letter. Compare

Azt hiszem Japn sziget.

I think Japan is an island.

vs. A japn kakasok kicsik.

Japanese roosters are small.

Hol van Anglia?

Where is England?

vs. Az angol kocsik nagyszeruek.

English cars are wonderful:

7.1.1 Com parative and Superlative form s

Most adjectives have endings that indicate comparative and superlative

degree.
The comparative ending after consonant-final stems is -abblebb where
the choice of the variant is determined by Vowel Harmony:

halk
gazdag
kerek
meleg
eros
zold

low (voice)
rich
round
hot
strong
green

halkabb
gazdagabb
kerekebb
melegebb
erosebb
zoldebb

The vowel of the comparative ending is unstable:

-bb occurs after stems that end in a vowel:
feketebb
black
fekete
butbb
stupid
buta
olcsbb
cheap
olcso
szomorubb
szomoru sad
keserubb
sour
keseru.
sunyibb
sneaky
sunyi

lower (voice)
richer
rounder
hotter
stronger
greener
the vowelless variant
blacker
stupider
cheaper
sadder
sourer
sneakier

The superlative is similar to the comparative, but in addition to the -abb/

-ebbl-bb suffix the stern takes the non-harmonic leg- prefix as well:
lowest (voice)
leghalkabb
low (voice)
halk
richest
leggazdagabb
rich
gazdag
roundest
legkerekebb
round
kerek
hottest
legmelegebb
hot
meleg
strongest
legerosebb
strong
eros
greenest
legzoldebb
green
zold
blackest
legfeketebb
black
fekete
stupidest
legbutbb
stupid
buta
cheapest
legolcsbb
cheap
olcso
legszomorubb saddest
szomoru sad
sourest
legkeserubb
sour
keseru
sneakiest
legsunyibb
sneaky
sunyi
ca Comparative and superlative forms are often used with the suffix -ik
indicating unique identification. The suffix -ik can only occur when
the noun phrase is definite or when the noun phrase the adjective stands
for is definite.
I want a stronger horse.
Egy erosebb lovat akarok.
I want the stronger horse.
Az erosebb lovat akarom.
I want he stronger horse.
Az erosebbik lovat akarom.
Egy erosebbet akarok.

I want a stronger one.

59

58

7 . A d je c tiv e s and A dverbs

7 . A d je c tiv e s an d A d verb s

Az erosebbet akarom.
Az erosebbiket akarom.

I want the stronger one.

I want he stronger one.

est Note that nagyobb bigger, legnagyobb biggest have -obb mstead of
the regular -abb.

7 .1 .2 Irregular adjectives

7 .2 Adverbs

Some adjectival stems have irregular comparative and superlative forms:

Adverbs modify adjectives, verbs or clauses. Some adverbs have no spe

cial endings (e.g. otthon at home, itt here, ott there, holnap tomorrow
rogtdn immediately, soha never\ neha som etim es, gya og on oo ,
etc.), others have adverb-forming suffixes.

jo
szep
sok
kicsi

good
beautiful
many,much
small

jobb
szebb
tobb
kisebb

better
more beautiful
m ore
sm aller

legjobb
legszebb
legtdbb
legkisebb

best
most beautiful
m ost
smallest

tsr Note that kisebb and legkisebb are pronounced with a long [/:]:
[kif:eb:], [lek:i/:eb:].
The four adjectives below delete their stem-final vowel in the compara
tive and the superlative:
hosszu
kdnnyu
lassu
ifju

long
light
slow
young

hosszabb
kdnnyebb
lassabb
ifjabb

longer
lighter
slower
younger

leghosszabb
legkonnyebb
leglassabb
legifjabb

longest
lightest
slowest
youngest

loose

bovebb

looser

legbvebb

loosest

Some adjectives are vowel-shortening stems in the comparative and the

superlative:
keves few, little kevesebb fewer, less
legkevesebb fewest, least
derek honest
derekabb morehonest legderekabb mosthonest
szemet mean
szemetebb meaner
legszemetebb meanest
civ Note that derek honest is an anti-harmonic stem, i.e. it exceptionally
takes the back-vowel variants of harmonizing suffixes (See Chapter 1).
Some adjectives exceptionally do not have a suffix in the superlative:
also
felso
kiilso
belso
szetso

60

bottom
top
outside
inside
side

alsbb
felsobb
kulsobb
belsobb
szelsobb

lower
higher
outer
inner
more to the side

legals
legfelso
legkiilso
legbelsd
legszelso

erosen
strongly
rosszul
gyengen
weakly
jo i
we
Note that nagyon means very or strongly (Nagyonedes. (S)he/it s
very sw eet\ Nagyon megiitotte (S)he hit him/her hard ).

ca? The names of languages require the -ull-ul suffix to express the meaning
in a given language: angolul in English, nemetul in German , e c.

Bo loose is a v-stem in the comparative and the superlative:

bo

There is a more or less regular way of deriving adverbs from adjectives

by suffixing -anl-en or -ull-ul to adjectival stems. The choice between the
variants -an vs. -en and -ul vs. -iii is determined by Vowel Harmony, but
the choice between -anl-en vs. -ull-ul is somewhat idiosyncratic. Atter
vowel-final stems, a vowelless variant of these suffixes is used (see Chap
ter 22 on word-formation).

bottommost
topmost
outermost
innermost
outermost

7.2.1 Com parative and superlative form s

The comparison of comparable adverbs is formed like that of adjectives.

The comparative suffix precedes the adverbial suffixes mentioned above.
vadul
vadabbul
legvadabbul

wildly
more wildly
most wildly

szeliden
szeldebben
legszeUdebben

gently
^
more gently
most gently

Note the irregular comparisons:

COMPARATIVE SUPERLATIVE

joi
kint, kinn
bent, benn
fe n tje n n
lent, lenn

well
outside
inside
up
down

jobban
kijjebb
beljebb
feljebb
lejjebb

legjobban
legkijjebb
legbeljebb
legfeljebb
leglejjebb

61

7 . A d jectiv es an d A dverbs

7 . A d je c tiv e s a n d A d verb s

S u p e rla tiv e in e q u a lity (o r its n e g a tio n ) m a y b e e x p re ss e d b y th e s u p e rla

tiv e fo rm o f a d je c tiv e s a n d a d v e rb s p re c e d e d b y th e d e fin ite a rtic le a(z).

7.3 Com parative constructions

Equality (or its negation) is expressed by the base form of adjectives and
adverbs and the construction: olyan ADj/ADVbase m int X:
Jnos olyan lassu, mint en.
John is as slow as I am.

Jnos nem a leelassabb.

John is not the slowest.

Jnos nem olyan lassu, mint en.

John is not as slow as I am.

Ez a toii a le jobb.
This pen is the best.

Ez a toii olyan io, mint az enyem.

This pen is as good as mine.

Ez a toii nem a le jobb.

This pen is not the best.

Ez a toii nem olyan io, mint az enyem.

This pen is not as good as mine.

Jnos vezet a lesgyorsabban.

John drives fastest.

Olyan gyorsan vezet, mint Jnos.

(S)he drives as fast as John does.

Nem Jnos vezet a leggyorsabban.

Its not John who drives fastest.

Nem olyan gyorsan vezet, mint Jnos.

(S)he does not drive as fast as John does.

KT Note that in the superlative construction the postposition kozul often

appears to identify the group from which the selection s made:

Inequality (or its negation) may be expressed by the comparative form of

adjectives and adverbs and the construction:
adj / a d v + c o m p

m int... X + n om

Jnos a leelassabb.
John is the slowest.

or

adj / a d v + c o m p

Jnos lassabb Peternel.

John is slower than Peter.

Jnos lassabb, mint Peter.

John is slower than Peter.

Jnos a leglassabb a fiuk kozul

John is the slowest of the boys.

... X + a d e ssiv e

Jnos lassabb, mint en.

John is slower than I am.

Jnos lassabb nlam.

John is slower than 1 am.

Jnos nem lassabb, mint en.

John is not slower than I am.

Jnos nem lassabb nlam.

John is not slower than I am.

Ez a toii jobb, mint az enyem.

This pen is better than mine.

Ez a toii jobb az enyemnel.

This pen is better than mine.

Ez a toii nem jobb, mint az enyem.

This pen is not better than mine.

Ez a toii nem jobb az enyemnel.

This pen is not better than mine.

Gyorsabban vezet, mint Jnos.

(S)he drives faster than John.

Gyorsabban vezet Jnosnl.

(S)he drives faster than John does.

Nem vezet gyorsabban, mint Jnos. Nem vezet gyorsabban Jnosnl.

(S)he does not drive as fast as John. (S)he does not drive as fast as John.
63
62

8 . N u m erals

8. Numerals

Numerals can be used attributively and non-attributively. When used to

qualify nouns, numbers precede the nouns they qualify: e.g. egy kutya one
dog ,a negyedik kutya the fourth dog. Numbers can be used as nouns in
which case they can take the usual nominal case endings- e g nesvet fourACCUSATIVE, a hatodikban in the sixth.
8.1 Cardinal Num bers
0 nulla, semmi
1 e g y [ e j:]
2 ke tto , k e t
3 h ro m
4 negy
5 ot
6 hat
1 het
8 n y o lc
9 k ile n c
10 tiz
11 tiz e n e g y
12 tiz e n k e tto , tiz e n k e t
13 tiz e n h ro m
14 tiz e n n e g y
15 tiz e n o t
16 tiz e n h a t
17 tiz e n h e t
18 tiz e n n y o lc
19 tiz e n k ile n c
2 0 h u sz
21 h u s z o n e g y
2 2 h u s z o n k e tto
23 h u szo n h ro m
2 4 h u sz o n n e g y
64

25 huszonot
26 huszonhat
27 huszonhet
28 huszonnyolc
29 huszonkilenc
30 har mine
31 harmincegy
40 negyven
42 negyvenketto, negyvenket
50 dtven
53 dtvenhrom
60 hatvan
64 hat\>annegy
70 hetven
75 het\>enot
80 nyolcvan
86 nyolcvanhat
90 kilencven
97 kilencvenhet
100 (egy)szz
108 szznyolc
200 ketszz
209 ketszzkilenc
900 kilencszz
1000 (egy)ezer

1 500 ezerdtszz
1 988 ezerkilenszznyolcvannyolc
2 257 ketezer-ketszzhuszondt
100 000 szzezer
125 012 szzhuszondtezertizenketto
1 000 000 egymilli [ejm ilio:]

2
000 000 ketmilli
1 000 000 000 egymillird

[ejm ilia:rd]
6 000 000 000 hatmillird

1 200 560 201 egymillirdketszzmillidtszzhatvanezerketszzegy

The noun following an ordinal is always singular:

egy hz
ket hz
huszonot hz

one house
two houses
25 houses

ca" Note that the ordinal 2 has two forms of which normally ket is used
attributively before a noun/adjective/adverb: ket kutya two dogs, ketto
is used elsewhere: Kettot lttam I saw tw o, Ez nem ketto This is not
two. Ketto may be used attributively if we want to emphasize the number.
os-Note that hrom 3 and ezer 1000 are Vowel-deleting Stems (see
Chapter 4): hrmat 3+ acc, ezret 1000+ACC.
os- Note that hrom 3 , nyolc 8 , husz 20, harminc 30 and szz 100
are Lowering Stems: hrmat 3+ acc, nyolcat 8 + acc, huszat 20+acc,
harmincat 30+ acc and szzat 100+ACC. -vanl-ven -ty is a lower
ing suffix: hatvanat 60+ acc. See Chapter 4.
os- Het 7, tiz 10 and husz 20 are Vowel-shortening Stems (see Chapter
4). The shortening is often (inconsistently) unindicated in the spelling
in the case of tiz and husz\ hetet 7 + a cc , tzet [tiz e t] 10+acc and
huszat [h u so t] 20 + a cc .
os- Large numbers are usually written witli a space where English uses a
comma, and with a comma where English uses a period. Thus, Hungarian 787 654,32 corresponds to English 787,654.32.
8 .2 Ordinai Num bers

Ordinal numbers are formed by adding the harmonising suffix -odikl-edikl

-odik (and -adik in the case of Lowering Stems) to a cardinal number:
0 ,h

l st

nuliadik
e/so

2 nd
3rd

msodik
harmadik
65

8 . N u m era ls

4th
5th
6th
^th
8*
<)th
IO*
l l th
12*
13*
14*
15*
16*
17*
18*
19*
20*
21st
22nd

negyedik
otodik
hatodik
hetedik
nyolcadik
kilencedik
tizedik
tizenegyedik
tizenkettedik
tizenharmadik
tizennegyedik
tizenotodik
tizenhatodik
tizenhetedik
tizennyolcadik
tizenkilencedik
huszadik
huszonegyedik
huszonkettedik

8 . N u m erals

23rd
24*
25*
26*
27*
28*
29*
30*
3pt
40*
50*
60*
70*
80*
90*
100*
1 000*
1 000 000*

huszonharmadik
huszonnegyedik
huszonotddik
huszonhatodik
huszonhetedik
h uszonnyolcadik
huszonkilencedik
harmincadik
harmincegyedik
negyvenedik
otvenedik
hatvanadik
hetvenedik
nyolcvanadik
kilencvenedik
szzadik
ezredik
milliomodik

1/5
1/6
1/7

egyotod
egyhatod
egyheted

1/20
1/100
1/1000

egyhuszad
egyszzad
egyezred

i- Note that harmad, nyolcad, huszad, szzad have -ad instead of the reg
ular -od.
na? ketted never appears without an iniial ordinal. Egyketted is mainly used
in mathematics. Its everyday equivalent is fe l h a l f .

ca" Note the irregular elso l sp. Note also that the stem-final a of nulladik
does not lengthen to (see Section 1.5).
cf -odikl-edikl-odikl-adik is a lo w e rin g su ffix : huszadikat 2 0 th+ACC\
csf Ordinals lose their -ik ending before the harmonizing suffix -szorl-szerl
-szor: dtddszor (for the) 5* tim e, negyedszer (for the) 4* tim e, harmadszor (for the) 3rd time. Note also the irregular eloszdr (for the)
l st time and msodszor (for the) 2 nd tim e.
isr When written with numbers, ordinals are followed by a period: 3. kiads = harmadik kiads 3rd edition.
8.3 Fractions

Fractions are formed by suffixing the harmonizing ending -od/-ed/-dd (and

-ad in the case of Lowering Stems) to a cardinal number: hatod, heted,
otod, etc. Franctions can combine with a preceding ordinal: egyhatod 1/6',
dtheted 5/7, negydtdd 4/5, etc.
1/2

1/3
1/4
66

egyketted
egyharmad
egynegyed

1/8

1/9
1/10

egynyolcad
egykilenced
egytized
67

9. Verbs

10. Definiteness: the Definite and

Indefinite Conjugations

9.1 Stru cture

In Hungarian a conjugated verb form consists of the stem plus two inflectional slots, i.e. positions where inflectional suffixes can occur. The first
of these suffix positions is that of t e n s e / m o o d and the second one is that
of p e r s o n / n u m b e r .

In Hungarian, different verb forms are used depending on whether the

object of the verb is definite or indefinite. This distmction does not exist
in English: compare the following sentences and their English translations:
Olvasok egy kdnyvet.
Olvasom a kdnyvet.

Thus, schematically the structure of the verb is:

o
Stem +

ten se/m oo d

+ person/n u m ber

Examples:

I am reading a book.
I am reading the book.

The definite vs. indefinite contrast is present no matter what t e n s e /

m o o d suffix the p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix combines with, i.e. it exists in the
Present, the Past, the Condiional and the Conjunctive-Imperative.
Olvas egy kdnyvet.
Olvassa a kdnyvet.

(S)he is reading a book.

(S)he is reading the book.

Olvasott egy kdnyvet.

Olvasta a kdnyvet.

(S)he was reading ii book.

(S)he was reading the book.

Both t e n s e / m o o d and p e r s o n / n u m b e r may be expressed by a zero suffix.

Therefore, either (or both) of these suffix slots may remain empty:

Ha olvasnek egy konyvet,

megnyugodnek.

If I read a book,
I would calm down.

Examples:

Ha olvasnm a kdnyvet,
megnyugodnek.

If I read the book,

I would calm down

Olvass egy kdnyvet!

Olvasd a kdnyvet!

Read a book!
Read the book!

vrtak
vrnek
vrjatok

vrt
vrok
vr

vr
vr
vr

0
vr
vr
vr

I
,t
ne
j

1
t

II
ak
k
atok

II
ok

Gloss
they waited
I would wait
youpl wait!

Gloss
he waited
I wait
(s)he/it waits

na Note that the last form above (present 3rd person singular indefinite =
the bare verb stem) is the usual dictionary form for verbs in Hungarian.
The t e n s e / m o o d slot expresses Present, Past, Condiional and Conjunctive-Imperative. The lack of Future is due to the fact that future time is not
expressed by a separate suffix, but the Present and other complex forms
are used to express it (see Chapter 15 and Section 16.1). In addition to the
usual person and number distinctions the p e r s o n / n u m b e r slot expresses
the (in)definiteness of the object of the verb.
68

Thus the Hungarian verb has two conjugations (i.e. the

suffixes fall into two classes): indefinite and definite.
os"

person/n u m ber

Note that in two cases, namely in the I s g p a s t and the I p l c o n d i io n a l ,

there is no difference between the definite and the indefinite forms (i.e.
the definiteness contrast is neutralised):
Olvastam egy kdnyvet.
Olvastam a kdnyvet.

I read a book.
I read the book.

Olvasnnk egy konyvet.

Olvasnnk a kdnyvet.

We would read a book.

We would read the book.
69

1 0 . D e fin ite n e s s

10.1 Usage

The general rule for the choice of the definite vs. the indefinite conjugation is the following:
An indefinite verb form is used if the verb is (a) intransitive {Futok. I am
running.) or (b) if it has a direct object which counts as indefinite.
A definite verb form is used if the verb has a direct object which counts
as definite.
10.1.1 D irect object phrases w h ich count as indefinite

A direct object phrase counts as indefinite (and requires the indefinite con
juga tion) if it is
a noun phrase with an indefinite article:
Olvasok egy kdnvvet.

I am reading a book.

a noun phrase with no article (and it is not a proper noun):

Cpt ltott a medenceben.

She saw a shark in the pool.

i Note that in the same position a proper noun would require a defi
nite verb form:
Julit ltta a medenceben.

She saw Julia in the pool.

a noun phrase premodified by a numeral (without the definite article):

Het cpt ltott a medenceben.

She saw seven sharks in the pool.

a first or second person pronoun (but not a reflexive pronoun):

Kristf ismer engemlteged.

Christopher knows me/you.

Ea1Note that a first/second person reflexive pronoun would require a

definite verb form:
Kristof ismeri magt.

Christopher knows himself.

ier Note that a special -lak/-lekl-alakl-elek suffix is used instead of the

normal indefinite suffix in the l st person singular if there is a second
person object (see Sections 11.3, 12.4, 13.4 and 14.4 ).
an interrogative pronoun (but not the ones that contain an -ik and have
unique identification), e.g. kit who, mit what, hny, hnyat how many,
milyen, milyent what sort:
Mit akarsz?
70

What do you want?

1 0 . D e fin ite n e s s

uss- Note that an -ik interrogative pronoun with unique identification

pronoun (melyik, melyiket which (one) hnyadik, hnyadikat which
(one) in a sequence) would require a definite verb form:
Melyiket akarod?

Which one do you want?

one of the following set of pronouns:

minden
ennyi
annyi
semmi
semmilyen
senki
valaki
valamennyi 1
valami
valamilyen

everything
this many/much
that many/much
nothing
no kind
nobody
someone
some amount
something
some kind

Nem szeretett senkit.

(S)he did not Iove anybody.

a noun phrase whose noun is premodified by any of the interrogative

pronouns or pronouns listed above:
Milyen konyvet olvasott?
Minden konyvet olvasott.

What kind of a book did (s)he read?

(S)he read every book.

expressed with a construction whose verb is an infinitive:

Meg akarok tanulni magyarul.

I want to leam Hungarian.

10 .1.2 D irect object phrases w hich count as definite

A direct object counts as definite (and requires the definite conjugation)

if it is
a proper noun with or without a definite article:
Julit ltta a medenceben.
A Dunt ltta.

(S)he saw Julia in the pool.

(S)he saw the Danube.

a noun phrase with a definite article:

Olvasom a konyvet.

I am reading the book.

1 Note the this is not valamennyi all, w hich requires a definite verb (see below)
71

1 0 . D e fin ite n e s s

a possessive noun phrase:

Olvasom ^ o n y y im e t.
vasom Peter konyyet.

I am reading my book.
a m reading Peters book.

11. The Present Tense

a third person pronoun:

Ltom ot.

I see her/him.

the demonstrative pronoun ezlaz this/that, the universal pronouns mind

, valamennyi a l l , a re fle x iv e p ro n o u n , a r e c ip ro c a l p ro n o u n o r a
p o s s e s s iv e p ro n o u n :
Ltom azt.
Ltom valamennyit.2
Latom magamat.
Ljk egym.
Latom az enyemet.

I see
.
i see all o f them .1
Ise e m Y se lf
T hey see each other.
i see m ine;

a pronoun of the i* group (melyik which [one] hnyadik, which [one]

m a sequence , valamelyik any one, egyik one [of them ], msik the
other , mindegyik each and eveiy one, semelyik neither/none):
Mehnket ltom?

The Present Tense is unmarked (i.e. it is expressed by a zero suffix in the

t e n s e / m o o d slot). The person/number distinctions and the definiteness
distinctions are expressed by suffixes in the p e r s o n / n u m b e r slot.
11.1 Present Indefinite

The indefinite
Tense:

Latom, Ilpgy ott ll.

Latom, hajDejon.

S in g u l a r

P lural

I st

-ok!-ek!-ok

-unkl-unk

2nd

-szl-aszl-esz
-ol!-el!-dl

-tok/ -tekl-tokl-otokl-eXekl-dtok

W hich one do j see?,

W h ic h d o g d o I s e e ?

I see that dos.

I see all the dogs.

expressed by a clause:
i see that he/she/it is standing there.
T U s e e ifhe/she/it com^s m f ----------

suffixes are the following in the Present

P resent I ndefinite

a noun phrase whose noun is premodified by a pronoun listed under the

previous two points:
M e ly ik M y ltom l
Latom a zt a kuty.
Latom yalamennyi kutyt.

person/nu m b er

-nakl-nekl-anakl-enek

3 rd

These suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the

choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Harmony:

Sg

I st
2 nd
3 rd

Pl

I st
2 nd
3 rd

ad
give

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

fo z
cook

adok
adsz
ad

verek
versz
ver

lokok
loksz
lok

hozok
hozol
hoz

vesek
vesel
ves

fo zd k
fozol
fo z

adunk
adtok
adnak

veriink
vertek
vernek

lokiink
loktok
loknek

hozunk
hoztok
hoznak

vesiink
vestek
vesnek

fo ziink
foztok
fo zn ek

T b o v e e l h r J L 1 0t 7 /a" ,ew '> '/some am ount which requires an indefinite verb (see
above), e.g. L atok yalam ennyit. I see some (of them).
72
73

11. T h e P r e s e n t T en se

11. 1.1 Th e 2sc

in d e f

11. T h e P r e se n t T en se

suffix and sibilant-final stem s

Some of the variation in the present indefinite suffixes in the table above
is not due to Vowel Harmony. Notably, in the second person singular, the
usual -sz suffix is replaced by the harmonizing three-form suffix -o ll-e ll-d l
if the stem ends in a sibilant, i.e. sz, z, s, d z. Compare with:
hoz

ves

bring
2 sg

in d e f

ho zo l

fo z

chisel
vesel

11. 1.2 the 2 s g , 2 p l , 3 p l

ad

cook
fo z o l

in d e f

give
a d sz

ver

Id k

beat
versz

push
lo k s z

suffixes and cluster-final stem s

There is some additional variation not shown in the table above. The sec
ond person singular -sz, the second person plural suffix -to k l-te k l-to k and
the third person plural suffix -n a k l-n e k have vowel-initial variants as well
(-a s z t-e s z , -o to k l-e te k l-d to k and -a n a k l-e n e k respectively). These variants
appear if the stem ends in a consonant cluster or in -it:
2 sg

2 pl

3 pl

o ld

untie

o ld a s z

o ld o to k

o ld a n a k

fe

paint

fe s e s z

fe t e t e k

fe s e n e k

k iiz d fight

k iizd e sz

k u z d o td k

k iiz d e n e k

s e g i help

s e g ie s z

se g U e te k

s e g ie n e k

ta n ti teach

ta n ita sz

ta n io to k

ta n ia n a k

Verbs that end in t preceded by a long vowel but not the suffix -it often
behave in an idiosyncratic way. The relevant stems are the following: bo c s t forgive , f u heat, h u cool, l see, lo (-fu t ) run a lot, never stop
m u t operate, s z i stir up, t open wide, ve? err:
bocs
fu
ht
l
lo {-fu t)
m u
sz i
t
ve
74

2 sg

2 pl

3 pl

b o c s (a )s z
fu ( e ) s z
h u sz
l s z
lo s z(-fu ts z)
m u e s z
s z (a )s z
t sz
v e (e )s z

b o c s (o )to k
fu ( o ) td k
h u d to k
l tto k
lo tto k i- fu tto k )
m u o to k
s z i(o ) to k
t o to k
v e e te k

b o c s a n a k
fu e n e k
h u e n e k
l n a k
lo n a k ( -fu tn a k )
m u en e ic
s z i(a ) n a k
t ( a ) n a k
v e te n e k

cs? Some verbs which end in consonant clusters exceptionally do not take
the suffix-initial vowel (e.g v a r r sew: v a r s z , v a r r o k , v a r r n a k ). AII
-ll final verb stems except h a li hear, h u li fall, k e ll have to, need and
v a ll confess belong to this excepional group.
o Note that Vowel-deleting Stems take the non-vowel-initial variants of
the 2 s g , 2 p l, 3 p l i n d e f suffixes: e.g. m o r o g grow l: m o r o g s z youSG
growl, m o ro g t o k youPL growl, m o r o g n a k they growl. Vowel-deleting -ik stems may equally take the the non-vowel-initial variants or the
the vowel-initial variants: e.g. ftird ik take a bath: fiirddszJfurdesz youSG
take a bath, fiird d to k lfiird d to k youPL take a bath, fiird d n e k ! fiir d e n e k
they take a bath. See Section 19.1 on Vowel-deleting Stems and Chapter 18 on z'/:-verbs.
11.2 Present Definite

The definite perso n / n u m b er suffixes are the following in the Present Tense:
P r e sen t D efin ite

S in g u l a r

P lural

I st

-o m l-e m l-d m

-ju k /-ju k
-\Z\uk/-\Z\iik

2 nd

-o d l-e d l-o d

-j to k l-ite k
-\Z\tok

3 rd

-ja l-i
-<2

-j k l-ik
-U k

In the table above (and henceforward) the Symbol indicates that the preceding consonant has to be doubled, i.e. the stem-final consonant geminates before the suffix vowel (e.g. m o s + O u k -> m o s s u k [m o/:uk] wash
( I p l p r e s d e f ) ; v is z + O iik - v issz iik [vis:yk] carry [ I p l p r e s d e f ] ).
The present definite suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suf
fixes where the choice of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel
Harmony (note that sometimes the variants are very different: compare
the front variant -i vs. the back variant -ja in the 3sg):
ad

ver

lo k

hoz

ves

give

beat

push

bring

chisel

fo z

cook

75

11. T h e P r e s e n t T en se

11. T h e P r e s e n t T e n se

Sg

Pl

I st

adom

verem

lo k S m

hozom

vesem

fo z o m

2nd

adod

vered

lo k o d

ho zod

vesed

fo z o d

3 rd

a d ja

veri

lo k i

h o zza

vesi

fo z i

I st

a d ju k

v e r jiik

lo k jttk

hozzuk

v e s s tik

fo z z tik

2 nd

a d j to k

v e r ite k

lo k ite k

h o z z to k

v e s ite k

fo z ite k

3rd

a d j k

v e r ik

lo k ik

h ozzk

v e s ik

fo z ik

11.2.1 T h e 3 s g

def

En tartalak titeket.
I hold you.PL

M i tartunk titeket.
We hold you.PL

ismerlek teged.
I know you.SG

Kristof ismer teged.

Christopher knows

En

suffix and the

p l u r a l d e f in it e

suffixes

The 3rd person singular suffix and all the plural definite suffixes have variants that cause gemination of the stern final consonant if the consonant is
one of the sibilants sz, z, s, dz (in the table showing the definite suffixes,
we have indicated these variants with the special iniial symbol ).
oy Note that in the Ist person plural, the gemination of the stem-final sibilant happens both in back and front stems (e.g. hozzuk AND vesstik,
fozzuk). By contrast, in the 3rd person singular and the plural 2nd and
3rd persons, the gemination-inducing suffix variant only combines
with back sibilant-final stems: compare hozza BUT vesi, fo zi (3 s g );
hozztok BUT vesitek, fozitek (2 p l ); hozzk BUT vestic, fo zik (3 p l ).

you.SG

. The choice between the -lakl-alak vs. -lekl-elek suffix variants s determined by Vowel Harmony: ltlak vs. nezlek; tartalak vs. ismerlek.
Clnster-final stems
.
The -alak/elek variant of the suffix is used after stems that end in a
consonant cluster:
tart

hold

tartalak

old

untie

oldalak

fest

paint

festelek

ktizd fight

kuzdelek

Again some verbs which end in consonant clusters exceptionally do not

take the suffix-initial vowel. All verbs ending in a geminate consonant
belong to this group (e.g varr sew : varrlak).

Note that the y-initial suffix variants may cause assimilation which is
unindicated in the spelling (e.g.adja [3j:o]). For the actual pronunciation of the consonant clusters consisting of a consonant+/ see Section
1.3.4 on Palatalization.

Note that 1 sg s 2 sg / pl forms of verbs that end in geminate -11 are only
spelt with two /s (e.g. ruhell hate, despise - ruhellek l hate you ) in
spie of the fact that these forms may coincide in spelling and in pronunciation 1 with the p r e s I sg in d e f form (e.g. ruhellek I hate s g ..
Ruhellek mosogatni. I hate washing up.)-

11.3. 1s g subject 2 s g / p l object: the -Iak/-lek/-alak/-elek suffix

ra- Note that Vowel-deleting Stems take the non-vowel-initial vanante of

the 1 sg s 2 s g /p l suffix: e.g. morog growl: m oroglak I growl at you .
See Section 19.1 on Vowel-deleting Stems.

If the subject of the verb is Ist person singular and the object is 2nd per
son singular/plural, a special -lakl-lekl-alakl-elek suffix is used instead
of the regular indefinite conjugation (recall that 2 nd person objects count
as indefinite otherwise).

est For

the use of the Present Tense, see Chapter 16.

Compare:
1s g s 2 s g /p l

En ltlak teged.
I see you.SG
En nezlek teged.
I watch you.Sc

vs.

o lt teged.
He/she sees you.SG
ok neznek teged.
They watch you.Sc

' This can only happen with front stems. T he

PondnS / m ^ of/i V h e a ^ y o ^
be non-identical since the Isg in d e f suffix is -ok, e.g. hali hear . hallak I hear yo
but hallok I hear (SG).
77

76

12. T h e P a s t T en se

12.1.3 -o tt/-e tt/-o tt vs. -t

12. The Past Tense

The choice between a vowel-initial variant -ottl-ettl-dtt vs. the vowelless

variant -t depends on what precedes and follows the past suffix.
12.1.3.1 Word-final position

n ,
Wu thC paSt t6nSe Suffix w h ic h a PPe a rs in th e
f0 llr m g th e Verb Stem T h e P e rs o n /n u m b e r d istin c tio n s
i tniteneSS d lstin c tlo n s a re e x p re s s e d b y su ffix e s in th e p e r s o n /
f

num be

When the past suffix is in word-final position (i.e. in the 3rd person singu
lar indefinite, which is unmarked), the choice between the vowel-initial
variant -ottl-ettl-dtt vs. the vowelless variant -t is determined by the last
sound(s) of the stem to which the past suffix is added.
(i) The vowelless variant (-1) occurs in word-final position if
a. th e ste m e n d s in a s in g le c o n s o n a n t w h ic h is n, ny, l, r o r j / l y:

12.1 T h e Past Tense suffix

kvn

hny

dl

sr

fo ly-ik

The past tense suffix immediately follows the stem and may be followed

d e ire

v o m it

k ill

c r y

b lo w

f lo w

kvnt

hnyt

olt

srt

fu jt

fo ly t

by a d e fin ite o r in d e fin ite

an ts;

person/ num ber

su ffix . It h a s th e fo llo w in g v a ri

-ottl-ettl-dtt
-t
-tt

b . th e ste m b e lo n g s to th e T -class o f -adl-ed- fin a l v e rb s:

12.1.1 -t t

The vowelless geminate variant -tt of the past tense suffix only occurs
f i x e s ' g V6rb StemS word-finally and before p e r s o n / n u m b e r suflA tt
3 sg

past
3 s g in d e f

lotted
pa st in d e f

3 sg

shoot

p a st d e f

There are only a few verbal v-stems (fo cook, 16 shoot, no grow nyu
wear down
scnbble, sz weave), all of which end in a v o w e lin
their dictionary fonms (i.e. in isolation). See Section 19.2.
12.1.2 -o tt/-e tt/-o tt

PAST 3 SG INDEF

pa st in d e f

nezejt
look 3 sg

pa st in d e f

f 6zStt
Co3k 3 sg

b u r s t

szaladt

repedt

k t A lo t o f th e -adl-ed ste m s h a v e v a ria n ts p re fx e d w ith p re v e rb s. T y p ically, v a ria n ts are fa ith fu l in th e se n se th a t all th e v a ria n ts o f th e s a m e
stem b e lo n g to th e s a m e s u b c la ss (T -class o r V T T -class). T h is is a lso
tru e o f a ste m u se d in d iffe re n t m e a n in g s: all se n s e s te n d to b e lo n g to
th e sa m e su b c la ss. T h e re a re fo u r e x c e p tio n s: teved, halad, ragad a n d
tmad w h o se d iffe ren t v aria n ts/m ea n in g s b e lo n g to d iffe re n t su b c lasses:
T -class

halad

m o v e , p ro c e e d , tr a v e l

pa st in d e f

ragad stick , g et s tu c k
78

reped

r u n

cap Altogether there are about 110 verb stems that end in -ad/-ed. Most of
them (over 9 0 stems) belong to the T -class, and only 17 are V T T -class
-adl-ed stems (see the full list in Section 1 2 .1.3.1. iib below). Members
of the latter class take the vowel-initial past suffix in 3 s g p a s t in d e f :
e.g. szenved suffer: szenvedett (compare the T -class stems above).

If there is a suffix-initial vowel, then the choice of the suffix-initial vowel

depends on Vowel Harmony:
f ut
run 3 sg

szalad

V T T-class
e x c e e d , tra s c e n d , g o b e y o n d
as in tulhalad, meghalad
g rab , s e iz e , p ic k u p
79

12. T he P a st T en se

tmad

teved

12. T he P a st T en se

occur (of an idea, thought)

attack (intransitive)
feltm ad: rise from the dead,
(meg)tmad + N + a c c
get up (of a wind)
(r)tmad + N + su b la t a tta c k N
m o v e s o m e w h e re a c c id e n ta lly

b e w ro n g /m is ta k e n

elteved: lo se o n e s w a y

d. it occurs in the excepional 3 s g

slept.

a. the stem ends in a single consonant which is NOT n, ny, l, r or j/ly:

A menet a terfele haladt.

The procession headed towards the square.
Meghaladott minden regi elkepzelest.
It transcended all old ideas.

pa st

3 sg

pa st

3 sg

H e a tta c k e d h is o w n father+sUBLAT.

Az ellenseg hajnalban tmadott.

The enemy attacked at dawn.
Az ellenseg megtmadott egy hidat.
The enemy attacked a bridge+ACC.
c. the stem ends in the consonant clusters ll or rr:
l[
szokell
stand jum p

varr
sew

Ut

varrt

forr
boii
forrt

e f Note that the verbs hali hear, kell have to, need and vall confess
are excepional because they take the variant -ottl-ettl-dtt, and huli
fall may take both variants in the 3 sg pa st in d e f :

80

ved
defend
vedett

nez
watch
nezett

fu t
heat
futott

dof
thrust
ddfdtt

give

fogad
receive

szenved
suffer

teved
be wrong

adott

fogadott

szenvedett

tevedett

in d e f

isr The follow ing is a com plete list o f the -ad/-ed-Tma\ verb stem s that
belong to the VTT-class:

Feitmadt a szel.
The wind got up.
A sajt apjra tmadt.

keUett

rak
put
rakott

in d e f

ad

Gyakran eltevedt.
He often lost his way.
Gyakran tevedett.
She was often wrng.

hallott

ad
give
adott

b. the stem belongs to the VTT-class o f -adl-ed- final verbs:

A papir a kezehez ragadt.

The paper stuck to his hand.
Hirtelen fiilon ragadott.
Suddenly, she grabbed me by the ear.

szokellt

forms fekiidt lay, aludt

(ii) The vowel-initial variant -ottl-ettl-dtt occurs in word-final position in

all the cases not listed in points (ia-id) above, in particular, if

Examples:

PAST
3 s g in d e f

pa st in d e f

vallott

ad give
csipked pinch repeatedly
enged allow
fe d cover
feled forget
fogad receive
halad move, proceed
tulhalad, meghalad exceed transcend go beyond
lepked step
ragad grab, seize, pick u p
repked flutter, hover
senyved suffer
szed p ick
szenved. suffer
tagad deny
tmad attack
teved be w rong/m istaken
vigad have fu n

huUottlhullt
81

12. T h e P a s t T e n se

12. T h e P a st T en se

c. the stem ends in a consonant cluster OTHER THAN ll or rr:

h a j

sert

don

vonz

drive

hurt

decide

attract

sz o ro n g

le n g

m ond

fe d d

hord

k tild

worry

sway

say

scold

carry

send

h o rd a m

k u ld te m

szo ro n g ta m le n g te m

pa st

m o n d ta m

fe d d te m

lSG DEF

h a jto tt

PAST

3sg

s e r e tt

d d n t tt

v o n z o tt

i1Some cluster-final stems permit both variants of the past suffix before
a p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix:

in d e f

12.1.3.2 Non-word-final position preceding a p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix

When the past suffix precedes a vowel-initial p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix (i.e.
in all person/numbers other than the 3rd person singular indefinite), the
choice between the vowel-initial variant -o ttl-e tt!-d tt vs. the vowelless
variant -t is determined by the last sound(s) of the stem to which the past
suffix is added.
(i) The vowelless variant (-1) occurs preceding the p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix if
a. the stem ends in a single consonant other than t:
ad
pa st

I sg def

(compare
3sg

lo p

vr

hoz

to ld

lengthen
pa st

ta m ( p a s t I s g

d e f ).

(ii) The vowel-initial variant -o ttl-e tt!-o tt occurs preceding the

n u m b e r suffix if

person/

a. the stem ends in the single consonant t BUT does not end in -a tl-e t.
ves

fo z

give steal

wait

bring

chisel

a d ta m

lo p ta m

v r ta m

h o zta m

v e ste m

fo z t e m

cook

a d o tt

lo p o tt

vrt

h o z o tt

v e s e tt

fo z o tt)

pa st

I sg d ef

h u st

ta m t

bocst

cool

teach

allow

h u slte tte m

ta m to tta m

b o c s to tta m

in d e f

p o lg q t

e te t

nurse
feed
repeatedly
pa st

fa g g a

ugqt

interrogate bark

t t

(compare

pa st

m a ta t

rummage

p o lg a tta m e te te m

fa g g q tta m

u g a ta m

m a tq ta m

p o lg q to tt e te te tt

fa g g a to t t

u g a to tt

m a tq to tt)

I sg def

I sg def

fu t

fu t

open wide

heat

t to tta m

fu td tte m

run
fu to tta m

kdt

siit

tie

bake

k d td tte m siito tte m

03= Note that there are two excepional stems which end in t, but not in -at!
-et, and nevertheless take the vowelless variant of the past suffix before
a p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix: l t see and a lk o t create: l tta m , a lk o tta m
(pa st I s g d e f )

b. the stem ends in ce rta in consonant clusters. These include all the
clusters that end in t. The cluster n g [rjg], and most d/-final clusters
DO NOT belong to this group (see point ic above).

in d e f )

rar Note the monosyllabic verb stems h a t influente and v e t sow that
end in -a ll-e t, BUT take the vowel-initial variant -o ttl-e tt!-d tt of the
past suffix before a vowel-initial p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix: h q o tta m ,
v e e tte m ( p a s t I s g

d e f ).

c. the stem ends in c e rta in consonant clusters. These consonant clusters

form a more-or-less arbitrary group, BUT they never end in t (see
point iib below). The cluster n g [rjg], and most J-final clusters
belong to this group.
82

to ld o tta m

is? Note that o ld solve always requires the vowel-initial variant: o ld o t-

b . the stem ends in t which is part of the stem-final sequence -a tl-et\

3sg

to ld ta m

I sg d ef

pa st

h a j

se i i

dom

vonz

csu kU k

drive

hurt

decide

attract

hickup

h a jo tta m

s e r te tte m

v o n z o tta m

c s u k jo tta m

d d n to tte m

1s g d e f
isp

For the past forms of Vowel-deleting Stems and irregular stems see
Sections 19.1, 19.3, 19.4 and 19.5.
83

12. T he P a st T en se

12. T he P a s t T en se

12.2 Past Indefinite

The indefinite p e r s o n /n u m b e r suffixes in the Past Tense are the follow

ing (in the chart below p a s t stands for the appropriate variant of the past
tense suffix):
Past Indefinite
sin g u l a r

The selection of the appropriate variant of the past suffix (underlined in

the table below) has been discussed in Section 12.1 above. The p e r s o n /
n u m b e r suffixes (emboldened below) are harmonizing two-form suffixes
where the choice of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel Har
mony:
ad

ve r

lo k

hoz

ve s

give

beat

push

bring

chisel

cook

I st

a d a m

v e re m

lo k e m

h o z a m

v e s e m

fo z t e m

2nd

a d ta d

v e r e d

lo k e d

h o z a d

v e s e d

fo z te d

3 rd

a d a

v e re

lo k e

h o za

v e s te

fo z e

I st

a d u k

v e r iik

lo k iik

h o z u k

v e s iik

f z iik

2nd

a d to k

v e r te te k

lo k te te k

h o z to k

v e s te te k

fo z te te k

3 rd

a d k

v e r te k

lo k te k

h o z k

v e s te k

fo z te k

plural

Ist

p a st + -am/-em

p a s t + -unkl-iink

2nd

p a s t + -ll-el

p a s t + -atokl-etek

3 rd

past + 0

p a s t + -ak/-ek

Sg

The selection of the appropriate variant of the past suffix (underlined in

the table below) has been discussed in Section 12.1 above. The p e r s o n /
n u m b er suffixes (emboldened below) are harmonizing two-form suffixes
where the choice of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel Har
mony:

Pl

fo z

es- Note that the Ist person singular suffix is the same in the Past Definite
and the Past Indefinite: Fztern eg y le ve st. I cooked a soup. = Foztem
a le ve st. I cooked the soup.

ad

ver

lo k

hoz

ves

fo z

give

beat

push

bring

chisel

cook

a d a m

v e rte tn

lo k te m

h o z ta m

v e s te m

fo z t e m

2 ND ''adtl

v e rte l

lo k e l

h o z t l

v e s te i

fo z te l

3RD a d o tt

12.4 1s g subject 2 s g / p l object: the -alak/-elek suffix

vert

lo k d tt

h o z o tt

v e s e tt

fo z d tt

pr

a d tu n k

v e r tiin k

lo k tiin k

h o z tu n k

v e s tiin k

fo z tjin k

2 ND a d ta to k

v e r te te k

lo k te te k

h o z ta to k

v e s te te k

fo z t e t e k

3RD a d ta k

v e r te k

lo k te k

h o z ta k

v e s te k

fo z te k

Similarly to the Present Tense, if the subject of the verb is Ist person sin
gular and the object is 2 nd person singular or plural, a special suffix is
used. In the Past, this suffix is past + -a la kl-elek (where p a s t is the appro
priate form of the past suffix). The choice of the appropriate - a la k l-e le k
variant is determined by Vowel Harmony:

JST

Sg

Pl

12.3 Past Definite

The definite p e r s o n /n u m b e r suffixes in the Past Tense are the following

(in the chart below p a s t ' stands for the appropriate variant of the past
tense suffix):

Sg Is t

ad

ver

lo k

hoz

ves

give

beat

push

bring

chisel

fo z

cook

a d a la k

v e r e le k

lo k te le k

h o z ta la k

v e s te le k

fo z te le k

Kr For the use of the Past Tense, see Chapter 16.

P ast D efinite
sin g u l a r

84

pl u r a l

Ist

past

+ -a m l-e m

past

+ -u k t-u k

2nd

past

+ -a d l-e d

past

+ - to k /-e te k

3 rd

past

+ -a /-e

past

+ - k l-e k
85

1 3 . T h e C ondiional

13. The Condiional

COND

3sg

ta rt

rnt

vom

hold

puii

attract

ta r a n a

r n a n a

vonzana

in d e f

isr Note that h a li hear, k e ll have to, need, v a ll confess and h u l i M V

are excepional because they end in -ll but they take the vovel-initial
-a n l-e n variant of the condiional suffix:
The Condiional is marked with the condiional suffix which appears in
the t e n s e / m o o d slot following the verb stem. The person/number distinctions and the definiteness distinctions are expressed by suffixes in
the p e r s o n / n u m b e r slot.

h a li
h a lla n a

cond

3 sg

k e ll

v a ll

k e lle n e

v a lja n a

h u li
h u lla n a

in d e f

Compare the regular lln a (s)he/it would stand. See Section I3.l.2na.
13.1 T h e condiional suffix

The condiional suffix appears in the t e n s e / m o o d inflectional slot, i. e. it

follows the stem and precedes the definite or indefinite p e r s o n / n u m b e r
suffixes. It has the following variants:

b . the stem ends in a t preceded by a long vowel:

The choice between the back vowel variant -a n and the front vowel vari
ant -en of the vowel-initial form of the condiional suffix is determined
by Vowel Harmony:

3sg

m ond

sert

kiild

say

offend

send

m ondana

s e r te n e

COND
2 sg def

stiru p

v e s z e n e d

s z ta n d

bocst

forgive
b o c s a n d

k u ld e n e

in d e f

t t

hu

m ut

err

open wide

cool

operate

fu

v e te n e d

t ta n d

h u te n e d

m u e n e d

heat
ft e n e d

l t

lo t-fu t

l n l

lo n l-fu tn l

2 sg i n d e f

13.1.2 -an/-en vs. -n

The choice between the vowel-initial -a n l-e n variant vs. the vowelless -n
variant of the condiional suffix depends on the shape of the stem.

vel

car Note the stems l t see and l t(-fu t) run a lot, never stop, which are
excepional because they end in t preceded by a long vowel, but exceptionally take the -n variant of the condiional suffix:

cond

(ii)

The vowelless variant occurs if

a. the stem ends in -rr, -ll:

(i) The vowel-initial variant occurs if

a. the stem ends in a consonant cluster other than -rr, -ll:
cond

3 sg
86

s z ti

lose

2SG DEF

13.1.1 -an/-e/i

cond

v e szit

teach
ta m ta n d

COND

-n
-a n l-en

ta n t

ll_

sz e g y e ll

stand

be ashamed o f

sew

sze g ye U n e

varrna

a lin a

v a ir

in d e f

87

13. T h e C ondiional

13. T h e C ondiional

ad
give

ver
beat

lok
push

mond
say

vet
err

adnek

vernek

loknek

mondanek

vetenek

2 NC adnl

vernel

loknel

mondanl

vetenel

3RD adna
^ST adnnk

verne

lokne

mondana

vetene

vernenk

loknenk

mondannk

vetenenk

2ND adntok
3RD adnnak

vernetek

loknetek

mondantok

vetenetek

vernenek

loknenek

mondannak

vetenenek

b. the stem ends in a single consonant other than t:

COND
2 sg d e f

lo
steal

ver
beat

has y
leave

lo/md

verned

hagynd

nez
look
nezned

Pl

c. the stem ends in a t preceded by a short vowel:

COND
2 sg d e f

vet
sow

hat
influence

ut
hit

vened

hand

iined

ST

Sg

13.3 Present Condiional Definite

i- Note that Vowel-deleting Stems take the -n variant of the condiional

suffix: e.g. morog growl: morogna (s)he/it would growl. Voweldeleting -ik stems may equally take the -n variant or the -anl-en vari
ant: e.g. furdik: furddnelfiirdene (s)he/it would take a bath. See Section 19.1 on Vowel-deleting Stems and Chapter 18 on //>verbs.
13.2 Present Condiional Indefinite

The indefinite p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffixes in the Present Condiional are the

following (in the table below cond stands for the appropriate variant of
the condiional suffix):
C o n d i io n a l I n d e f in it e ( P r e s e n t )

S in g u l a r

P lural

I st

cond + -ek

cond +

-nkl-nk

2 nd

cond + - ll-el

cond +

-tokl-etek

3 rd

cond + -al-e

cond +

-nakl-enek

The seleclion of the appropriate variant of the condiional suffix (underlined in the table below) has been discussed in Section 13.1 above. Most
of the p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffixes (emboldened below) are harmonizing
two-form suffixes where the choice of the appropriate variant is determined by Vowel Harmony.
s* Note, however, that the Ist person singular suffix -ek does not harmonize and thus remains the same after back and front stems as well.

The condiional definite endings are the following in the Present Condi
ional (in the table below cond stands for the appropriate variant of the
condiional suffix):
C o n d i io n a l D

e f in it e

(P r esen t)

S in g u l a r

P lural

I st

COND + -ml-em

cond

+ -nkl-nk

2 nd

COND + -dl-ed

cond

+ -tokl-etek

3rd

cond

cond

+ -kl-ek

+ -!-e

. The selection of the appropriate variant of the condiional suffix (underlined in the table below) has been discussed in Section 13.1 above lh e
n u m b e r / p e r s o n suffixes (emboldened below) are harmonizing two form
suffixes where the choice of the appropriate variant s determined by
Vowel Harmony.
ist Note that the plural Ist person suffixes and the plural 2nd person suf
fixes are identical in the definite and the indefinite condiional conjugations (-nkl-enk and -tokl-etek respectively).
vet
mond
lok
ver
ad
err
say
push
beat
give
Sg

adnm

vernem

loknem

mondanm

vetenem

adnd

verned

lokned

mondand

vetened

adn

verne

lokne

mondan

vetene
89

88

1 3 . T h e C ondiional

1 3 . T h e C ondiional

Pl

I s t adnnk

vernenk

loknenk

mondannk

vetenenk

adntok

vernetek

loknetek

mondantok

vetenetek

vernek

loknek

mondank

vetenek

2nd

3 r d adnk

csr Note that sometimes the 3rd person plural definite condiional form
may be identical with the Ist person singular indefinite condiional
form. In Standard Hungarian this can only happen if the stem is a front
stem: En loknek egy kdvet. I would push a stone. = Ok loknek a kdvet.
They would push the stone. If the stem is back, the two forms are
distinct: En adnek egy ajndekot neki. I would give a present to her/
him. 41Ok adnk az ajndekot neki. They would give the present to
her/him.. (In non-standard Hungarian, the two forms are identical even
for back vowel stems, e.g. adnk. This is considered to be incorrect
by purists.)

Elolvasa volna a kdnyvet.

(S)he would have read the book.
Elolvasott volna brmilyen konyvet.
(S)he would have read any book.
as- For the use of the Condiional, see Chapter 16.

13.4 1 s g subject 2 s g / p l object: the -afafc/-efefr form

Similarly to the Present Tense and the Past Tense, if the subject of the verb
is Ist person singular and the object is 2nd person singular or plural a spe
cial suffix is used. In the Condiional the ending is cond + -lakIelek
(where co n d is the appropriate form of the condiional suffix). The choice
of the appropriate -lakl-elek variant is determined by Vowel Harmony:
ad
give
Sg

1SI adnlak

ver
beat

lok
push

mond
say

vernelek

loknelek

nwndanlak

vet
err
vetenelek

13.5 Past Condiional

The Past Condiional is not expressed by suffixation, but by a construction which consists of a (definite or indefinite) past verb form plus the
word volna. Schematically:
verb?AST+ volna
The difference between definiteness and indefiniteness is expressed by
the verb form in Past Tense (by using the Past Definite or the Past Indefi
nite). If the verb form is definite, the whole construction is definite and
if it is indefinite, the whole construction is indefinite:
ha lttl volna egy repulot...
ha lttad volna a repulot...

if you had seen a plane...

if you had seen the plane...
91

90

14. T h e C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

14. The Conjunctive-lm perative

Sg

TIf r Cor " Ct!Ve-ImPeratlve is marked with the conjunctive-imperative

suffix which appears in the t e n se / m o o d slot following the verb stem The
person/number distmctions and the definiteness distinctions are expresled
by suffixes in the p e r s o n / n u m b e r slot.
expressed

ad
give

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

foz
cook

adjak

verjek

lokjek

hozzk

vessek

fozzek

2ND adjl
^RD adjon

verjel

lokjel

hozzl

vessel

fozzel

verjen

lokjon

hozzon

vessen

fozzon

1ST adjunk

verjunk

lokjilnk

hozzunk

vessiink

fozziink

vessetek

fozzetek

1JST

2ND adjatok verjetek lokjetek hozztok

^RD adjanak verjenek Idkjenek hozzanak

vessenek fozzenek

For the sake of simplicity we shall refer to the combination of the coniunc
plus a p

14.1.1 Sibilant-final stem s

as the

14.1 C o njunctive-lm perative Indefinite

conjugation^,iVe"*mPerat' Ve ' " d"gS

,he followi"S in

^definite

Conjunctive-lmperative Indefinite
S in g u l a r

P lural

I st

-jakl-jek
-Uakl-Uek

-junkl-jiink
-Ounk/-Oiink

2 nd

-jll-j el
-UU-Uel

-jatokl-jetek
-\Z\atok/-\3etek

-jon!-jen!-jon
-\Hon/-[2enl-\Z[dn

-janakl-jenek
-\3anak/-\Z}enek

3r d

ab0Ve (aS elsewhere in this book) the symbol indicates that

asar-,ndef):^
* J hh e SU xes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the
monyaPProPnate harmonic variant is detemuned by Vowel Har-

As can be seen in the table above, some variation in the endings is not due
to Vowel Harmony. Specifically, all the conjunctive-imperative indefinite
endings have variants that cause gemination of the stem-final consonant
(in the table above these variants are marked with the special iniial S ym
bol ). These variants occur if the stem-final consonant is one of the sibilants sz, z, s, dz.
csf Note that the y-initial variants may cause assimilation which is unindicated in the spelling (e.g. adjatok [:jj:Dtok]). For the actual pronunciation of the consonant clusters consisting of a consonant+/ see Sec
tion 1.3.4 on Palatalization.
14.1.2 Short Form s

The second person singular conjunctive-imperative indefinite ending -jll

-jeI/~\Zil/-[3el has an opional alternative.
This alternative is -j after stems ending in non-sibilant consonants, and -
after stems ending in the sibilants sz, z, s, dz (in other words, the final sibilant consonant o f sibilant-final stems becomes geminated). Thus the sec
ond person singular conjunctive-imperative indefinite forms have shortform altematives. Compare:

2 sg

ad
give

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

foz
cook

long

adjl

veijel

lokjel

hozzl

vessel

fozzel

sh o r t

adj

verj

lokj

hozz

vess

fozz

92
93

14. T he C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

14. T he C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

There is no difference in meaning or usage between the long and short

orms. Only the 2nd person singular forms have short altematives The
same assimilation rules apply to the short forms as to the long forms.
14.2 C o njunctive-lm perative Definite

The conjunctive-imperative endings are the following in the definite conjugation:

2 ND
3 RD

S in g u l a r

P lural

-jaml-jem
-n\am/-U[em

-jukl-juk
-\3uk/-Oiik

-jadJ-jed
-O ad/-ded

-jtokl-jetek
-ntok/-O etek

-jal-je

-jkl-jek
-Q ik/-\3ek

14.2.2 Short Form s

The second person singular conjunctive-imperative definite ending -jad/

-jed/ -[Jad/- 'Zied has an opional alternative, which is -d regardless whether
the stem-final consonant is a sibilant or not:

In the table above (as elsewhere in this book) the symbol indicales that
the preceding consonant has to be doubled, i.e. the stem-final consonant
geminates before the suffix-imtial vowel (e.g. hoz+Uuk - hozz.uk [hoz:ukl
bring ( I p l c o n j def); ves+ detek -> vessetek [ve:/:etekl chisel (2 p l
CONJ def)).
v
These suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the
choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Har
mony:
ad
give
J ST adjam
9ND adjad

94

ad
give

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

fo z
cook

adjad

verjed

lokjed

hozzad

vessed

fozzed

add

verd

lokd

hozd

vesd

fo zd

There is no difference in meaning or usage between the long and short

forms. Only the 2nd person singular forms have short altematives.
ier Note that the definite short forms of v-adding verb stems (e.g. Io shoot)
have geminate dd [d:]: lodd shoot 2 sg co n j d ef s h o r t . See Section
19.2 on v-adding verb stems.

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

fo z
cook

verjem

Idkjem

hozzam

vessem

fozzem

14.2.3

Note that some of the conjunctive-imperative definite verb forms happen

to be idenlical with some of the present definite verb forms:

verjed

lokjed

hozzad

vessed

foz-zed

verje

lokje

hozza

vesse

fozze

verjiik

lokjiik

hozzuk

vessiik

2ND adjtok

fozziik

verjetek

lokjetek

hozztok

vessetek

fzzetek

3RD adjk

verjek

lokjek

hozzk

vessek

fozzek

3RD adja
JST adjuk

As can be seen in the table above, some variation in the endings is not due
to Vowel Harmony. Specifically, all the conjunctive-imperative definite
endings have variants that cause gemination of the stem-final consonant
(in the table above these variants are marked with the special iniial Sym
bol ). These variants occur if the stem-final consonant is one of the sibilants sz, z, s, dz.
os" Note that the y-initial variants may cause assimilation which is unindicated in the spelling (e.g. adjtok [oj:a:tok]). For the actual pronunciation of the consonant clusters consisting of a consonant+y see Section
1.3.4 on Palatalization.

C o n ju n c t iv e -I m perative D efinite

JST

14.2.1 Sibilant-final stem s

Verjiik a dobot.
Verjiik a dobot.

We beat ( I pl pres d e f ) the drum.

We beat ( I pl c o n j d e f ) the drum.
(=Lef s beat the drum.)

Ti mosstok a kezeteket.
Ti mosstok a kezeteket.

You wash (2 p l pres d e f ) your hands.

You wash (2 pl co n j d e f ) your hands.
(=You should.)
95

14. T h e C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p erativ e

The correspondences are as follows. Abbreviations: b n : non-sibilant-final

back stem ( a d give); b s: sibilant-final back stem (h o z bring); fn : nonsibdant-final front stem ( v e r beat); f s : sibilant-final front stem (v e s
chisel ).

14. T h e C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

The s-initial endings are the following in the c o n j u n c t iv e - im p e r a t iv e

in d e f in it e and the c o n j u n c t iv e - im p e r a t iv e d e f in it e :
C o n ju n c tiv e -I m perative I n d efin ite

P r e s e n t D e f in it e
I pl

fs

a d ju k
hozzuk
v e r jiik
v e s s iik

BN
BS
FN
FS

a d j to k
h o z z to k
v e r ite k
v e s ite k

BN
BS
FN
FS

a d j k
h o zz k
v e r ik
v e s ik

BN
BS
FN
FS

a d ja
h o zza
v e ri
vesi

bn

BS
FN

2 pl

3 pl

3sg

S in g u l a r

P lural

l 51

- s a k l-s e k

-s u n k l-s u n k

2 ND

- s ll-s e l

-s a to k l-s e te k

3 RD

-s o n i-s e n i-s o n

C o n j u n c t iv e - I m p e r a t iv e

a d ju k
hozzuk
v e r jiik
v e s s iik

*
j=

a d j to k
h o z z to k
v e r je te k
v e s s e te k

*
j=

a d j k
h o zzk
v e r je k
vessek

*i=

a d ja
h o zz a
v e rje
v e sse

i" NB r-final stems do not have these coincidences in Standard Hun ar

ian (see Section 14.3.4).
&

CONJUNCTIVE-IMPERATIVE DEFINITE
S in g u l a r

P lural

1ST

- s a m l-s e m

-su k l-siik

2 ND

- s a d l- s e d

-s to k l-s e te k

3RU

-s a /-se

-s k l-se k

When these endings are added to the verbs in this subclass, the stem-final
t also becomes s, so a geminate s s [/:] appears in the conjunctive-imper
ative forms: t + s -> ss. This change is indicated in the spelling: l t + s k
-> l s s k [la:/:a:k] see 3 p l c o n j d e f .
These suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the
choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Har
mony:

14.3 f-final Verbs

C o n ju n c tiv e -I m perative I n d efin ite

The Conjunctive-lmperative Df f-fina] verbs differs from that of the other

verbs both in the definite and the indefinite.
r-fnal verbs behave in three different ways depending on the kinds of
vowe -consonant sequences or consonant-consonant clusters they end in.

a lk o t

create
Sg

14.3.1 f-final stem s that end in a short vowel plus t

Verb stems in the first subclass of f-final verbs end in a short vowel + * and
y
V6rbS lt See lt(-fut) run a lot never ^ o p and
'
?
e
f
Verb
take SPecial ^ initial conjunctive-imperative (definite or indefinite) St6mS
endings.

-s a n a k l-s e n e k

Pl

fiz e t

pay

ut

l t

hit

see

JST

a lk o s s a k

fiz e s s e k

ii se k

l s s a k

2NU

a lk o s s l

fiz e s s e l

iissel

l s s l

a lk o s s o n

fiz e s s e n

iissd n

l sso ti

a lk o s s u n k

fiz e s s i i n k

iis s u n k

l s s u n k

a lk o s s a to k

f iz e s s e te k

iis se te k

l s s a to k

a lk o s s a n a k

f iz e s s e n e k

iis s e n e k

l s s a n a k

JST
2
^RD

96
97

T h e C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

1 4. T h e C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

C onjunctive -I mperative D efinite

alkot

fizet

ut

c r e a te

lt

p a y

h it

s e e

^ ST

alkossam

fizessem

iisem

lsam

alkosad

fizesed

iised

lsad

3 RD

alkossa

fizese

iise

lssa

alkosuk

fizesiik

usstik

lssuk

alkostok

fizesetek

usetek

lstok

alkosk

fizesek

iisek

lsk

^ ST

2 ND

3 RD

14.3.1.1 Short Forms

( 1) The in d e fin ite 2 s g short forms are formed with the suffix -s which
behaves in the same way as the corresponding suffix in the long form:
t+ s

The verb stems of the second subclass take the same s-initial conjunctiveimperative (definite or indefinite) endings as those of the first subclass
(for the list of endings see Section 14 .3 .1 ). However, when these endings
are added to the f-final stems of the second subclass, ts clusters result
(i.e. the stem-final t does NOT become s): t + s > ts. The ts cluster is pronounced [f] or [f:], an assimilation which is not indicated by the spelling.
A short [f] is pronounced when the ts cluster is preceded by another con
sonant {ta ri + s u k > ta r ts u k [to rt/u k ] hold 2 p l c o n j d e f ) and a long
[t/:] is pronounced when the ts cluster is preceded by a vowel (t t + s k
t ts k [ta:t/:a:k] open wide 3 p l CONJ d e f ).
The suffix variants are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where
the choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel
Harmony:

ss.

C onjunctive -I mperative I ndefinite

a lk o t
2 s g LONG
SHORT

fiz e t

create

pay

a lk o s l

fiz e s e l

a lk o s s

fi z e s

l t

ro n t

s e rt

ont

t t

vet

hit

see

spoil

hurt

pour

open wide

m iss

ii se l

l s l

s e r ts e k

d n ts e k

t s a k

v e ts e k

s e r ts e l

d n ts e l

t ts l

v e ts e l

s e r ts e n

d n tsd n

t ts o n

v e ts e n

ut

' iis

l s

(ii) The d e fin ite 2 s g short forms are formed with the suffix -d Ni
the stem-final t changes to s before this suffix too: t + d
sd.
a lk o t

create
2 sg

few verbs are excepional in that they end in a long vowel plus t but belong
to the first subclass of r-final verbs (see Section 14.3.1).

fiz e t

pay

ut

l t

hit

see

lo n g

a lk o s a d

fiz e s e d

iissed

l s a d

SHORT

a lk o d

fiz e d

iid

l d

14.3.2 t-final stem s that end in a long vowel plus t, or a t

preceded by a consonant other than s, sz

S g ^ST r o n ts a k
2ND ro n ts l
3RD ro n ts o n
Pl

98

r o n ts u n k

s e r ts iin k

o n ts iin k

t ts u n k

v e ts u n k

2ND

ro n ts a to k

s e r ts e te k

o n ts e te k

t ts a to k

v e s e te k

3 RD

r o n ts a n a k

s e r ts e n e k

d n ts e n e k

t ts a n a k

v e ts e n e k

C onjunctive -I mperative D efinite

se rt

ont

t t

vet

spoil

hurt

pour

open wide

m iss

2ST

ro n ts a m

se rtse m

o n tse m

t ts a m

v e ts e m

2ND

ro n ts a d

s e rtse d

d n ts e d

t ts a d

v e ts e d

3RD

ro n tsa

se rtse

o n tse

t tsa

v e ts e

^ST

r o n ts u k

se r ts iik

o n ts iik

t ts u k

v e ts iik

2 ND

r o n ts to k

s e r ts e te k

o n ts e te k

t ts to k

v e ts e te k

s e r ts e k

d n ts e k

t ts k

v e ts e k

- ro n t

Sg

Verb stems in the second subclass of r-final verbs end in a long vowel + t
or in a consonant cluster whose first consonant is not j or sz.
The verbs f u t heat, h t cool, m u t operate, szi't stir up, t t open wide,
v e t err and the verbs ending in the suffix -it belong here, but note that a

^ST

Pl

3RD ro n ts k

99

14. T he C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

14 . T h e C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

14.3.2.1 Short Forms

(i) The indefinite 2 s g short forms are formed with the suffix -s which
behaves in the same way as the coiresponding suffix in the long form:
t + iS1) ts.
sert
ont
tt
ront
vet
spoil
hurt
pour
open wide m iss
2 sg

lo n g

rontsl

sertsel

dntsel

ttsl

vetsel

sh o r t

ronts

serts

onts

tts

vets

Pl

osszunk

ijesszunk

fessiink

osszatok

ijezetek

feetek

3RD

osszanak

ijezenek

fesenek

C onjunctive -I mperative D efinite

Sg
(ii) The definite 2 sg short forms are formed with the suffix -sd: t 4- sd ^
tsd. The resulting tsd cluster is always pronounced [dd]:

2 sg

1st
2ND

oszt
divide

ijeszt
frighten

fest
paint

1st

osszam

ijeszem

feem

2ND

osszad

ijezed

fesed

3RD

ossza

ijeze

fese

1"

osszuk

ijesszuk

feiik

ront
spoil

sert
hurt

ont
pour

tt
open wide

vet
m iss

lo n g

rontsad

sertsed

dntsed

ttsad

vetsed

2ND

ossztok

ijezetek

feetek

sh o r t

rontsd

sertsd

ontsd

ttsd

vetsd

3RD

osszk

ijesszek

feek

14.3.3 st or szt-final verbs

Verb stems in the third subclass of r-final verbs end in st or sz.

These verbs take the D-initial conjunctive-imperative (definite or indefi
nite) endings (see Sections 14.1 and 14.2 ). However, the verb stems delete
the verb-final t when the conjunctive-imperative ending is added and thus
the preceding s or sz is geminated: st + -> ss (fest + \Z\iink -> fessiink
paint 2 p l c o n j i n d e f ) or szt + -> ssz ( oszt + Dunk -> osszunk divide

Pl

14.3.3.1 Short Forms

(i) The indefinite 2sg short forms are formed with the suffix - which
behaves in the same way as the corresponding suffix in the long form:
$ / + - ss; szt + - ssz.

2 sg l o n g
SHORT

2 p l c o n j i n d e f ).

The suffix variants are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where

the choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel
Harmony:

ijeszt
frighten

fest
paint

osszl

ijesszel

feel

ossz

ijessz

fe

(ii) The definite 2sg short forms are formed with the suffix -d. Note that
the stem-final t deletes before this suffix too: st + d sd; szt + d >szd.

C o n ju n c t iv e - I m p e r a t iv e I n d e f in it e

100

oszt
divide

2 sg lo n g

oszt
divide

ijeszt
frighten

fest
paint

osszad

ijezed

feed

ozd

ijezd

fed

oszt
divide

ijeszt
frighten

fest
paint

1ST
2

osszak

ijesszek

feek

osszl

ijesszel

feel

14.3.4

3RD

osszon

ijesszen

fesen

In Standard Hungarian the conjunctive-imperative definite verb form of

a r-final stem is never identical with the present definite verb form of the

sh o r t

1 01

1 4 . T h e C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

14. T he C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

stem. (This is unlike the behaviour of non--final stems, see Section

14.2.3.)

The choice of the appropriate -jalak/-\Z\alak vs. -jelek/-\Z\elek variant is

determined by Vowel Harmony.

The following is a comparison of those (non-identical) present definite

and conjunctive-imperative definite verb forms of f-final stems which
would coincide in the case of non--fnal stems (see Section 14.2.3.)
P r e s e n t D e f in it e
lPL

2pl

C o n ju n c t iv e -I m pe r a t iv e

l tju k
r o n tju k
o s z tju k
fe s t j i i k

l tj to k
ro n tj to k
o s z tj to k

i=

3p l

l tj k
r o n tj k
o s z tj k

3 sg

l tja
ro n tja
o sztja

l s s u k
r o n ts u k
o sszu k
fe s s i i k
l s s to k
ro n ts to k
o s s z to k

l s s k
r o n ts k
ossz k

+
+

l ss a
ro n tsa
o ssza

ad
give
Sg

1st a d ja la k

ver
beat

lok
push

hoz
bring

ves
chisel

v e r je le k

lo k je le k

h o z z a la k

v e s s e le k

fo z
cook
fo z z e l e k

The three types of t-final verbs behave in the way described above in Sec
tion 14.3 on -fnal verbs:
I
lt
see
Sg

II
ut
hit

1st lssalak usselek

ront
spoil

sert
hurt

rontsalak sertselek

IU
oszt
fest
divide
paint
osszalak

fesselek

For the usage of the Conjunctive-lmperative, see Section 16.3.

os" In non-standard Hungarian, some conjunctive-imperative definite verb

forms may be identical with some present definite verb forms even for
i-final stems. Notably, the conjunctive-imperative forms above are
used in the Present Definite by some native speakers of non-standard
Hungarian. This is considered to be incorrect by purists.
14.4 1 s g subject 2 s g / p l object:
the -jalak/-jelek/- Da/alc/- De/efc form

Similarly to the Present Tense, the Past Tense and the Condiional, if the
subject of the verb is Ist person singular and the object is 2nd person sin
gular or plural, a special ending is used in the Conjunctive-lmperative as
well.
In the Conjunctive-lmperative, the ending is -jalakl-jelekl~E\alakl-[3elek
where means the doubling of the stem-final consonant if the consonant
is one of the sibilants sz, z, s, dz.

102

103

15. T h e F uture

15.2 T h e Future of van

15. The Future

Van be does not occur in the Future Construction - it s the only verb in
Hungarian that has specific future forms: Boldog lezek. I ^ U b e happy
These forms are based on the stem lesz and have the regular Present Indef
inite suffixes:
leszek
Sg pT

15.1 Th e Future Construction

There is no specific future suffix in Hungarian. There is however a con

struction which refers to future time. The construction consists of the verb
fo g + in f in it iv e . Fag takes the definite or indefinite present endings and
the infinitive is always of the impersonal kind (i.e. not an infinitive with
possessive endings, see Chapter 17). Fog may precede or follow the Infini
tive (its actual position is determined by emphasis and other factors):
Aludni fogok. Fogok aludrti. I will sleep. In the following examples the
Future Construction is illustrated with the verb olvas read.
F uture Indefinite

Sg

Pl

1st

olvasnifogok

fogok olvasni

2ND

olvasni fogsz

fogsz olvasni

3 RD

olvasni fog

fo g olvasni

1st

olvasni fo g u n k

fo g u n k olvasni

2ND

olvasni fogtok

fogtok olvasni

3RD

olvasni fo g n a k

fo g n a k olvasni

olvasni foglak

foglak olvasni

1 s g s 2 sg / pl

F uture D efinite

Sg

Pl

104

1ST

olvasni fogom

fogom olvasni

2ND

olvasni fogod

fogod olvasni

3RD

olvasni fogja

fogja olvasni

1ST

olvasni fo g ju k

fo g ju k olvasni

2ND

olvasni fo gjtok

fogjtok olvasni

3RD

olvasni fogjk

fogjk olvasni

Pl

2ND
3RD

leszel

pT

lesztink

2ND

lesztek

lesz

lesznek
3RD
i- Note that the Future Construction is not the only way to express future
time: the Present Tense may be used with future reference too (see
Chapter 16).

1 6 . U sa g e: T e n se s, C ondiional, C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

16- Usage: Tenses, Condiional,

Conjunctive-lmperative

Lttam a filmet.
I have seen the film.
Ledobta a konyvet afoldre.
She/he/it has thrown the book on the floor.
1968 ota itt laknak.
They have lived here since 1968.

16.1 Tenses

There is no equivalent of the English perfect and continuous tenses/moods

which s expressed with a conjugated verb form in Hungarian (verbal prefixes may express perfective meaning, see Section 21.2).
The Present Tense may refer to present or future time:
M eyek a kdnyvtrba.
I am going to the library.
Holnap meyek a kdnyvtrba.
Tomorrow I will go to the library.
Nezem a tevet.
I am watching television.
M ajd nezem a tevet.
Later I will watch television.
The Past Tense can refer to any action or state that took place in the past
It can be translated into English with Simple Past, Past Continuous Past
Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous:
Tegnap olvastam egy konyvet.
I read a book yesterday.
Eppen egy konyvet olvasott.
He/she/it was reading a book.
Amikoi beszeltem vele, mar olvasta a konyvet.
He had already read the book when I talked to him.
s? Note that the English Present Perfect corresponds to the Hungarian
Past Tense if the meaning is resultative or indefinite past, but to the
Present Tense if the meaning is the up-to-the-present type:

Mita vaVrendor?
How long have you been a policeman?
The Present Tense may refer to the present or the future. Thus, future
time may be expressed in two ways: with the Present Tense, and with
the Future Construction:
Kimey az llomsra.
He/she/it goes/is going/will go to the railway station.
Ki foe menni az llomsra.
He/she/it will go to the railway station.
There is no sequence of tenses rule in Hungarian, so dependent clauses
may be in any tense (including the Future) even if the main clause is in
the past:
->
Azt mondta, hogy Mari elment.
He/she/it said that Mary had left.
Azt mondta, hogy Mari elmegy.
He/she/it said that Mary was leaving/would leave.
Azt mondta, hogy Mari el fog menni.
He/she/it said that Mary would leave.
16.2 Condiional

The condiional is used in ha ... (akkor) i f ... then condiional constructions:

Of the three condiional constructions t y p e 1 (l f I fin d Christopher,
well go to the cinema.') is expressed with the Present or the Future in
Hungarian. Both the Present and the Future may appear in either (and
both) of the two clauses:
Ha metallom Kristofot, (akkor) elmegyiink moziba.
If I find Christopher, well go to the cinema.

106

107

16 . U sa g e: T e n s e s , C on d iio n a l, C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

meg fogom tallni Kristfot, (akkor) elmegyiink moziba.

If I find Christopher, w ell go to the cinema.
^ ^
f%orn tallni Kristfot, (akkor) el fogunk menni moziba.
If I find Christopher, w ell go to the cinema.
Ha megtallom Kristfot, (akkor) el fogunk menni moziba.
If I find Christopher, w ell go to the cinema.
Condiional construction ty pe 2 ( Iflfo u n d Christopher, we would go to
the cinema) is expressed with the Present Condiional in both clauses:
Ha megtallnm Kristfot, (akkor) elmennenk moziba.
If I found Christopher, w ed go to the cinema.
J lenne, ha tdbbet ltnm.
It would be nice if I saw her/him/it more.
Condiional construction ty pe 3 ( 7 / / had found Christopher, we would
have gone to the cinema) is expressed with the Past Condiional in both
clauses:
Ha njegtalltam volna Kristfot, (akkor) elmentiink volna moziba.
If I had found Christopher, we would havegone to the cinema.
Jo lett volna, ha totibet lttam volna.
It would have been nice if I had seen her/him/it more.

1 6 . U sa g e: T e n se s, C ondiional, C on ju n ctive-lm p erative

Gyere ide!
Come here!
Ne menjiink aludni!
Lets not go to sleep!
Azt mondtad, hogy (en) nezzek ki az ablakon.
You told me to look out of the window.
Julia azt keri, hogy idjjek ide.
Julia asks me to come here.
Azt javasolta, hogy ne menjiink aludni.
He/she/it suggested that we should not go to sleep.
The Conjunctive-lmperative is used to express actions/states that somebody commands, requests, or wants somebody to do. In these constructions the Conjunctive-lmperative appears in the subordinate clause.
Azt akarom, hogy vedd le.
I want you to take it off.
Csak azt szeretned, hogy szeressen.
You would like him/her/it to Iove you.
Aztparancsolta, hogy ne gondolkozzam.
She/he/it ordered me not to think.

The Present Condiional is used in polie requests:

Adnl egy pohr vizet?
Would you give me a glass of water?
The condiional is used to express wishes:
Brcsak lenne idom.
If only I had time.
Brcsak lett volna idom.
If only I had had time.

1 6.3

C o njunctive-lm perative

The Conjunctive-lmperative is used in direct and indirect commands/

requests:
Nezz ki az ablakon!
Look out of the window!

The Conjunctive-lmperative is used to ask for instructions/suggestions/

permission etc. (i.e. it can be used in the meaning expressed in English
by Shall I? , Shall we?, Should I? , Should we?)
Levgassam a hajam?
Shall I have my hair cut?
Hov tegyiik le?
Where shall we put it down?
Ne zrjam be az ajtot?
Shall I lock the door?1
The Conjunctive-lmperative is used in clauses of purpose:
Azert megyek a boltba, hogy vegyek egy kek papagjt.
I am going to the shop to buy a blue parrot.
1Negative Yes-No questions of this kind mean the same as, but are more polie than their
positive counterparts: Zrjam be az ajtot? Shall I lock the door?

108
109

1 6 . U sa g e : T e n se s, C o n d iio n a l, C o n ju n ctiv e-lm p era tiv e

Fegyujtotta a lmpt, hogy ne feljen a sotetben.

He switched on the light so he w ont be afraid in the dark.

17. Non-finite forms

rar Note that in negative clauses with a Conjunctive-lmperative form, the

negative word ne is used instead of nctn (see Section 23.4 on negation).
$ See Section 23.6 for the position of preverbs in clauses with Conjunctive-Imperative verb forms.
17.1 Infinitives

Infinitives are used in special constructions with auxiliary-like verbs and

nominals (see Section 23.5 for infinitival constructions):
Jnos utl teniszezni.
John hates to play tennis.
(Te) kenytelen vasy teniszezni. You have no choice but play tennis.
Nekem jo teniszezni.
It is good for me to play tennis.
There are two kinds of infinitives: the impersonal infinitive and the per
sonal infinitive.
17.1.1 Th e Im personal Infinitive

The impersonal infinitive is formed with the help of a suffix -nil-anil-eni,

which is added to the bare verlj stem. The choice between the vowel-initial
variants -ani vs. -eni is determined by Vowel Harmony. The choice between
the vowel-initial -anii-eni vs. the vowelless -ni variants depends on the end
of the stem.
(i) The vowel-initial variants occurs if
a. the stem ends in consonant clusters except -rr, -ll:

in fin it iv e

tart
hold

tolt
puii

vonz
attract

csuklik
hiccup

tarani

tolteni

vonzani

csuklani

o- Note that hali hear, kell have to, need, vall confess and huli fall
are excepional because they end in -ll but they take the vowel-initial
-anit-eni variant of the infinitive:

in f in it iv e

hali

kell

vall

huli

hallani

kelleni

vallani

hullani

(compare llni to stand, szegyellni to be ashamed o f)

110

111

1 7 . N o n -fin ite fo rm s

1 7 . N o n -fin ite fo rm s

b. the stem ends in a long vowel plus t:

tanit

ept

fut

bocst

szit

mut

personal infinitive
vet

ht

tt

Nekem olvasnom kell.

Olvasnom kell.

teach b u ild h ea t fo r g iv e stir u p operate err c o o l open w id e

tanitard epiteni futeni bocstani sztani muteiti veteni huteni ttarii

B3- The stems lt see and lot(-fut) run a lot, never stop are excepional
because they end in a long vowel plus t but take the -ni variant of the
infinitive suffix:

INFINITIVE

lt

lot-fut

ltni

ltni-futni

The personal infinitival endings (which consist of the infinitive suffix plus
a possessive suffix) are the following:
P ersonal Infinitive

(li) The consonant-initial variants occur in all cases not covered by (i)
above:
to
fo g
verekedik ll
varr
shoot
hold
fight
stand
sew
in f in it iv e

Ioni

fo g n i

verekedni

llni

<sr Note the infinitives of the irregular verbs tesz put, act, vesz take, buy,
hisz believe, visz carry, lesz be, become, eszik eat, iszik drink,
von be , megy go\ jon com e: tenni, venni, hinni, vinni, lenni, enni,
inni, lenni, menni, jonni (see Section 19.5).

-nom/-neml-nom
-anoml-enem

-nunkl-niink
-anunk/-entink

2ND

-nod!-ned!-nod
-anodl-ened

-notokl-netek!-notdk
-anotok!-enetek

3RD

-niat-nie
-anial-enie

-niukl-niiik
-aniuk/-eniiik

ad

mond

nez

lok

kiizd

g iv e

sa y

io o k

paint

k ill

stru ggle

SG 1ST adnom

mondanom

neznem

festenem

lokndm

kuzdenem

2 ND adnod

mondanod

nezned

festened

loknod

kiizdened

3RD adnia

mondania

neznie

festenie

loknie

kuzdenie

1ST adnunk

m ondanunk

nezniink

festenilnk

Idkniink

kuzdeniink

PL

1 7 .1 .2 Th e Personal Infinitive: Infinitive w ith Possessive

Suffixes

The Infinitive can receive the nominal possessive endings. As opposed to

the impersonal infinitive, the endings of this personal infinitive clearly
indicate the subject of the verb in infinitive form even if there is no overt
subject:
impersonal infinitive

112

P lural

These suffixes are harmonizing two- or three-form suffixes where the

choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Harmony.

i- The infinitive of a Cszik stem is based on its alternative stem: verekszik

fight, verekedni to fight, see Section 19.4.1.1.

Nekem plvasni kell.

Olvasni kell.

S in g u l a r
JST

varrni

Vowel-deleting Stems take the -ni variant: e.g. morogni to growl, and
either the vowel-initial variant or the consonant iniial variant of the
infinitive suffix can be attached to Vowel-deleting -ik Stems: e.g. ftirodni orfiirdeni to bathe (see Section 19.1).
>

I must read. (overt subject)

One must read. (no overt subject)

I must read. (overt subject)

I must read. (no overt subject)

fe st

2ND adnotok mondanotok neznetek festenetek

loknotok kuzdenetek

3 RD adniuk

lokniiik

m ondaniuk

nezniiik

festeniiik

kiizdeniuk

The choice between the vowel-initial and consonant-initial variants is

determined by the same factors as in the case of the impersonal infinitive
suffix -ani/-eni vs -ni discussed in 17.1.1 above: if the impersonal infini
tive ending after a verb stem is vowel-initial, then the personal infinitive
endings after the same verb stem are vowel-initial too.
ar Note that the personal infinitives of the irregular verbs tesz put, act,
vesz take, buy, hisz believe, visz carry, lesz be, become, eszik eat,
113

1 7 . N on -fin ite form s

1 7 . N o n -fin ite fo r m s

iszik drink, van be, megy go\jo n come are based on the stems ten, ven-, hin-, vin-, len-, en-, in-, len-, men-, jon- respectively: tennem,
venned, hinnie, vinnunk, lennetek, enniiXk, innom, lenned, mennie, jonnotok, etc. (see Section 19.5)
i" The personal infinitive of a Cszik stem is based on its alternative stem:
verekszik fight, verekedned for you to fight, see Section 19.4.1.1.
17.2 Participles

The active (present) participle, the passive (past) participle and the future
participle are used in adjectival function:
a haragvo ember

the angry

tanult bartom

my leamed friend

az elvegzendo munka

the job to be done

Kristof kitepett egy oldalt a fiizetebol.

Christopher ore a page out of his copybook.
A kitepett oldalt a fdldre dobta.
He threw the tom-out page on the floor.
Mria megtert
Mria megtert ember.

Mary converted.
Mary is a converted person.

In a few cases there is an unexpected difference between the 3sg past indef
form and the past participle. In these cases the past participle suffix is irregularly vowel-initial (i.e. a consonant-initial variant is required by the rule):
3 s g p a st in d e f

m an
Ir write
tor break
fon weave

irt
tort
fo n t

pa st participle

rott
torott
fonott

17.2.1 Th e Active (Present) Participle

17.2.3 Th e Future Participle

The active participle is formed with the harmonizing two-form suffix -61-6,
which is added to the bare verb stem. The choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Harmony:

The future participle suffix is formed with the harmonising two-form suf
fix -andl-endo. The choice of the appropriate harmonic variant is deter
mined by Vowel Harmony. This sufix is practically extinct as a productive
form of suffixation in present day colloquial Hungarian (especially the
spoken language) and only survives in forms which have become lexicalised (frozen) adjectives or nouns: jovendo future, kelendo easy to
sell, etc. Typically, relative clauses are used to express meanings which
could be expressed by the future participle: e.g. a megjrando cikk the
paper to be written = a cikk, amit m e g kell m i the paper that will have
to be written.

a c t iv e participle

ll
stand

ves
chisel

kiizd
struggle

lo
shoot

morog
growl

ll6

veso

kuzdo

lovo

morgo

Rf The active participle of a Cszik stem is based on its alternative stem:

verekszik fight, verekedo fighting, see Section 19.4.3.
rar Note the behaviour of szldlv and szlzlv Stems (19.4.3) and the irregular
stems (19.5.1.5 and 19.5.2.5) before the active (present) participle suf
fix: haragszik be angry with sb - haragvo angry, jon come - jovo
coming, etc.
17 .2.2 Th e Passive (Past) Participle

The passive (past) participle suffix is the same as the past tense suffix:
-ottl-ettl-dttl-tl-tt. The rules for the selection of variants are essentially
identical with those of the past tense suffix variants (see 12.1). Thus the
3sg past indef form of a verb is regularly identical with its past participle:

114

17.2.4 Th e Adverbial Participle

The adverbial participle is formed with the harmonising two-form suffix

-vat-ve, which is added to the bare verb stem. The choice of the appro
priate harmonic variant is determined by Vowel Harmony. okog ciy .
zokogva; nevet laugh: nevetve. It is used as an adverb of manner:
Zokogva olvastam a levelet.

I read her letter crying-

115

1 8 . -ik V erbs

18.

-ik

etc). Some -ik verbs, however, have no special -oml-eml-dm variant

forms in the first person singular, so the -okl-ekl-ok form is used by all
speakers, e.g. hullik fall, bomlik loosen, bujik hide, vlik become ,
megjelenik appear.

Verbs

cs= For the behaviour of Vowel-deleting Stems of the -ik type see Sections
19.1.1. and 19.1.2.
-ik verbs are an idiosyncratic class of verbs. They can be identified by the
non-harmonizing -ik suffix they take instead of the usual 0 in the 3rd per
son singular Present Indefinite e.g.fzik he/she/it is cold\ esik she/he/it
falls, szdkik she/he/it escapes, lmodik he/she/it dream s(compare the
3 s g PRES i n d e f of non-/& verbs, e.g. s she/he/it digs\ marad she/he/it
stays).
-ik verbs are often intransitive (i.e. have no object) and/or have a subject
which is not an agent (i.e. not a doer of an action), but it is not possible
to identify members of the ik-class on the basis of their intransitivity/meaning because there are transitive and/or agentive -ik verbs too and there
are intransitive and/or non-agentive non-; verbs as well: compare the
agentive jtszik play and olvas read, and the intransitive megdoglik
die (of animals) and tneghal die.
There used to be a separate -ik verb conjugation in all the singular persons
in the Present Indefinite, the Condiional Indefinite and the ImperativeConjunctive Indefinite. In present-day standard Hungarian all the special
-ik conjugation forms have disappeared (or exist as old-fashioned alternatives to the regular forms) except the l st person singular and the 3rd per
son singular Present Indefinite forms. In the Ist person singular Present
Indefinite the definite suffix -oml-eml-dm is used (though the regular indef
inite -okl-ekl-ok can be used as well) and in the 3rd person singular indefi
nite the suffix is -ik instead of zero:
P r e s e n t I n d e fin ite

fzik
be cold

esik
fall

szdkik
escape

lmodik
dream

fzom
fzok

esem
esek

szokom
szokok

lmodom
lmodok

fzik

esik

szdkik

lmodik

isp Note that some speakers consider the alternative (regular) Ist person
forms inappropriate for some -ik verbs (e.g. eszek I eat, iszok I drink.
116

The following is a list of some common -ik verbs:

(Some of the verb stems listed have variants with pre-verbs (cf. Chapter
21) which may have different meanings. Only the stems are listed here the variants are also ik-verbs).
alapszik
alkuszik
alszik
arnylik
ramlik
zik
bnik
baszik
bizik
bomlik
botlik
bujik
bukik
buzlik
csokolodzik
csuklik
csuszik
doglik
dohnyzik
emlekszik
erik
esik
eskiiszik
eszik
fzik
fekszik
fenylik
fingik
fogzik

be based on
bargain
sleep
be in proportion to sg
flow
be drenched
treat
fuck
trust
unfold
trip
hide
dive
stink
kiss
hiccup
slide
die
smoke
remember
ripen
fall
swear
eat
be cold
lie, rec line
shine
fart
teethe

folyik
fuldoklik
fiirdik
gyulik
habzik
hajlik
halszik
haldoklik
hallatszik
hmlik
hangzik
hanyalik
haragszik
havazik
hazudik
hinyzik
hzik
horgszik
hullmzik
illik
iszik
fzlik
izzik
jtszik
kesik
kopik
kotlik
kotorszik
kuszik

flow
suffocate
bathe
gather
foam
bend
fish
be dying
can be heard
peel
sound
decline
be angry
snow
lie, be untrue
be missing
put on weight
angle
wave
suit
drink
find sg tasty
glow
play
be late
become wom
brood
fumble
crawl
117

1 8 . -ik V erbs

lakik
ltszik
lelegzik
mszik
morajlik
mosdik
mulik
nyilik
nyugszik
nyulik
omlik
omlik
oszlik
dzonlik
parzslik
przik
patakzik
rejlik
rohangszik
romlik
siklik
szarik
szrmazik
szdkik
szomjazik

reside
seem
breathe
crawl
rumble
wash oneself
pass, depend on
open
be calm
stretch
fall down
spill
disperse
flock
glow
copulate
gush
be inherent in
run up and down
become worse
slide
defecate
originate from
escape
be thirsty

szopik
szuletik
szunik
telik
tetszik
tojik
torik
tornszik
tortenik
tunik
ugrik
uszik
utazik
vadszik
vgyik
vakarodzik
vlik
vsik
vedlik
verzik
villmlik
virgzik
vonaglik
zajlik
zullik

suck
be bom
cease
pass
like
lay eggs
break
do gimnastics
happen
seem
jum p
swim
travel
hunt
deire
scratch
become, divorce
become blunt
slough
bleed
strike (of a lightning)
flower
writhe
happen
become depraved

*19. Verb Stems

Hungarian stems typically do not change when suffixes are added to them.
Regular exceptions to this generalisation result from the sound rules dis
cussed in Chapter 1: Regressive Voice Assimilation (Section 1.3.1), Degemination (Section 1.3.2), Affrication (Section 1.3.3), Palatalization (Section
1.3.4), Nasal Place Assimilation (Section 1.3.5), and Final a, e Lengthening (Section 1.5). These are regular in the sense that they automatically
and exceptionlessly apply to the last sound of every stem that comes under
the purview of any of these rules. Regressive Voice Assimilation, Degemination, Affrication, Palatalization and Nasal Place Assimilation are not
indicated by the spelling, but Final a, e Lengthening is.
There are, however, some irregular stem types, which do change when
suffixes are added to them, cause unusual changes in the suffixes, or have
some other unpredictable properties. The verbal ones are discussed in this
chapter (for the nominal ones, see Chapter 4).
Note that there are no verbal Lowering Stems (no verbal stems comparable to the ones discussed in Section 4.1).
19.1

Vow el-deleting Stem s

These stems all end in a vowel followed by a single consonant. The vowel
preceding the stem-final consonant is regularly oleld (there is one excep
ional verb stem: oriz guard).
In Vowel-deleting Stems the vowel preceding the stem-final consonant is
unstable: it deletes if the suffix attached to the stem begins with a vowel.
C-initial suffix
sodor roii
sodorja
3 sg
seper sweep seperted 2 sg
gydtor torture gydtdrnek 3 p l

118

V-initial suffix
sodrom Isg
seprek I sg
d e f gydtri
3 sg

pr e s d e f

pr e s d e f

pres d e f

pres in d e f

pr e s

pr e s d e f

119

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

19.1.1 Th e Past Form s of Vow el-deleting Stem s

19.1.1.1 Word-final Position

After Vowel-deleting Stems, in word-final position (i.e. in the 3rd person

singular indefinite, which is unmarked), the past suffix appears as

ns* The choice between the two variants is essentially free, but note that
the form with the vowelless variant sometimes unexpectedly does not
exist, or it is of questionable acceptability (e.g. lelegzik breathe, but
/ no //? lelegzettem I breathed). The corresponding forms with the
vowel-initial variant always seem to be possible.

(i) the vowelless v arian t -t if the stem is a non-ik Vowel-deleting Stem

which ends in / or r. In this case the unstable vowel of the stem does
not delete since the suffix is consonant-initial:

p a s t 3 sg i n d e f

rabol
rob

gydtdr
torture

rabolt

gydtdrt

pa st

p a s t 3 sg i n d e f

(b)

forog
turn

erez
feel

ugrik
jurnp

furdik
bathe

lelegzik
breathe

forgott

erzett

ugrott

furdott

lelegzett

19.1.1.2 Non-word-final position: preceding a p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix

After Vowel-deleting Stems, when the past suffix precedes a vowel-initial

p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffix (i.e. in all person/numbers other than the 3rd per
son singular indefinite), the past suffix appears as
(i) the vowelless varian t -t if the stem is a non-ik Vowel-deleting Stem.
In this case the unstable vowel of the stem does not delete since the
suffix is consonant-initial:

p a s t Is g in d e f

rabol
rob

gydtdr
torture

forog
turn

erez
feel

raboltam

gydtdrtem

forogtam

ereztem

(ii) the vowel-initial varian t -ottl-ettl-dtt OR the vowelless variant -t if

the stem is an -ik-class Vowel-deleting Stem. In this case the unstable
vowel of the stem is deleted or retained depending on whether the
vowel-initial or the consonant-initial variant of the past suffix is chosen.
120

furdik
bathe

lelegzik
breathe

ugortam
ugrottam

furddtem
furdottem

lelegeztem
llelegzettem

19.1.2 Vowel-deleting -ik Stem s

(ii) the vowel-initial variant -ottl-ettl-dtt if the stem is (a) a non-ik Voweldeleing Stem which ends in a consonant other than l or r, or (b) it is
an -ik-class Vowel-deleting Stem. In these cases the unstable vowel
of the stem deletes since the suffix is vowel-initial:
(a)

1 s g in d e f

ugrik
jum p

Some verbal Vowel-deleting Stems are -ik verbs as well. The unstable vowel
of these stems (which would show up before a consonant-initial suffix) is
not apparent in the dictionary forms of these verbs, which have the suffix
-ik. However, the unstable vowel is always predictable. As is regular with
Vowel-deleting Stems, it is o or e or o, whose selection is determined by
the preceding vowels of the stem according to the rules of Vowel Harmony
(Section IA ):furdik bathe furodni to bathe, lelegzik breathe - lelegezni to breathe, ugrik jum p - ugorni to jum p.
19.1.2.1 Past Forms

For the past forms of Vowel-deleting -ik Stems, see Section 19.1.1.
1 9 .1 .2 .2 2 s g p r e in d e f , 2 p l p r e s in d e f , 3pi. p r e in d e f , 1 s g s 2 s g / p l h,
C o n d i i o n a l and I n f i n i t i v e Forms

After Vowel-deleting -ik Stems, both the vowel-initial and the non-vowelinitial variants of the 2 S g P r e s I n d e f , the 2 P l P res I n d e f , the 3 P l P res
I n d e f , the 1sg s 2 sg / pl , the C o n d i io n a l and the I n f in it iv e suffixes are
possible. The unstable vowel of the stem is deleted or retained depending
on whether the vowel-initial or the consonant-initial variant of the suffix
is chosen. This is shown below using the verbs furdik bathe, lelegzik
breathe and ugrik jum p as examples:
suffix variants
2 sg pres indef

-szl-aszl-esz
-oll-ell-dl

after Vowel-deleting -ik Stems

ugrasz
ugorsz
fiirdesz
fiirddsz
lelegzel'

1 In 2 s g Pres Indef, sibilanl f i n a l stems take the suffix -oll-ell-dl (see Section 11.1.1)
which is always vowel-initial - thus, there is no alternative form.
121

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

-tokl-tekl-tokl-otokl-etekJ-dtok

ugortok
furddtdk
lelegeztek

ugrotok
furddtdk
lelegzetek

(Some of the verb stems listed have variants with pre-verbs (cf. Chapter
21) which may have different meanings. With a few exceptions only the
stems are listed here - the variants are also Vowel-deleting Stems).

-nakl -nekl-anakl-enek

ugornak
fiirodnek
lelegeznek

ugranak
furdenek
lelegzenek

1sgs 2 sg / p l

-lakl-lekl-alakl-elek

ugorlak
fiirodlek
lelegezlek

ugralak
furdelek
lelegzelek

C o n d i io n a l

-nl-anl-en

ugornek
fiirodnek
lelegeznek

ugranek
furdenek
lelegzenek

I n f in it iv e 2

-nil-anil-eni

ugorni
furodni
lelegezni

ugrani
fiirdeni
lelegzeni

andalog
ramlik
becsmerel
becsiil
belyegez
bomlik
botlik
buzog
celoz
csepel
csepereg
didereg
doglik
dohnyzik
diibdrog
ebedel
ellenez
enekel
enyeleg
erdemel
erez
erzeleg
fanyalog
forog
foszlik
fuldoklik
fuldokol
fiirdik
fiistolog
gtol
gozolog
gyakorol
gyszol
gyotdr
hajlik
hajol
haldoklik
hangzik

2 pl

pres in def

3plpr es

in def

rcr After Vowel-deleting non-ik Stems, only the consonant-initial variants

of the 2 S g P res I n d ef , the 2 P l P res I n d e f , the 3P l P res I n d e f , the 1sgs
2 sg / pl , the C o n d i io n a l and the I n f in it iv e suffixes are possible. The

unstable vowel of the stem is retained:

suffix variants

after Vowel-deleting non-ik Stems

rabol
rob

forog
turn

2 S g P res I n d e f -szl-aszl-esz

rabolsz

forogsz

2 P l P res I n d e f -tokl-tekl-tokl-otokl-etekl-otok

raboltok

forogtok

3 P l P res I n d e f -nakl-nekl-anakl-enek

rabolnak

forognak

l sg s 2 sg / pl

-lakl-lekl-alakl-elek

rabollak

foroglak

C o n d i io n a l

-nl-anl-en

rabolnek

forognek

I n f in it iv e

-nil-anil-eni

rabolni

forogni

The following is a lisl of some common Vowel-deleting Stems:

2 The same variation can also be found in the personal infinitive, i.e. when the infini
tive takes possessive suffixes (see Section 17.1.2): ugranomtugornom for rae to ju m p ,
ugranod/ugornod, fo ry o u to ju m p , etc.

walk dreamily
flow
impeach
estimate
stamp
unfold
trip
gush
aim
thresh
drizzle
shiver
die
smoke
rumble
have luncii
object to
sing
dally with sb
deserve
feel
sentimentalize
sniff at sg
revolve
fray
be drowning
be drowning
bathe
smoke
ham per
steam
practice
moum
torture
bend
bend
be dying
sound

helyesel
hinyzik
himez
hizeleg
holyagzik
hdmpdlydg
horog
hullmzik
hunyorog
imbolyog
ingerel
inog
irnyoz
irigyel
ismetel
javasol
jegyez
jellemez ,t
kromol
kavarog
kejeleg
kepez
kicsinyel
kinoz
kborol
koboz
kdnydrdg
kotlik
kotor
kozol
lelegzik
megfeneklik
meghasonlik
megjegyez
megtorol
merszel
mersekel

approve o f
be missing
embroider
flatter
blister
surge
moan
wave
squint
be unsteady
irritate
wobble
aim
envy
repeat
recommend
note
characterize
swear
whirl
act lecherously
educate
belittle
torture
ramble
confiscate
beg
brood
fumble
inform
breathe
run aground
conflict with
oneself
remember
avenge
dare
reduce
123

122

1 9 . Verb S te m s

meszrol
mosolyog
mozog
nyavalyog
nyiizsog
ocsrol
ogyeleg
omlik
omlik
oriz
orol
orvosol
oszlik
dsztdndz
otlik
panaszol
prolog
pattogzik
pazarol
pecsetel
peder
perei
pezseg
porog
ptol
rabol
rezeg
rogtdndz
romlik
sajog
sebez
seper
sistereg
sodor
sopor

butcher
smile
m ove
whine
swarm
belittle
loiter
fall down
spill
guard
grind
cure
disperse
encourage
come to the
complain
evaporate
flake off
waste
stamp
twirl
sue
fizz
twirl
revolve
replace
rob
vibrate
improvise
become worse
ache
wound
sweep
sizzle
roii
sweep

sugrzik
siirog
szagol
szedeleg
szegelyez
szerepel
szerez
tmolyog
tekozol
terdepel
terem
tevelyeg
tipor
tiszteleg
toboroz
toporog
torol
tuloz
unddklik
udvarol
iidvdzol
ugrik
unnepel
vdol
vndorol
varzsol
vsrol
vegez
verzik
vezekel
vezenyel
virgzik
visszhangzik
viszolyog
viszonoz
zdrog

1 9 . Verb S te m s

radiate
hurry
smell
feel giddy
border
perform
obtain
stagger
squander
kneel
grow
go astray
trample
salute
recruit
stand uneasily
wipe
exaggerate
shine
court
greet
jum p
celebrate
accuse
wander
practise m agic
buy
finish
bleed
expiate
conduct
flow er
echo
shudder at sg
return
rattle

19.2 v-adding Stem s

Almost all Hungarian verb stems end in consonants or consonant clusters

i here are a small number of stems that end in a vowel when they occur
in isolation. They arefo cook, lo shoot, no grow, szo weave, ro scrib124

ble, and nyu wear down. These stems are all v-adding Stems, i.e. they
add a final consonant v when followed by a vowel-initial suffix.
Of these stems, lo shoot, no grow, szo weave, ro scribble shorten
their vowels when they take a v before a vowel-initial suffix:
C-initial suffix
ro scribble
lo shoot

rnak they scribble

lonek they shoot

V-initial suffix
rovom I scribble
lovom I shoot

The stem vowel of fo cook and nyu wear down does not shorten:
C-initial suffix

V-initial suffix

nyu wear down nyunek they wear down nyuvdk I wear down
fo cook
fonek they cook
fovdk I cook
os"

Note that in the p a s t (definite and indefinite) these stems end in a vowel
to which the past -t plus the appropriate p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffixes are
added: rtt he/she/it scribbled, lott he/she/it shot, rttak they scribbled, lottek they shot, etc.

03

These stems take the y'-initial suffixes in the C o n j u n c t iv e - I m p e r a t iv e

(definite and indefinite, see Sections 14.1 and 14.2). Note that the suf
fix -dd appears in the short form of the 2nd person singular definite:
lodd shoot!, rdd scribble!, etc.

19.3 Defective Stem s

Defective Stems lack certain forms that regular verbs have (they have
incomplete paradigms).
For example, Defective Stems do not have Conjunctive-lmperative forms,
so it is not possible to use the verb csuklik hiccup(which is a Defective
Stem), in constructions Ihat would require a Conjunctive-lmperative form:
/N O !Nem akarom, hogy csukljl. or /N O !Nem akarom, hogy csiikoljl.
I dont want you to hiccup.
ist Most Defective Stems are -ik verbs (e.g. csuklik), two are non-/fc verbs
(Jketl- doubt and sinyl- suffer). All Defective Stems end in two con
sonants (these are the two consonants preceding the suffix -ik in the
case of -ik verbs), but it is not possible to tell if a verb stem is defective
or non-defective on the basis of its shape alone. For example,fuldoklik
gasp for breath, suffocate is non-defective (compare the very similar
defective csuklik): Nem akarom, hogy fuldokoljl. I dont want you
to gasp for breath.
125

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

The missing forms are not random. Only forms in which the defective
stem is followed by a vowel-initial suffix are possible, so suffixes that
only have consonant-initial variants cannot be added to defective stems.
A suffix which has a vowel-initial variant can be added to a Defective
Stem (in its vowel-initial variant, naturally). For example, the suffix -hatl
-het m ay does not have a vowel-initial variant, so it is not possible to say
may hiccup by adding the suffix to the stem csukl-, but it is possible to
put the same stem in the past because the past suffix -ottl-ettl-ottl-tl- does
have a vowel-initial variant: csuklott 3 s g in d e f p a s t . Note that D-initial
suffix-variants count as consonant-initial (see Sections 11.2, 14.1 and 14.2).
The following is a list of some common Defective Stems:
(Some of the verb stems listed have variants with pre-verbs (cf. Chapter
21) which may have different meanings. With a few exceptions, only
the stems are listed here - the variants are also Defective Stems).
arnylik
thramlik
befellegzik
buzlik
csuklik
dszlik
eliramlik
erzik
felgyulemlik
fenylik
feslik
fogzik
foszlik
habzik
hmlik
hanyatlik
izlik
ktlkisziiremlik
kodlik

126

be in proportion
to sg
devolve on
be all over
stink'
hiccup
adom
pass quickly
be felt
gather
shine
come unstitehed
teethe
fray
foam
peel
degenerate
like the taste o f
doubt
can be faintly
heard
be seen in the
mist

magaslik
megcsdmorlik
meghasonlik
morajlik
drvenylik
parzslik
patakzik
porlik
rejlik
remlik
robajlik
sejlik
siklik
snylsotetlik
szaglik
szuremlik
tiiremlik
vedlik
villmlik
vonaglik
zajlik

tow er
become sated
conflict with
rumble
whirl
glow
gush
become dust
lie in
vaguely remember
rumble
make itself felt
slide
suffer
loom darkly
smell
filter oul
crease
slough
O
strike
(of a lightning)
writhe
happen

19.4 sz/d and sz/z Stem s

19.4.1 Cszik verbs

Cszik verbs, i.e verbs that end in a consonant plus -szik in their dictionary
form (3 sg pr e s INDEF) behave in a special way in that they have an alter
native stem.3
In the alternative stems, the -sz- of the ending -szik is replaced by -od-l-ed(sz/d Stems) and rarely by -oz-t-ez- (sz/z Stems4). The endings -od-t-ed- and
-oz-t-ez- conform to Vowel Harmony:
sz/d stem
-od-/-ed-

sz/z stem
-oz-t-ez-

mosakszik
mosakodik

wash oneself

szndekszik
szndekozik

intend

ndvekszik
ndvekedik

grow

igyekszik
igyekezik

try hard

03 Note the verbs haragszik be angry,fekszik lie, alszik sleep, whose

alternative stems have -ud-/-ud- (haragudhat (s)he may be angry,
fekudhet (s)he may be lying, aludhat (s)he may be asleep) and the
verb alapszik be based on whose alternative verb has -ul- (alapulhat
it may be based on). These stems are also pecuniar in that some of
the inflected forms of their alternative stems are also missing, Note
the excepional forms fekhet (s)he may be lying, alhat (s)he may be
asleep.
19.4.1.1 The inflection of Cszik verbs

There is no meaning difference between the Cszik stem and the alterna
tive stem of the same verb. The alternative stems behave in a completely
regular way, i.e. like any regular verb. (This means that all the inflected
forms of the alternative verbs exist.)
The Cszik stems, on the other hand, are very similar to the Defective
Stems: they can only combine with a vowel-initial suffix.

3This is noi true of stems that have t before the ending -szik. Verbs which end in -tszik
do not have alternative stems and behave like regular verbs that end in two consonants.
There are only four verbs of this kind: ha/latszik be heard\j ts zik play', ltszik seenv
and tetszik like.
4There are only four sz/z stems: emlksziklemlekezik rem ember, igyekszik/igyekezik try
hard, gyiilekszik/gyulekezik gather, szndekszik/szndekozik intend.
127

1 9 . Verb S te m s

Suffixes that only have consonant-initial variants cannot be added to

Cszik stems. For example, the suffix -h.atl-h.et m ay does not have a
vowel-initial variant, so it cannot combine with a Cszik stem and the
alternative stem must be used for the -hatl-het form instead: mosakszik
wash oneself - mosakodhat may wash oneself; igyekszik try hard igyekezhet may try hard, etc. Note that -iniial suffix-variants count
as consonant-initial (see Sections 11.2, 14.1 and 14.2).
Suffixes which only have vowel-initial variants may combine both with
a Cszik stem and its alternative stem too, so typically both forms can be
used: I s g p r e s -oml-eml-dm: mosakszom or mosakodom I wash myself
3 sg p r e s i n d e f -ik: igyekszik try hard - igyekezik (s)he tries hard, etc.
A suffix which has vowel-initial variants as well as consonant-initial vari
ants can be added to a Cszik stem (in its vowel-initial variant) and to the
alternative stem (in its consonant-initial variant) too, so typically both
forms can be used: 3 pl p r e s i n d e f -nakl-nekl-anakl-enek: mosakszanak
or mosakodnak they wash themselves; igyekszenek try hard - igyekeznek they try hard, etc.
na" Note that the past, the condiional and the infinitive forms must be
based on the alternative stems (and never on a Cszik stem) in spie of
the fact that the relevant suffixes do have vowel-initial variants ( p a s t :
-ottl-ett!-dttl-tl-tt: c o n d : -nl-ani-err, i n f :-ni!-ani/-e n i) :
PAST

3 sg i n d e f

mosakodott he washed himself

( / n o Imosakszott)

1p l

m o s a k o d tu n k we washed ourselves

in d e f

( / n o Imosakszottunk)
COND

INF

3 sg i n d e f

mosakodna he would wash him self

( / n o Imosakszana)

I p l in d e f

mosakodnnk we would wash ourselves

( /n o / mosakszannk)
mosakodni to wash oneself

1 9 . Verb S te m s

19.4.2 -uszik/-iiszik verbs

N szik verbs, i.e verbs that end in a vowel plus -szik in their dictionary
form (3 sg pres in d ef ) behave in a completely regular fashion except when
the vowel preceding -szik is u or ii. Three verbs belong to this group: aluszik5 sleep, alkuszik bargain and eskiiszik swear. These stems have
alternative stems in which the stem-final sz changes to a d: alud-, alkud-,
eskud-. They are used in the following way:
Suffixes that only have consonant-initial variants can only be added to
the d-final alternative stems: aludhat may sleep, alkudhat may bargain
and eskiidhet may swear. Note the form alhat may sleep. D-initial suffix-variants count as consonant-initial (see Sections 11.2, 14.1 and 14.2).
Suffixes that only have vowel-initial variants can only be added to the
jz-final stems: I sg pres aluszom, alkuszom, eskuszdm. Note that the u is
usually left out in the relevant forms of aluszik: alszik, alszom, etc.
Suffixes which have vowel-initial variants as well as consonant-initial
variants take their consonant-initial form and are usually added to the
d-final stems of alkuszik and eskiiszik: e.g. 3 pl pr e s in d e f alkudnak,
eskiidnek (though sometimes the sz-final stems can also be used). The
d-final stems must be used past, the condiional and the infinitive (the
suffixes appear in their regular variants): pa st 3 sg in d e f alkudott, eskiidott, past I pl in d e f alkudtunk, eskudtiink-, c o n d alkudna, eskiidne; in f
alkudni, eskiidni.
Aluszik often behaves in a special way with these suffixes. It takes the
sz-final stem alusz- or (usually) alsz- to form the 2 sg in d e f p r e s , 2 pl
in d e f pres and 3 p l in d e f p r e s :
2 sg in d e f pres
2 pl in d e f pres
3 pl in d e f pres

forms fe k iid t layand a lu d t slept.

alszol
alszotok
alszanak

By contrast, all the past, the condiional and the infinitive forms are based
on the c/4'inal stem:
pa st

in d e f

or
or
or

(see Section 11.1 for the suffixes)

(iN Q .h n o sa k sza n i)

osp Note the excepional 3sc, p a s t

aluszol
alusztok
alusznak

co n d
in f

aludt
aludna
aludru

(see Section 12.1 for the suffixes)

(see Section 13.1 for the suffixes)
(see Section 17.1 for the suffixes)

iss- Note the irregular form of the past suffix in 3 sg

past in d e f

aludt.)

5 This verb has a Cszik variant alszik.

128

129

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

19.4.3 sz/d/v and s z /z lv Stem s

In some (not all) sz/d and sz/z Stems, the stem final -sz- is replaced by a -vbefore the a c t iv e ( p r e s e n t ) pa r tic iple suffix -ol-o (see Section 17.2.1)
and the noun-forming suffix -sl-es:
haragszik be angry
al(u)szik sleep
ndvekszik grow
eskiiszik swear

-ol-o

-sl-es

haragvo
alv
ndvekvo
leskiivd

haragvs
alvs
ndvekves
eskiives

Note that the same suffixes although they are vowel-initial are added
to the d-final alternative stems6 of other (simple) sz/d and szlz Stems:
mosakszik
verekszik

-t-o

-sl-es

mosakod
verekedo

mosakods
verekedes

It is unpredictable which szld, szlz stem is an szldlv, szlzlv stem and which
one is a simple szld, szlz Stem.
The following is a list of szld, szlz Stems. In the list szlz stems are under
lined and sz/d/v, sz/z/v stems are indicated with the symbol V after the
stem.
(Some of the verb stems listed have variants with pre-verbs (cf. Chapter
21) which may have different meanings. With a few exceptions, only
the stems are listed here - the variants are also szld, szlz Stems).
alapszik
alkuszik
alszik v
aluszik v
baszakszik
cselekszik v
dicsekszik v
emlkszik
eskiiszik ?v
fekszik V

be based on
bargain
sleep
sleep
fuck around
with sg/sb
act
boast
remember
swear
lie

furakszik
gazdagszik
gyanakszik v
gyarapszik
gyulekszik
haragszik v
igyekszik v
kdtekszik

push ahead
become rich
be suspicious
become richer
gather
be angry
strive, try hard
pick a quarrel
with sb
letelepszik
settle
megalkuszik v compromise

megbetegszik
megelegszik
melegszik
mosakszik
ndvekszik v
nyalakszik
nyugszik v
dregszik
szndekszik

become ill
be content
become warm
wash oneself
grow
lick
calm down
become old
intend

tanakszik
telepszik
tolakszik
torekszik v
iilepszik
vastagszik
verekszik
veszekszik
vetekszik

think
settle
push ahead
strive
form sediment
become thicker
fight
quarrel
rival

19.5 Irregular Verbs

In addition to the stem classes described above there are ten verbs whose
conjugation is irregular: tesz put, act, vesz take, buy, hisz believe, visz
carry, lesz be, become, eszik eat, iszik drink, van be, megy go, jon
come.
19.5.1 tesz, vesz, hisz, visz, lesz, eszik, iszik

The first seven (tesz put, act, vesz take, buy, hisz believe, visz carry,
lesz be, become, eszik eat, iszik drink) behave similarly.
19.5.1.1 Present Tense

In the present (definite and indefinite) they behave like regular verbs (see
Chapter 11.). Tesz and iszik are given as examples, but the others are conjugated in the same way. Note that iszik is an anti-harmonic stem (see
Section 1.4) and thus takes the back vowel variants of harmonic suffixes:
P

resen t

In d e f in it e

resen t

e f in it e

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

Sg l ST

iszok

teszek

iszom

teszem

2 ND

iszol

teszel

iszod

teszed.

^RD

iszik

tesz

issza

teszi

iszunk

tesziink

isszuk

tesszuk

2 ND

isztok

tesztek

issztok

teszitek

^RD

isznak

tesznek

isszk

teszik

P l 1st

6The relevant forms of the stem alapszik be based on are alapul and alapuls.
130

131

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

19.5.1.2 Past Tense

19.5.1.3 Condiional

In the past (definite and indefinite) the stems of tesz, vesz, hisz, visz, lesz
are tett-, vett-, hitt-, vitt-, lett- respectively:

The Condiional (definite and indefinite) stems of tesz, vesz, hisz, visz,
lesz, eszik, iszik to which the regular condiional p e r s o n / n u m b e r suffixes
(see Chapter 13) are added are tenn-, venn-, hinn-, vinn-, lenn-, enn-, innrespectively:

Past Indefinite

Past D efinite

tesz
visz
put, act carry

tesz
put, act

visz
carry

C o n d i io n a l I n d e f in it e

C o n d i io n a l D e f in it e

tettem

vittem

tettem

vittem

2ND

tettel

vittel

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

tetted

vitted

3 RD

tett

vitt

innek

tennek

innm

tennem

tette

vitte

tettunk

vittiink

innl

tennel

innd

tenned

tettuk

vittuk

2ND

tettetek

vittetek

3RD

inna

tenne

inn

tenne

tettetek

vittetek

3 RD

tettek

vittek

1st

innnk

tennenk

innnk

tennenk

tettek

vittek

inntok

tennetek

inntok

tennetek

3RD

innnnak

tennenek

innk

tennek

Sg 1ct

P l 1st

The past stems of eszik, iszik are ett-, itt- before vowel-initial suffixes,
and evett, ivott in the 3rd person indefinite singular when the p e r s o n / n u m
b e r suffix is zero. Note that iszik is an anti-harmonic stem (see Section
1.4) and thus takes the back vowel variants of harmonic suffixes:
P a s t I n d e f in it e

P a s t D e f in it e

eszik
eat

iszik
carry

eszik
eat

iszik
carry

Sg 1st
2 nd

ettem

ittam

ettem

ittam

ettel

ittl

etted

ittad

3 rd

evett

ivott

ette

ita

1st

etiink

ittunk

ettiik

ituk

2ND
3RD

ettetek

ittatok

etetek

itltok

ettek

ittak

ettek

ittk

Pl

132

Sg 1st
2ND

Pl

19.5.1.4 Conjunctive-lmperative

The Conjunctive-lmperative (definite and indefinite) stems of tesz, vesz,

hisz, visz, lesz, eszik, iszik to which the regular conjunctive-imperative
endings are added are tegy-, vegy-, higy-, vigy-, legy- egy-, igy-, respec
tively. They all take the D-inital variants of the Conjunctive-lmperative
endings. Note, however, that with the exception of higy-, which regularly
becomes higgy- when the endings are attached, there is no gemination of
the stem-final consonant:
C onjunctive -I mperative I ndefinite

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

hisz
believe

1ST

igyak

tegyek

higgyek

2 ND
SHORT

Lgll
-

tegy el
tegy

higgy el
higgy

3 rd

igypn

tegyen

higgyen

r T

igyunk

tegyunk

higgyiink

2 ND

igyatok

egyetek

higgyetek

3 RD

igyanak

tegyenek

higgyenek
133

1 9 . Verb S te m s

1 9 . Verb S te m s

CONJUNCTIVE-IMPERATIVE DEFINITE

Sg

Pl

iszik
drink

tesz
put, act

hisz
believe

J ST

igyam

tegyem

higgyem

I n f in it iv e

tenni venni hinni

2ND

tegyed
tedd

higgyed
hidd

P r e s e n t Pa r tic iple

tevo

vevo

hvo

vivo

SHORT

igyad
idd

3RD

igya

tegye

higgye

teves

hves

J ST

igyuk

tegyiik

higgyuk

2ND

igytok

tegyetek

higgyetek

SUD

igyk

tegyek

higgyek

bs* Note that some of these verbs lack the alternative short forms in the
2 sg Conjunctive-lmperative (lesz lacks all definite forms because it is
intransitive). Note also that most of the short forms are somewhat irregular in that they are not based on the same stem variants as the other
Conjunctive-lmperative forms:
C o n j u n c t iv e 2 sg

I n d e f in it e

D e f in it e

im p e r a t iv e

hisz

long

SHORT

n o u n - fo r m in g

-sl-es

hisz

vesz

v isz

lesz

inni

levo
levo

eyo

iv

leves

eves

iys

19 .5.2 Van, m egy, jo n

The remaining three irregular verbs, van be, have, megy go\jd n come,
have even more irregular paradigms.
All three are intransitive, so they do not have definite conjugations.
19.5.2.1 Present Tense
P r e s e n t In d e f in it e

van
be, have

megy
go

jon
come

JST

vagyok

megyek

jovok

2ND

vagy

mesz

idssz

^RD

van

megy

ion

JST

vagyunk

megyunk

joviink

tegyed
tedd

2ND
^RD

vagytok

mentek

jottok

vannak

mennek

jonnek

Past Tense

tesz

LONG
SHORT

legyel
IS1
tegyel
egy

vesz

LONG
SHORT

vegyel
vegy

vegyed
vedd

visz

LONG
SHORT

vigyel
-

vigyed
vidd

eszik iszik
enni

vinni lenni

higgyed
hidd

LONG
SHORT

iszik

tesz

higgyel
higgy

lesz

eszik

134

19.5.1.5 Miscellaneous other forms

P a s t I n d e f in it e

megy
go

jon

b e, h a v e

van

c o m e

LONG
SHORT

egyel
-

egyed
edd

1ST

yoltam

mentem

jottem

LONG
SHORT

igyl
-

igyad
idd

2ND
3RD

volt!

mentei

jotel

volt

ment

Mt

135

1 9 . Verb S te m s

Pl

1st

1 9 . Verb S te m s

voltunk

mentiink

jdttiink

2ND

voltatok

mentetek

jdttetek

3RD

voltak

mentek

jdttek

os- Gyere and gyertek are short forms in the second person singular - gyer
tek feels more colloquial than the long form jojjetek. Jojj is practically
extinct in colloquial Hungarian.
19.5.2.5 Miscellaneous other forms

9.5.2.3 Condiional

van
be, have

megy
go

jon
come

I n f in it iv e

lenni

menni

jonni

P r e s e n t P a r t ic ip l e

levo
levo

meno

jovo

leves

menes

joves

C ondiional Indefinite

van
Sg

Pl

be, have

megy
go

jon

volnek

mennek

jdnnek

2ND

volnl

mennel

jonnel

3RD

volna

menne

jonne

1st

volnnk

mennenk

jonnenk

2ND

volntok

mennetek

jonnetek

3RD

volnnak

mennenek

jonnenek

1st

com e

NOUN-FORMING

-sl-es

s- Note that the stem van does not have Infinitive, Present Participle and
-sl-es forms, and the corresponding forms of lesz are used instead (see
Section 19.5.1.5).

.5.2.4 Conjunctive-lmperative
C onjunctive -I mperative Indefinite

van
Sg

Pl

be, have

megy
go

jon

l ST

legyek

menjek

jojjek

2ND

legyel

menjel

jojjel

SHORT

legy

menj

gyere
( t jojj)

3 RD

legyen

menjen

jojjon

1st

legyunk

menjiink

jojjunk

2,ld

legyetek

menjetek

gyertek
jojjetek

3rd

legyenek

menjenek

jojjenek

com e

E>Note that the stem van does not have Conjunctive-lmperative forms
and the Conjunctive-lmperative forms of lesz are used instead (see
Section 19.5.1.4).
136

137

2 0 . Verbal S u ffix e s

20. Verbal Suffixes

c a u sa t iv e

tesz

vesz

hisz

visz

eszik

iszik

tetet

vetet

hitet

vitet

etet

itat

s" Note also that some verbs do not have a causative form, e.g. megy go
(compare fu t lx\m \futtat make sb run).
A tanr enekeltette az osztlyt.
The teacher made the class sing.
Some of the verbal meanings that are expressed by auxiliaries or special
constructions in English are expressed by suffixes in Hungarian. The suf
fixes listed here are productive (i.e. typically they can be added to verbs
without restriction) and may be followed by inflectional suffixes (Past,
Condiional, and Conjunctive-lmperative):

2 0 .2 Reflexive

20.1 Causative: -a t/-e t/-ta t/-te t

Reflexive suffixes express that the subject and the object of the verb are
the same. There are several reflexive suffixes:

The causative is used to denote that the subject has the action expressed
by the verb done by somebody else. The causative suffix has the follow
ing variants:
-atl-et
-tatl-tet

Generally, monosyllabic stems take the -atl-et variant and polysyllabic

stems take the -tatj-tet variant:
MONOSYLLABIC

POLYSYLLABIC

mos
wash

ktild
send

olvas
read

mosat

kiildet

olvastat

keres
look for
kerestet

rar Note that the syllable count must be based on the simple verb stem, e.g.
lemos wash o f f behaves in the same way as mos wash: lemoat
There are many stems that behave idiosyncratically: csikorgat make se
screech , altat make sb sleep\fe k te t make sb lie down etc.
o- Note the causative of the irregular stems tesz put, act, vesz take, buy,
hisz believe, visz carry, eszik eat, iszik drink:

138

-kodikl-kedikl-kddikl-akodikl-ekedik
-kozikl-kezikl-kozik/-akozikl-ekezik
-dik/-odik
-o(d)zik/-o(d)zik
The variation in vowels is determined by Vowel Harmony, but otherwise
it is rather unpredictable.

The choice between the back vowel variants versus the front vowel vari
ants is determined by Vowel Harmony.

ca u sa t iv e

Peter a Vdrdskereszttel keresteti a noveret.

Peter has the Red Cross look for his sister.

Examples include mos wash mosakodik wash him /her/it-self, fesu l

combfesulkodik comb him/her/it-self, tpll feed tpllkozik feed
him/her/it-self, etc. Note that it is not always possible to supply a reflexive
meaning for many verbs ending in the suffixes given above, e.g. jelentkezik stand up to report, gondolkozik think, etc.
Note that verbs with the reflexive suffix are -ik verbs and therefore the
final ik of the suffix only appears in 3 sg p r e s i n d e f .
A nagynenem mindennap hromszor mosakodik.
My aunt washes herself three times a day.
Biztos, hogy fesiilkodtel?
Are you sure you have combed you hair?
2 0 .3 Possibility/permission: -h a t/-h e t

The suffix used to express possibility or permission is:

-hat/-het

139

2 0 . Verbal S u ffix e s

This is a truly productive fonn of verbal suffixation with the meanings

expressed m English by can, could, may, might, be allowed to, etc The
choice between the variants is determined by Vowel Harmony.
lt ^
see

nez
watch

lthat
may see

nezhet
may watch

ol
kill
olhet
may kill

" K te 6
fomiS f the irreular stems tesz put, act, v z take
buy, hisz believe, visz carry, eszik eat, iszik drink, jon com e
megy go , van be:
-hatl-het

-hatl-het

21. Preverbs

tesz

vesz

hisz

visz

eszik

iszik

tehet

vehet

hihet

vihet

ehet

ihat

jo n

megy

van

johet

mehet

lehet

Megnezhetem afotoidat?
Can I look at your photos?
Meg d e r hetjuk a vonatot, ha sietunk.
We may still catch the train if we hurry.

Hungarian verbs often have preverbs, i.e. they often take particles in pre
fix position. The most frequent preverbs are listed below. It is important
to realise that the meanings listed with the preverbs are often approximate
because, frequently, the meaning of a prefix+verb combination cannot be
derived from the meaning of its parts (like the combination of a verb and
a preposition in English). The meanings given below are the literal mean
ings of the preverbs. No meaning will be given if a verbal prefix has no
independent meaning in isolation. In the examples cited below the preverb
combines with the verb stem in its literal meaning.
APPROXIMATE MEANING

EXAMPLE

abba
agyon.
al

(to) under

altesz put sg under sg

across, through

tniegy go across

be

in(to)

belep step into/inside

bele

into

beleugrik jump into

benn

in, inside

bennreked get stuck inside

egybe

into one, together

egybeolvad melt into one, blend

el

away

elmegy go away

ellen

against

ellenll stand up against, resist

elo

forward, forth, do previously

elohuz draw forth, produce

el ore

forward

elorejon come forward

fel, fol

up

felmegy go up

felbe

into half, <incompleteness>

felbevg cut into half

felre

aside, to the side

felre lok push aside

140
141

mi

2 1 . P reverb s

2 1 . P rev erb s

felul, folul over

feliiUr overwrite

fenn, fonti

tova

away, on

tovalibben flit away

tovbb

away, on

toybbmegy walk on

htra

(to the) back

htraszol call back

tdnkre

haza

homeward

hazamegy go home

tul

past, over

tulfizet overpay

helyre

right

helyrehoz make it right, correct

ujj

again, anew

ujjepit rebuild

hozz

to, towards, against

hozzddrgdl rub against

ujra

again, anew

ujrair rewrite

ide

here

ideill sit here

utna

after

unamegy go after

keresztul

across, through

keresztulmegy go through

vegbe

to the end

vegbevisz carry out, complete

kette

into two

kettetdrik break into two

vegig

to the end

vegigeg bum to the end

ki

out

kimegy go out

vegre

to the end

vegrehajt carry out

kdrul

around, round

korulsetl walk round

vissza

back

visszahoz bring back

kdzbe

in the middle

kdzbekiabl interrupt loudly

21.1 Spaial m eanings

kozre
kulon

apart, off

kulonvlaszt set apart

le

down, off

leesik fall down

meg

<perfective>

megll come to a stop

meile

next to, not to the ri:

mellell stand by

oda

(to) there, up to

odamegy go up to

dssze

together

dsszeltit put together,

assemble

onto

rugrik jump onto

szejjel

apart

sziiielszed take apart

szernbe

opposite, in the eye

szej^benez look in the eye

szerte

in all directions

szertegazik divide into branches

szet

apart, into pieces

szettdr break into pieces

tele

full, completely

elerak fiii completely

neki

rajta

Some of the verbal prefixes above have concrete spaial adverbial

meanings e.g.
jump into
beugrik
in, into
be
jump into
beleugrik
into
bele
jump out (of)
kiugrik
out (of)
ki
jump down
leugrik
down
le
jump up
fehigrik
up
fel, fo l
jump away
elugrik
away, o ff
el
jump back
visszaugrik
back
vissza
jump over
tugrik
across, over
t
jump along
vegigugrik
along
vegig
jump here
ideugrik
here
ide
jump there
(jdqugrik
there
oda
jump onto
rugrik
on, onto
r
hsp In their concrete spatia! meanings preverbs usually require that the
dependent noun they refer to should be in some adverbial case (i.e.
not the n o m i n a t i v e or the a c c u s a t i v e ):
Mindjrt kiugrom az ablakon.
T ll jump out of the window

SPR.

Mindjrt beitgrom az vzbe.

FU soon jump into the water ILL
143

142

2 1 . P rev erb s

Qdamegyek a hzhoz.
T ll walk up to the houseALL
Kimegyek a szobbl.
I go out of the roomEL
Rugrott az asztalra.
She jumped onto the tablesul).
The case required depends on the preverb and the verb stem (i.e. the same
preverb may require different cases with different verb stems and the same
verb stem may require different cases with different preverbs.)
2 1 .2 Aspectual m eanings

Some of the verbal prefixes have aspectual meanings. They usually express
the completion of the action (like some uses of the Perfect tenses in Eng
lish) or the beginning of the action:

2 1 . P reverb s

It is not possible to say which verbs take which preverbs in which aspec
tual meaning. When they are used in an aspectual meaning, preverbs
usually require that the dependent noun they refer to (if there is one)
should be in the Accusative.
(iii)

Often the preverb+verb combination has a meaning which cannot be

derived from the meanings of its parts. For example:
ki out
t across, over

meg, el, ki

Anna tegnap csinlta a hzi feladatt.

Yesterday Anna was doing her homework.
Anna tegnap megcsinlta a hzi feladatt.
Yesterday Anna completed (doing) her homework.

csinl do
ver beat

T h e position of preverbs

M egvettem a konyvet.
I have bought the book.
Meg kellett vennem a konyvet.
I had to buy the book.

Anna tegnap kiolvasta a konyvet.

Yesterday Anna read her book to the end.

Nem vettem meg a konyvet.

I have not bought the book.

Anna tegnap ment az uton.

Yesterday Anna was walking down the road.

A konyvet vettem meg.

Tt was the book that I have bought.

(ii) b e g i n n in g : meg,

kill, finish off

cheat on sb

Although (as their name suggests) preverbs are attached to the beginning
of verbs, they can become separated from the verb and sometimes may
actually appear after the verb:

Anna tegnap olvasta a konyvet.

Yesterday Anna was reading her book.

Anna tegnap elment.

Yesterday Anna left.

kicsinl
tver

W hen used in this abstract, idiomatic sense, verbal prefixes usually

require that the dependent noun they refer to (if there is one) should
be in the Accusative.
2 1 .3

(i) c o m p l e t i o n :

id io m a t ic

For the position of preverbs in constructions, see Section 23.6.

el

A gyerek megszlalt.
The baby started to talk.
A gyerek ehnosolyodott.
The baby started to smile.
144

145

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

22. Word Formation: Derivational Suffixes

2 2 .1 .2 Verbs from Nouns

-oll-ell-oll-l
fo rm :

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,

the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.
In some cases the suffix-initial vowel may disappear when
a vowel-initial suffix follows the suffix itself.

Hungarian has a great number of derivational suffixes. Only some of them

are productive, most are subject to idiosyncratic restrictions and can be
only added to certain stems. The following list contains the most common,
(more) productive derivational suffixes. Some derivational suffixes may
combine with others. All derivational suffixes precede inflectional ones.
Derivational suffixes do not lower (e.g. boldogsgot h a p p in e s s + ACC)
except when th e y are adjective-forming (e.g. pirosasat r e d d is h + ACC).
However, the adjective-forming privative suffix does not lower (e.g. boldogtalanok u n h a p p y + P L ). See Section 4.1.1. on suffixes and lowering.

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

vs- Some verbs derived with this suffix are -ik verbs.
i Note that the suffix-initial vowel is a/e after Lowering
Stems (see Section 4.1).
Note that final a/e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).
m e a n in g :

various actions/states involving the noun

ex am ples:

22.1 Derived Verbs

22.1.1 Verbs from Verbs

* -atl-etl-tatl-tet (Causative), see Section 20.1.

* -kodik!-kedik!-kodik!-akodik!-ekedik
-kozik/-kezik/ -kdzik/ -akozik/ -ekezik
-odikl-odik
-o(d)zik/-o(d)zik (Reflexive), see Section 20.2.
* -hatl-het (Possibility/permission), see Section 20.3.
* -gatl-getl-ogatl-egetl-oget

por dust
por dust
elndk president
kez hand
kefe brush
nyr summer
fiii ear

porol dust
porolok Isg pres indef
porlik become dust
elnokol preside
elndk(o)15k Isg pres indef
kezel handle
kefel brush
nyaral spend the summer vacation
fiilel listen carefully

-ozJ-ezJ-ozJ-z
form :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after monosyllabic stems,
the consonant-initial ones after polysyllabic stems.

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,

the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.
In some cases the suffix-initial vowel may disappear when
a vowel-initial suffix follows the suffix itself.

m e a n in g :

frequentative

isr Some verbs derived with this suffix are -ik verbs.

ex a m ples:

olvas read
emel lift
nyom push
nez look
ut hit

146

olvasgat read a little

emelget lift repeatedly
nyomogat push repeatedly
nezeget look from time to tim e
iitoget hit repeatedly

ir- Note that the suffix-initial vowel is a/e after Lowering

Stems (see Section 4.1).
b Note that final a/e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).

147

2 2 . Word Form ation: D erivational S u ffix es

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

m e a n in g :

v a r io u s a c tio n s /s ta te s in v o lv in g th e n o u n

ex am ples:

fo it patch
keret frame
elem element
fuggony curtain
bridzs bridge
gyuru ring
fa l wall
szdg nail

foltoz patch up
keretez frame
keretezi 3sg pres def
elemez analyse
elem(e)zi 3sg pres def
fiiggonyoz cover with a curtain
bridzsezik play bridge
gyuruz ring
falaz build a wall
szdgez nail

-szik/-eszik
fo rm :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

If the stem ends in a vowel, the vowel is deleted before the
suffix.

m e a n in g :

catch, hunt N

ex a m pl es:

hal fish
fiirj quail
lepke butterfly

halszik fish
furjeszik shoot quail
lepkeszik catch butterflies

2 2 .1 .3 Verbs from Adjectives

-it
fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

various actions/states involving the noun

It always forms transitive verbs.

ex am ples:

alap foundation
tan teaching

alapit found
tarnt teach

-ositl-esit/-ositf-sit
fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,
the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.
bs" Note that the suffix-initial vowel is ale after Lowering
Stems (see Section 4,1).
i- Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

create an N
It always forms transitive verbs

-it
fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

If the stem ends in a vowel, the vowel is deleted before the
suffix.

m e a n in g :

make sg a d j
Always forms transitive verbs.

e x a m pl es:

szep beautiful
vad wild
fekete black

-ul/iil
form :

csoportosit group
film esit make sg into a film
kddosit make sg unclear
rusit sell
forradalmastt revolutionize

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

If the stem ends in a vowel, the vowel is deleted before the

suffix.
m e a n in g :

become a d j
Always forms iniransilive verbs.

ex am ples:

szep beautiful
vad wild
fekete black

ex am ples:

csoport group
film film
kdd fog
ru product
forradalom revolution

szepit make beautiful

vad make wild
feketit make black

szepiil become beautiful

vadul become wild
feketul become black

- o d ik l-e d ik l-o d ik
fo rm :

harmonic three-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

If the stem ends in a vowel, the vowel s deleted before the
suffix.

149
148

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

bs- Note that the suffix-iniial vowel is not subject to Lowering, i.e. it is ol el o even after Lowering Stems (see Sec
tions 1.4 and 4.1).
m e a n in g :

ex am ples:

ex am ples:

piros r e d
kerek r o u n d
gombolyu sp h e r ic a l
szomoru s a d

pirosodik b e c o m e r e d
kerekedik b e c o m e r o u n d
gombolyodik b e c o m e s p h e r ic a l
szomorodik b e c o m e s a d

-os/-es/-os/-s
form :

i1Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5)

22.2.1 Nouns from Nouns

-sgl-seg
harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

It derives names of occupation and collective nouns

exam ples:

asztal table
asztalos carpenter
zoldseg vegetable zdldseges greengrocer
ora watch
rs watchmaker
fazek pot
fazekas potter

sr Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before this

suffix (see Section 1.5).
m e a n in g :

It derives abstract nouns or collective nouns.

exam ples:

a n y a lmother
hegy mountain

anyasg motherhood
hegyseg mountain range

-ka/-ke
FORM:

-szJ-esz
form :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,
the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.
bs- Note that the suffix-initial vowel is a/e after Lowering
Stems (see Section 4.1)

Derived Nouns

FORM:

halsz fisherman halszat fishing

nyelvesz linguist
nyelveszet linguistics
szolesz viniculturist szoleszet viniculture, vinyard

b e c o m e a d j

Always forms intransitive verbs.

2 2 .2

2 2 . Word Form ation: D erivation al S u ffix es

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

If the stem ends in a vowel, the vowel is deleted before the
suffix.

m e a n in g :

It derives names of occupation.

ex a m pl es:

hal fisli
nyelv language
szolo grape

m e a n in g :
ex am ples:

halsz fisherman
nyelvesz linguist
szolesz viniculturist

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

Typically, it can be attached to polysyllabic noun stems
which are (a) not Lowering Stems (see Section 4.1) and (b)
end in r, l, n, ny or the vowel i.
diminutive
ember m an
asztal table
vagyon wealth
asszony woman
neni old woman

emberke
asztalka
vagyonka
asszonyka
nenike

-cskal-cskel-ocskal-ecskel-dcske

-atl-et
form :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It can be attached to the suffix -szl-esz discussed above.

m e a n in g :

It derives names of institution or field of activity.

fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,
the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.
This suffix is the truly productive diminutive suffix: it can
occur when -kal-ke cannot, and in many cases even in the
environments where -kal-ke can.

150
151

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix es

bs Note that the suffix-initial vowel is ale after Lowering

Stems (see Section 4.1).

2 2 . Word Form ation: D erivational S u ffix es

EXAMPLES:

Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5).
sr Note that Vowel-deleting Stems always take this suffix
in the diminutive (see Section 4.2).
EXAMPLES:

baj trouble
sor beer
szem eye
kalap hat
iizlet business
teve cam ei
esernyo umbrella
fonl thread
vr castle
szdrny m onster
bokor bush
okdl fist

bajocska
sdrdcske
szemecske
kalapocska
iizletecske
tevecske
esernyocske
fonalacska
vracska
szdrnyecske
bokrocska
dkldcske

Nagy Lszlne
Nagyne
Kasza Belne
Kaszne

-ek
fo rm :

diminutive

MEANING:

Nagy Lszl
Nagy
Kasza Bela
Kasza

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It is attached to nouns denoting persons (including names).
It can follow a possessive suffix. If it is attached to a common noun, it must be used with a definite article.
<&Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

group of people associated with N

ex am ples:

Ngrdi
Peter
Ngrdi Peter
bartom my friend

Ngrdiek Nogrdi and his group

Peterek Peter and his group
Ngrdi Peterek Nogrdi Peter and his group
a bartomek my friend and his group

2 2 .2 .2 Nouns from Verbs

fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It is attached to shortened forms of given names.

m e a n in g :

It derives nicknames.

EXAMPLES:

Peter
Mrta
Mikls

p eti
Mrti
M iki

-sl-es
fo rm :

n1Note the behaviour of szld and szlz stems with his suffix
(see Section 19.4.3.).
m e a n in g :

It denotes the action itself.

ex am ples:

olvas read
olvass reading
lebeg float
lebeges floaling
haragszik be angry haragvs anger
verekedik fight
verekedes fighting

-ne
fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It is attached to a m ans sumame or to the end of his full
name (sumame followed by the given name).
,sr Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

M rs

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

-ol-o
fo rm :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

agent

ex am ples:

olvas read
rendez direct

olvaso reader
rendezo director

152
153

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivational S u ffix es

2 2 .2 .3 Nouns from Adjectives

m e a n in g :

-sgl-seg

ex a m pl es:

fo rm :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

e f Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before this
suffix (see Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :
ex am ples:

It derives abstract nouns (-ness).

vad w i l d
feher
fekete b la c k

vadsg

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The -atlan!-etlen variant is added to adjectives that end in
the derivational suffix -i, -tlanl-tlen attaches to other vowelfinal adjective stems and -talan!-telen is used with consonant-final adjectives.

fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

cs? Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5).

igf Note that the suffix-initial vowel is ale after Lowering

Stems (see Section 4.1).
the number itself

ex am ples:

negy 4
dt 5
hat 6
nyolc 8

2 2 .3

22.3.1 Adjectives from Adjectives

-asl-esl-s

privative adjective: lacking the quality

exam ples:

muveszi artistic
udvarias polie
hu faithful
komoly serious
boldog happy

s The suffix is -osl-esl-osl-s after the excepional nonlowering adjectives (see Section 7.1 on non-lowering
adjectives).

muveszietlen without artistic quality

udvariatlan impolite
hutlen unfaithful
komolytalan not serious
boldogtalan unhappy

22 .3 .2 Adjectives from Verbs

-hatol-heto
fo rm

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variant is added to adjectives that end in
a consonant or in the derivational suffix
the consonantinitial variant attaches to other vowel-final adjective stems.
its* Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see
Section 1.5).

154

m e a n in g :

negyes the number 4

o tos the number 5
hatos the number 6
nyolcas the number 8

Derived Adjectives

fo rm :

pirosas reddish
oszes greyish1
muveszies having artistic pretensions
feketes blackish
nagyos adult-like
gorogos Greek-like
angolos English-like

-tlan/-tlen!-talan!-telen!-atlan!-etlen

2 2 .2 .4 Nouns from Num erals

m e a n in g :

piros red
osz grey (of hair)
muveszi artistic
fekete black
nagy big
gorog Greek
angol English

w ild n e s s

feherseg w h it e n e s s
feketeseg b la c k n e s s
w h it e

-osl-esl-os
fo rm :

More-or-less having the quality of Adj.

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It can only be attached to a transitive verb.

m e a n in g

e x a m p le s :

-able
olvas read
elvez enjoy

olvashato readable
elvezheto enjoyable

-hatatlanl-hetetlen
fo rm :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It can only be attached to a transitive verb

155

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

m e a n in g :

un

exam ples:

o /ra ^ re a d
elvez enjoy

2 2 . W ord F o rm a tio n : D eriva tiona l Suffixes

...- a b le

Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5).

olvashatatlan unreadable
elvezhetetlen unenjoyable

a r This suffix can only be added to numeral/adjective plus

noun constructions, never to an isolated noun.

-atlanl-etlen
fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

privative adjective, negative

ex am ples:

vr wait, expect vratlan unexpected

ker ask for
keretlen unsolicited

of

Passive Participle

m e a n in g :

having N

ex am ples:

nagy lb big foot

nagy fiii big ear
nagy auto big car
nagy teve big camei

fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

It is not used with nouns that end in i (-beli is used instead,
see below).

nagy lbu having big feet

nagyfulu having big ears
nagy autju having a big car
nagy teveju having a big cam ei

-ol-o (Active (Present) Participle), see Section 17.2.1.

-ott/-ett/-dtt/-t/-tt (Passive (Past) Participle), see Section 17.2.2.
2 2 .3 .3 Adjectives from Nouns

car Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before

this suffix (see Section 1.5).

-osl-esl-osl-s
form :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,
the consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems.

m e a n in g :

belonging to N, of N, pertaining to N . It can be added to

placenames, nouns referring to time, the names of occupations, professions, institutions.

bs- Note that the suffix-initial vowel is ale after Lowerin

Stems (see Section 4.1).
&

ex a m pl es:

Budapest
Pecs
Zala
tegnap

is? Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5).
m e a n in g :
ex am ples:

having N, like N, relating to N

kalz pirate
emelet storey
kdd fog
ero strength
mese tale
fog tooth
szdg nail

kalzos pirate-like
emeletes multistorey
kodos foggy
eros strong
meses like a tale
fogas having teeth
szoges having nails

-nyi
fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

Derives adjectives of measure from nouns that can mean a

unit of measure.

ex am ples:

marok fist
tlca tray

maroknyi handful o f
tlcnyi tray of

-szeru

-ul-ul-jul-ju

fo rm :
form :

budapesti
pecsi of Pecs
zalai of Zala
tegnapi

hai-monic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems,
the consonant-initial ones occur after vowel-final stems.

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

tsr Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , before this
suffix (see Section 1.5).

156
157

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivational S u ffix e s

2 2 . Word F orm ation: D erivation al S u ffix e s

m e a n in g :

-like

ex am ples:

hal fish
kdnyv book
kutya dog

2 2 .4 Derived Adverbs

halszeru fishlike
kdnyvszeru booklike
kutyaszeru doglike

-fele
fo rm :

22.4.1 Adverbs from Verbs

-va/-ve (Adverbial Participle), see Section 17.2.4.

2 2 .4 .2 Adverbs from Adjectives

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before this
suffix (see Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

type o f

ex am ples:

hal fish
kutya dog

-anl-enl-n
fo rm :

half ele type of fish

kutyafele type of dog

E3- Note that final a, e lengthen to , e before a suffix (see

Section 1.5).

-fajta
fo rm :

non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

<sr Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before this
suffix (see Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

type o f

ex am ples:

hal fish
kutya dog

In the manner expressed by the adjective, -ly

ex a m ples:

alattomos sneaky
emberi humane
keseru bitter
dw va brutal
serto insulting

halfajta type of fish

kutyafajta type of dog

alattomosan sneaky
emberien humane
keseruen bitter
durvn brutal
serto(e)n insulting

-ull-ul
non-harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)
esp Note that final a, e DO NOT lengthen to , e before this
suffix (see Section 1.5).

m e a n in g :

belonging to N, of N, pertaining to N \ It can be added to

the names of countries, counties, placenames (only if they
end in /), institutions and nouns referring to time and place.

ex a m ples:

hold raoon
hz house

158

m e a n in g :

-beli
fo rm :

harmonic suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

The vowel-initial variants occur after consonant-final stems
and vowel-final stems that end in i, i, u, u, ii, u. The consonant-initial one occurs after vowel-final stems that end in
e, e, a, . Either the vowel-final variants or the consonant
final one can be used after stems that end in 6, o.

form :

harmonic two-form suffix (see Vowel Harmony)

m e a n in g :

in a language. It can only be added to adjectives denoting

languages.

ex am ples:

magyar Hungarian
nemet German
bantu Bantu

magyarul in Hungarian
nemetul in German
ban tuul in Ban tu

holdbeli located on the moon

hzbeli located in (our) house

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2 3 . C o n stru ctio n s and S e n t e n c e s

23. Constructions and Sentences

2 3 .2 Th e Om ission of Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns may occur in various positions in a Hungarian sentence

(subject, direct object, indirect object, adverbial, etc.), but in some positions
they are usually omitted if they are not emphatic/contrastive. These posi
tions are the subject position and the direct object position:
(i) Subject position

23.1 T h e Possessive Construction

In possessive constructions the possessor noun precedes the possessed

noun. The possessor noun is inflected for the d a t i v e case and the possessed
noun receives a p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n suffix. The possessed number agrees
with the possessor in person. If the possessed noun is plural, it receives
the plural possessed version of the p o s s e s s iv e / p e r s o n suffix. The noun
in Dative is followed by the definite article a/az:
Peternek a kdnyve
az embereknek a bartja
a kocknak qz ele

Peter s book
the people s friend
the edge of the cube

Peternek a kdnyvei
az embereknek a bart(j)ai
a kocknak az elei

Peters books
the people s friends
the edges of the cube

It s usual to omit both the dative suffix and the following definite article
(never just one of them!):
Peter kdnyve
az emberek bartja
a kocka ele

Peters book
the people s friend
the edge of the cube

Peter kdnyvei ^
az emberek bart(j)ai
a kocka elei

Peters books
the peoples friends
the edges of the cube

If the possessor is expressed by a personal pronoun, the nominal of the

pronoun is used, and the pronoun may be optionally omitted:
az en konyvem
a te bartod
a mj kesiink

a konyvem
a bartod
a kesiink

m ybook
your friend
our knife

The 3rd person singular pronoun o is used both in the singular and in the
plural 3rd person:
az o kdnyve
az o kdnyviik

a kdnyve
a kdnyviik

her/his book
their book

Non-contrastive/non-emphatic personal pronouns are usually omitted

in subject position in a main clause (the person/number of the subject
is marked on the conjugated verb):
Nezem a tevet.

<I> am watching TV.

Sirtunk.

<We> cried.

Orokke szeretni fogja Julit.

<He/she> will Iove Julia forever.

ar A 3rd person subject pronoun cannot be left out from a sentence from
which vanlvannak is obligatorily omitted (this can happen in the Present
Tense, see Section 23.7.2): O magas. She/he <is> tall.; Ok politikusok.
They <are> politicians.
ep If the subject pronoun receives contrastive/emphatic prominence, it is
not omitted: MI sirtunk. It was u^who cried.
(ii) Direct object position
*3rd person personal pronouns
Non-contrastive/non-emphatic singular 3rd person personal pronouns
are usually omitted in direct object position (the definite conjugation
of the verb indicates the person of the omitted direct object):
Ltod?

Can <youSUBJECT(SG)> see <her/him/itOBJEcr>?

Tegnap megvettem.

<ISUBJK:T> bought <her/him/itOBJECT> yesterday.

Elfelejtettek.

<TheySUBJECr> forgot <her/him/it0BJECT>.

Plural 3rd person personal pronouns CANNOT be omitted as objects

(so an omitted 3rd person object pronoun can only be interpreted as a
singular object):
Ltod oket?

Can <youSUBJECr(SG)> see them0liJECr?

Elfelejtettek oket.

<TheySUBJECT> forgot them0BJl;C.

160
161

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s and S e n te n c e s

Ist and 2nd person personal pronouns

A non-contrastive/non-emphatic singular Ist or 2nd person personal
pronoun can be omitted in direct object position if the reference is
unambiguous (the indefinite conjugation of the verb indicates that the
person of the omitted direct object is not 3sg):
Ltsz.

Can <youSUBJECTSGj> see <meOBJECT> ?

L&M.-

<IsuBjEcr> can see <youOBJECr(SG)>.

Elfelejtettel.

<YouSUBJECr(SG)> forgot <me0BJECr>.

Elfelejtettek.

<TheySUBJEcr> forgot <youSG/meOBJEcr>.

Plural Ist and 2nd person personal pronouns cannot be omitted (so an
omitted Ist or 2nd person object pronoun can only be interpreted as a
singular object):

M elyik lovat vlasztod?

Which horse do you choose?
ca- The question word miert is excepional because it can be separated from
the conjugated verb by a phrase: M iert ezt a lovat vlasztod? Why do
you choose this horse?
There is no special construction distinct from statements for yes-no ques
tions in Hungarian (unlike in English). The following sentences can be
statements or yes-no questions depending on their intonation:
Tegnap elment Pecsre.

Yesterday (s)he went to Pecs.

Tegnap elment Pecsre?

Did (s)he go to Pecs yesterday?

Tegnap ment el Pecsre.

Yesterday (s)he went to Pecs.

Tegnap ment el Pecsre?

Did (s)he go to Pecs yesterday?

Ltz minket?

Can <youSUBJECr(SG)> see usOBJECr?

Ltlak titeket.

<ISUBjEcr> can see youOBJECr(PL).

Elfelejtettel minket.

<YouSUBBJEcr(SG)> forgot usOBJECr.

Elfelejtettek titeket,

<TheySUBJEcr> forgot youOBJECr(PL).

Negatives are formed with nem no, not.

Elfelejtettek minket.

<TheySUBJE^r> forgot us0BJFCT,

Nem usually precedes the word it modifies:

- If the direct object pronoun receives contrastive/emphatic prominence,

it is not omitted:
ENGEM elfelejtettek. <TheySUBJFcr> forgot MEOBJECr.
2 3 .3 Questions

Wh-questions are introduced by interrogative pronouns and interrogative

adverbs (see Sections 6.6.1 and 6.6.3.1).
Milyen kdnyvet vettel? What kind of book did you buy?
Hov mesz?

Where are you going?

Ki dllt az ablakban?

Who stood in the window?

The construction that contains the question word (i.e. a phrase or the question word alone) must immediately precede the conjugated verb (i.e. it must
be in focus position, see Section 23.6).
H ol lttl ket kutyt tegnap ?
Where did you see two dogs yesterday?
162

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s an d S e n te n c e s

See Section 23.6 on the position of preverbs in questions.

2 3 .4 Negatives

Amerikba mentem megltogatni a bartomat.

I went to America to visit my friend.
Nem mentem Amerikba megltogatni a bartomat.
I didnt go to America to visit my friend (= I didnt go)
Nem Amerikba mentem megltogatni a bartomat.
I didnt go to America to visit my friend. (= not to America)
Nem a bartomat megltogatni mentem Amerikba.
I didnt go to America to visit my friend. (= not to visit my friend)
In neutral sentences nem immediately precedes the conjugated verb it
modifies.
Peter olvasta a kdnyvet.
Peter nem olvasta a kdnyvet.

Peter has read the book.

Peter has not read the book.

Even preverbs cannot occur between the nem and the conjugated verb (See
Section 23.6 on the position of preverbs in negative sentences):
163

2 3 . C o n stru ctio n s and S e n t e n c e s

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s an d S e n t e n c e s

Peter elolvasta a kdnyvet.

Peter has read the book.
Petei- nem olvasta el a kdnyvet. Peter has read the book.
With imperatives ne is used instead of nem:

verbs and complex verbs can take all person/number suffixes (Ist, 2nd,
3rd):
(En) akarok teniszezni.
I want to play tennis.

N e menj el!
Dont go away!

(Ok) utlnak teniszezni.

They hate to play tennis.

Ne is lssalak!
I dont want to see you.

Jnos utl teniszezni.

John hates to play tennis.

i- Note that the negative of the verb van in the 3rd person singular present
is nincs if van is used in the sense have or if it is foliowed by an adver
bial (usually of space):
N incs repiiloje.
Nincs Amerikban.

(S)he does not have an aeroplane.

(S )he is not in America.

bs- Note that double negation is used with negative pronouns in Hungarian:
Senkit sem lttam. I have not seen anybody.
23 .5 Infinitival C o n structio n s, Auxiliaries

Infinitives may occilr in combination with

(a) conjugated verbs:
Ok m enni akarnak. They want to go. and

(Te) kenytelen vagy teniszezni.

You have no choice but to play tennis.
(Mi) kenytelenek voltunk teniszezni.
We had no choice but to play tennis.
(En) kepes leszek teniszezni.
I will be able to play tennis.
Note that if the van be part of a complex verb is in the plural, then the
nominal part must occur in the plural too:
(Mi) kenytelenek voltunk teniszezni.
We had no choice but to play tennis.,'.
(Ok) kepesek lesznek teniszezni.
They will be able to play tennis.

(b) complex verbs, i.e. nominal + conjugated van be constructions:

En kesz vagyok megprblni. I am ready to try.
Note that the be verb (copula) of complex verbs is missing in the present
3rd persons (see Section 23.7.2):
O kesz meghaini.
Ok keszek meghalni.

He is ready to die.
They are ready to die.

Infinitival constructions often behave like auxiliaries and have auxiliarylike meanings.
23.5.1 Th e Non-dative Class of Verbs

Some verbs and complex verbs in infinitival constructions take a nomi

native subject and an impersonal infinitive (see Section 17.1.1). These
164

are in d ic a te d b y th e m ark + v a n after th e n o m in a l).

akar
btorkodik
bir
elfelejt
elkezd
enged
fol
fog
gyulol
hagy
hajlando +VAN
igyekszik
imd

w a n t
d are
be able to
fo r g e t
start
a llo w
be afraid
sh all, w ill
h a te
let, a llo w
can be persuaded to
do o n e s b est t o
Io v e

do ones best to
iparkodik
kenytelen + v a n have no choice but
be capable of, have
kepes + v a n
the cheek to
be ready to
kesz + v a n
be prepared to
kesziil
start
kezd
wish
kvn
be obliged to
koteles + v a n
try
(meg)probl
leam
( meg)tanul
megy
go
dare
mer
165

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s an d S e n t e n c e s

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s a n d S e n te n c e s

ohajt
segt
siet
szegyell
szeret

wish
help
hurry
be ashamed
Iove

szeretne
szokott
tanul
tud
utl

would like to
be in the habit of
leam
can, know
hate

csp Note that the verb szokott only has past forms.
2 3 .5 .2 T h e Dative Class of Verbs

Some verbs and complex verbs in infinitival constructions take a dative

subject and an impersonal infinitive or, altematively, a dative subject and
a personal infinitive (see Section 17.1.2). The subject can be omitted if
the personal infinitive is used. These verbs and complex verbs have a limited conjugation: they can occur in all tenses/moods, but only in the 3rd per
son singular:
Nekem rni kell.
(Nekem) rnom kell.

I have to write.

Jnosnak ir ni kellett.
Jnosnak rnia kellett.

John had to write.

N ektek illik m i.
(Nektek) illik irnotok.

You aii: required to write.

Peternek tilos volt aludni.

Peternek tilos volt aludnia.

It was forbidden for Peter to sleep.

N ekiink hasznos lesz elolvasni a konyvet.

It will be useful for us to read the book.
(N ekiink) hasznos lesz elolvasnunk a konyvet.
us? Note that both constructions described above allow another dative in
the same sentence meaning recipient to/for somebody:
Nekem kell rni neked.
(Nekem) rnom kell neked.

I have to write to you.

In the first impersonal construction this may result in ambiguity as a single

dative may be interpreted as subject or as recipient (because the subject
may be optionally left out, see Section 23.2):
Nekem kell rni.
I have to write to somebody. or Somebody has to write to me.
166

Nekiink kell elsobbseget adni.

We have to give way to somebody.
or Somebody has to give way to us.
The following is a list of some common verbs of this type (complex
verbs are indicated by the mark + v a n after the nominal):
erdemes +VAN
f j
hasznos +VAN
ideje + v a n
illik
jo +VAN
jlesik
kr + v a n
kell
kene
konnyu + v a n
lehet
muszj + v a n
nehez + v a n
rossz + v a n
sikeriil
szabad + v a n
sziikseges + va n
szuksegtelen + va n
tetszik
tilos +VAN

be worth
hurt
be useful to
be time to
be required to
be good to
feel good to
be a pity to
must, have to
must, have to
be easy to
may, possible
must, have to
be difficult to
be bad to
succeed
be allowed to
be necessary to
be unnecessary to
like
be forbidden to

2 3 .5 .3 Separators

Some of the conjugated verbs that occur in infinitival constructions are

separators: they separate the a preverb from its verb and stand between
the preverb and its verb.
Julia el akarja olvasni a konyvet.
Julia wants to read the book.
Julinak el kellett olvasni(a) a konyvet.
Julia had to read the book.
Julinak ei szabad olvasni(a) a konyvet.
Julia is allowed to read the book.
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2 3 . C o n stru ctio n s an d S e n t e n c e s

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s a n d S e n t e n c e s

Compare constructions with verbs that are not separators:

Julia imdja elolvasni a kdnyvet.
Julia loves reading the book.
! no !Julia el imdja olvasni a kdnyvet.

The position of preverbs (see Chapter 21) depends on the focus of the
sentence. Apreverb is in iniial position in the word if the verb is in focus
or if there is no special emphasis in the sentence:

Julinak jolesik elolvasni(a) a konyvet.

Julia feels good reading the book.
! n o !Julinak el jolesik olvasni(a) a kdnyvet.

En MEGISZOM, nem kiontom.

T U DRINK it up and not spill it.

Julinak tilos elolvasni(a) a kdnyvet.

It is forbidden for Julia to read the book.
!NO!Julinak el tilos olvasni(a) a kdnyvet.

Holnap felprblom.
T U try it on tomorrow.

Of the verbs and complex verbs discussed above, the following ones are
separators in standard Hungarian:
akar
bir
fog
kell
kene

lehet
mer
ohajt
szabad + van
szeretne

szokott
tetszik
tud

2 3 .6 Word O rder

The principles goveming Hungarian word order are different from those
in English. The sequence of words in a Hungarian sentence may vary
considerably. However, the order is only (relatively) free after the verb.
The theme, which is called the topic of the sentence, precedes the actual
statement or question (the comment) about the topic. The comment always
begins with a stressed word. The topic of the sentence is not compulsory.
PeterTnPir olvasott egy kdnyvet
Lttam egy szhidarabot,-nuc.
The word or group of words that carry the essential piece of new information (called focus), the emphasis of the sentence as it were, always immediately precedes the conjugated verb (in the following examples the focus
is capitalized):
EN akarok beszelni Kristoffal.
I want to talk to Christopher.
En BESZELNI akarok Kristoffal.
I want to TALK to Christopher.
168

En KRISTOFFAL akarok beszelni.

I want to talk to CHRISTOPHER.

Yes-no questions always have this word order:

Felveszi valaki a telefont?
Will someone pick up the phone?
If another word or group of words is the focus, the verbal prefix follows
the verb (this always happens if the verb is negated because anything neg
ative tends to be focussed):
A MSIK KONYVET olvasom el.
T U read the OTHER BOOK.

NEM veszem fel a telefont.

I will NOT pick up the phone.
Imperatives always have this word order:
Olvasd el a kdnyvet!
Read the book!
Veddfel a telefont!
Pick up the phone!
Separators (see Section 23.5.3) come between the verbal prefix and the
verb if the verb and the prefix are the focus of the sentence or if the sen
tence is neutral:
Abba akar om hagyni.
I want to stop doing it.
M eg fogja tanulni.
She/he/it will leam it.

169

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s an d S e n t e n c e s

M eg tudod csinlni.
You can do it.

2 3 . C o n stru ctio n s and S e n t e n c e s

23 .7 .2 be

However, separation does not happen if any other part of the sentence is
the focus and then separators come between the focus and the prefix+verb
combination:
JULIA fogja megtanulni.
JULIA will leam it.

The verb van does not appear in the third person singular and plural in
the present tense in sentences where it means be and it has a subject
complement noun or adjective:
En szereny vagyok.
O szereny volt.
O szereny lesz.

I am modest.
He was modest.
He will be modest.

but

NEM tudod megcsinlni.

You canNOT do it.
M ST akarok abbahagyni.
I want to stop doing something else.

O szereny.
O nem szereny.
Ok szerenyek.

He <is> modest.
He <is> not modest.
They <are> modest.

os- Note that van is never left out if it means have, possess: Neki van egy
tolla. (S)he has a pen., or if it means made o f Az asztal iivegbol van.
The table is made of glass.

23.7 C o n structions w ith van

The copula van may mean have, possess or be.

Van, vannak, nincs, nincsenek are retained in the sense be in the 3rd per
son present

23.7.1 have, possess

The possessive meariing have got is expressed by the verb van. In these
sentences, the possessor is in the dative (if it appc'ars in the sentence), van
is in the 3rd person, and the possessed thing takes the possessive ending
agreeing with the person of the possessor:
Nekem van egy kutym.
Neked van egy kutyd.
Neki van egy kutyja.
Nekilnk van egy kutynk.
Nektek van egy kutytok.
Nekik van egy kutyjuk.

I have a dog.
Yousc have a dog.
(S)he/it has a dog.
We have a dog.
YouPLhave a dog.
They have a dog.

The negation of van is nincs, the plurals are vannak and nincsenek respec
tivei)' (the verb has to agree in number with the number of the possessed):
Neked vannak kutyid.
Neked nincsenek kutvid.

Yousn have dogs.

You,.,. dont have doas.

if they have an adverbial of space:

Kristf a szobban van.
A fiu k a bnyban vannak.

Christopher is in the room.

The boys are in the mine.

if they receive emphasis in comparative sentences:

Peter VAN olyan okos, mint Tams.
Peter IS as ele ver as Thomas.
Peter N IN C S olyan okos, mint Tams.
Peter ISN T as clever as Thomas.
Compare the unemphatic:
Peter olyan okos, mint Tams.
Peter is as clever as Thomas.
Peter nem olyan okos, mint Tams.
Peter isnt as clever as Thomas.
in sentences asserting that something exists or does not exist
Van elet a Mar son.
There is life on Mars.

170

1 71

2 3 . C o n str u c tio n s an d S e n t e n c e s

Boszorknyok nincsenek.
Witches do not exist.

IN D EX OF S U B JE C TS

in sentences like the following:

7 ora van.
It is 7 oclock.

Del van.
It is noon.

Pentek van.
It is Friday.

Julius van.
It is July.

2002 van.
It is 2002.

Meleg van.
It is hot.

Vihar van.
There is a storm.

Szel van.
There is a wind blowing.

Buli van.
There is a party.

Baj van.
There is something wrong.

2 3 .7 .3 Van w ith an Adverbial Participle

Van can occur with an adverbial participle (see Section 17.2.4) to describe
a state of the subject. In a positive sentence, this type of van separates a
preverb from its verb stem (which takes the -val-ve of the participle).
A teve be van kapcsolva.
The television is switched on.
Meg lesztek lepve.
You will be surprised.
Az ablakok be vannak torve.
The windows are broken.
A level meg nincs megtrva.
The letter has not been written.

-iniial suffixes 75, 76, 92, 93, 94,

95, 100, 101, 102, 103, 126, 128,
129, 133
Isg subject 2sg/pl object 76, 85, 90,
102
ablative 25, 42, 45, 48, 49, 51
accusative 15, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32,
33, 35, 36, 39, 45, 46, 47,48, 49,
5 0 ,51,52,5 8 ,6 4 , 65,80, 143,
145, 146
active (present) participle 114, 130,
156
active participle 156
-ad/-ed-fina\ verbs 79, 81, 82
adessive 25, 45, 48, 49, 51, 62
adjectives 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 65, 114,
115 157, 159, 170
adjectives denoting nationalities 58
adverbs 53, 54, 61, 62, 63, 143, 159
adverbial participle 115, 171, 172
affrication 11, 30, 119
allative 25, 26, 45, 48, 49
alphabet 7alternative stems 13, 22,
32,
112, 127, 128
anti-hannonic stems 14, 60, 131, 132
article 16, 17, 18
associative 25, 28, 29, 46, 48,49
auxiliaries 111, 138, 164
back vowel stems 13, 20, 21, 75, 77,
88,
90, 96
cardinal numbers 64
case 16, 19, 24, 25, 26, 45, 46, 48, 49,
50,52, 53,56,57,58
causal-final 24, 25, 33, 35, 36, 45, 48
causative 138, 139
clauses of purpose 109

cluster-final stems 74, 77, 82, 83, 86,

99
comment 168
comparative 58, 59, 60, 61,171
comparative constructions 62
complex verbs 25, 164,165, 166
condiional 68, 69, 8691, 102, 107,
108, 116, 121, 122, 128, 129, 133,
136,138
condiional construction 90, 107, 108
condiional suffix 86, 87, 88, 89
conjunctive-imperative 68, 69, 92, 96,
100, 102, 103, 108, 109, 110, 116,
125, 133, 134, 136
conjunctive-imperative definite 94,
96, 97, 98, 99, -.OO, 101, 102, 104,
133,134
conjunctive-imperative definite verb
forms 95
conjunctive-imperative indefinite 92,
93,96, 97,98,99, 100, 101, 104,
133, 134, 136
consonant cluster 7, 23, 28,74, 75,
76, 77, 80, 82, 83, 86, 93, 96, 98,
99,
100, 111, 124
constructions 71, 125, 160, 162, 166,
170copula 164, 170
Cszik stem 112, 114, 127, 128
Cszik verbs 127
dative 24, 25, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51,
58,
161, 166, 170
dative class of verbs 166
defective stems 125, 126, 127
definite article 16, 17, 18,63,71,153,
161
definite conjugation 69, 70, 71, 76,
89, 90, 135
173

172

In d ex o f s u b j e c ts

definiteness 68, 69, 78, 92

degemination 11, 30, 119
delative 25, 45, 48, 49, 58
demonstrative pronouns 44, 45, 46
derivational suffixes 32, 146-159
derived adjectives 146, 149
derived adverbs 159
derived nouns 147, 150
derived verbs 146
dictionary form for nouns 19
dictionary form for verbs 127, 129
diminutive 151, 152
direct and indirect commands/
requests 108, 109
distributive 25, 26, 28, 29, 46, 48, 49
distributive-temporal 25, 26, 27, 28,
29,
45, 48, 49
double negation 164elative 25, 45, 48,
49,51
essive 25, 46, 48, 49
excepional front vowel stems 14
final ale lengthening 15, 30, 119
final vowel deleting stems 38
focus 162, 168, 169, 170
formalis 25, 46, 48, 49
fractions 66
frequentative 146
front vowel stems 13, 20, 21, 75, 77,
88, 90, 96
future 68, 104, 106, 107
future construction 104, 105, 107
future participle 115
future time 68
gender 19, 47, 48
govemment 26
harmonic three-form suiix 12, 13,
20, 26, 73, 74, 75, 92, 94, 97, 99,
100, 113, 146, 147, 149, 151, 154,
156, 159
harmonic two-fonn suffix 12, 13, 20,
22, 23, 26, 73, 75, 84, 85, 88, 89,
92, 94, 97,99, 100, 113, 115, 131,
132, 146, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154,
155, 156, 159
-ik stems 120, 121
174

-ik verbs 75, 116, 121, 125, 139, 147

-;X'-class vowel-deleting stems 120
illative 25, 26, 45, 48, 49
imperatives 164, 169
impersonal infinitive 104, 111, 112,
113, 164,166
indefinite article 16, 17, 70
indefinite conjugation 54, 69, 70, 72,
74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 89, 90, 92, 162
indefinite pronouns 5455
inessive 25, 26, 45, 48, 49, 51
infinitival constructions 25, 71, 111,
164, 166, 167
infinitive 71,104, 111, 112, 121, 122,
128, 129,135, 137
infinitive with possessive suffixes
112, 122

inflectional suffixes 19, 32, 138

instructions/suggestions/permission
109
instrumental 24, 25, 29, 45, 48, 51
interrogative adverbs 51, 53, 162
interrogative pronouns 51, 52, 70, 71,
162
i
irregular comparative and superlative
forms 60, 61
irregular stem types 30, 119, 138
irregular stems 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 83,
114,119
irregular verbs 112, 131, 134, 135
7-assimilation 76, 93, 95
-ll final verb stems 75, 77, 80, 111
lowering stems 14, 20, 21, 28, 30. 32,
33,34, 3 5 ,3 6 ,3 8 ,5 8 ,6 5 ,6 6 , 119,
147, 148, 150, 151, 152, 154, 156
lowering suffixes 32, 146
mixed vowel stems 13
nasal place assimilation 12, 30, 119
negation 169, 170
negative clauses 110
negative pronouns 55, 56, 164
negatives 163, 164
nominal possessive 19, 23, 24, 33, 35,
36,49,50, 112
nominal possessive number 19, 24

Index o f s u b je c ts

nominative 19, 24, 25, 42, 45, 46, 48,

143
non-dative class of verbs 164
non-finite forms 111, 112, 113, 114
non-harmonic suffixes 12, 23, 24, 26,
59, 60, 116, 148,149, 152, 153,
157, 158
non-ik vowel-deleting stems 120, 122
non-lowering adjectival stems 58, 154
non-standard Hungarian 90, 102
noun stems 30
number 16, 19, 20, 46, 52, 57, 64, 65
numerals 64, 70, 157
omission of personal pronouns 161
ordinal numbers 65, 66, 67
palatalization 12, 23, 30, 76, 93, 95,
119
participles 114
passive (past) participle 114, 156
passive participle 156
past 68, 69, 79, 106,107, 120, 125,
126,
128, 129, 138
past condiional 90, 108
past definite 82, 83, 84, 85, 90, 125,
132
past indefinite 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85,
90,
115, 125, 128, 129, 132, 135
past participle 114, 115
past tense 78, 79, 83, 84, 90, 102,
106. 132
past tense suffix 78, 79, 80, 81, 82,
83, 84, 85, 114, 120, 125
person/number 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, 75,
76, 77, 78, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86,
88, 89, 92, 116,120, 121, 122, 125,
128, 129,132,133, 134, 135, 136,
139, 147, 160, 161, 165, 166, 171
personal infinitive 111, 112, 113, 114,
122, 166
personal pronouns 47, 48, 49, 50,
160. 161, 162
plural 14, 20, 22, 23, 30, 32, 38, 39,
40, 44, 4 6 ,5 1 ,5 2 ,5 3 ,5 5 ,5 6 , 57,
59.73.74, 75,76, 84, 85, 88, 89, 90,
92, 96.97,98, 113, 165

polie requests 108, 109

possessive construction 24, 25, 46,
160
possessive pronouns 46, 47, 72
possessive/person 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,
30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40,42,48,
161
possibility/permission 139
postpositions 41, 42, 49
present 68, 69, 73, 90, 106, 107
present condiional definite 108
present condiional indefinite 88, 108
present definite 75, 96, 102, 104, 131
present definite verb forms 101, 102
present indefinite 73, 104, 105, 116,
128, 129, 131
present participle 114, 135, 137
present tense 77, 102, 105, 106, 107,
131, 161
preverbs 79, 110, 126, 130, 141, 143,
144, 145, 163, 167, 169, 172
preverbs in constructions 145
privative 155,156
pronouns 43, 70, 71, 72, 160, 161
proper nouns 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 70, 71
question word 162, 163
questions 162, 163, 169
reciprocal pronoun 50, 72
reference 105
reflexive 139
reflexive pronouns 49, 50, 70, 72
regressive voice assimilation 11, 30,
119
relative adverbs 51, 53, 54
relative clause 52, 54
relative pronouns 51, 52, 54
separators 167, 169
sequence of tenses 107
short forms 93, 94, 95, 98, 100, 101,
134
shortening of long consonants 11
sibilant-final stems 93, 95, 96
standard Hungarian 9, 34, 90, 96,
101,
115, 116, 137
stress 15, 16
1 75

Index o f s u b j e c ts

sublative 25, 26, 45, 48, 49, 80

superessive 25, 28, 29, 30, 36, 42, 45,
48,49
superlative 58, 59, 60, 61, 63
syntactic cases 25
sz, s assimilation 11
sz/d and sz/z stems 127, 130, 153
sz/d stems 130
sz/d/v and sziziv stems 114, 130
sz/d/v stems 130
sz/z stems 22, 74, 76, 93, 95, 130
sz/z/v stems 130
f-class of -adl-ed-final verbs 79
temporal 25, 26, 27, 45, 48, 49
tense/mood 68, 69, 73, 78, 86, 92,
106,165
terminative 25, 26, 33, 35, 36, 45, 48
f-final verbs 74, 82, 83, 88, 96, 97,
98,99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 112
topic 168translative 24, 25, 29, 45,
48,51
universal pronouns 55, 72
unrounding stems 37 '
unstable vowel 20, 21, 27, 28, 30, 32,
33,
34, 35, 59, 119, 120, 120, 122
usage: Tenses, Condiional, Conjunc
tive-lmperative 70, 106, 107, 108,
109, 110

176

-uszikl-iiszik verbs 129

v-adding stems 35
v-adding verb stems 78, 95, 124
verb stems 68, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81,
82, 83, 87, 88, 92, 94, 95, 96, 98,
99, 100, 102, 111, 112, 119, 138,
144
verbal suffixes 73-99, 105, 106, 138,
139, 140
v-initial suffixes 29, 32, 34, 35, 36
vowel shortening stems 32, 36, 37,
60, 65
vowel-deleting -ik stems 75, 88, 112,
117, 121
vowel-deleting stems 28, 32, 33, 34,
37, 65,75,77,83, 88, 112, 119,
120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 152
vowel-to-v stems 36
v-stems 32, 35, 60, 78
Vszik verbs 129
VTT-class of -adl-ed-final verbs 79,
81
wh-questions 51, 162
wishes 108
word formation 146-159
word order 168
yes-no questions 109, 163, 169
zero suffix 19, 68, 73, 116, 132

INDEX O F WORDS

abba 141, 169

ad 9, 11, 12, 25,26, 73,
75,81
affele 44
g 31
agr 31,36

agg58
agy 31
gy 11,31
agyon 141
ahny 52
ahnyadik 52
ahogy(an) 53
ahol 53
ahonnan 53, 54
ahova 53
ahov 53
ajak 32, 33
ajto 16, 37
akrhnyadik 54
akrki 54
akrmekkora 54
akrmely 54
akrmelyik 54
akrmennyi 54
akrmi 54
akrmifele 54
akrmilyen 54
aki 52
akkora 44
al 41, 43, 141
alapszik 117, 127, 130
alatt 41,43
alkot 83, 97,98
alkuszik 117, 129, 130
aloi 41,43
lom 33

also 60
alszik 117,127,129,
130,166
aludt 81,128
aluszik 129,130
ameddig 53
amekkora 52
amely 52
amelyik 52
amennyi 52
amerre 53
amerrl 53
amettol 53
ami 52
amifele 52
amikor 53,54
amilyen 52
amiota 53
andalog 123
anya 38, 39
annyi 44, 71
apa 15, 38, 39
r 31
ramlik 117,123
arnylik 117, 126
rny 31
rok 33
r 42,141, 143
thramlik 126
tok 33
az 45
zik 117
bagoly 33
bj 31
bajusz 32, 33
bnik 117
brhnyadik 54

brki 54
brmekkora 54
brmely 54
brmelyik 54
brmennyi 54
brmi 54
brmifele 54
brmilyen 54
baszakszik 130
baszik 117
btor 33
bty 12, 39
be 141,143
becsmerel 123
becsiil 123
befellegzik 126
bel 31,36
bele 141, 143
bels 60
beliil 42
belyegez 123
benn 61
bent 61
bir 39, 40
birodalom 33
hi'zik 117
bocst 74, 83, 112
bogr 31,36
bokor 22, 32, 33
bomlik 117, 123
borju 38
botlik 117, 123
bo 60
bujik 117
bukik ] 17
buzog 123
buzlik 117, 126

Ind ex o f w ord s

Index o f w o rd s

ceh 10
cel 14
celoz 123
cukor33
cseh 10
cselekszik 130
csepel 123
csepereg 123
csipked 81
cskoldzik 117
csokor 33
cso 31, 35, 36
csond 31
csuklik 83, 117, 125,
126
csuszik 117
darzs 31, 36
daru 31, 36
del 31, 36
derek 14, 36, 60
dicsekszik 130
didereg 123
dszlik 126
dohnyzik 117, 123
dolog 33
doglik 117, 123
diibdrog 123
duh 10
ebedel 123
ejfele 44
eg 36
eger 36
egybe 141
egyms 50
ckkora 44
el 141, 143, 144
ele 41, 43
eleg 36
eliramlik 126
ellen 42,43, 141
ellenez 123
e/o 141
elol 41,43
elore 141
elott 41, 42, 43
178

emlekszik 117, 127, 130

enekel 123
enged 81, 165
enni 8, 114
enyeleg 123
enyem 46
ennyi 44, 45, 71
eper 32, 33
er 31, 36
erdemel 123
erdo 37
erem 33
erez 120, 123
erik 117
ero 37
ertelem 33
erzeleg 123
erzelem 33
erzik 126
esik 116, 117
eskiiszik 117, 129, 130
esz 31, 36
eszik 112, 113, 117,
131,
133, 135, 138,
139, 140
esztendo 37
ez 10, 44, 45
ezer 33
fjdalom 33
fal 20,25 ,3 0 ,3 1 , 148
fain 31, 35, 36
fanyaiog 123
farok 33
ftyol 33
fzik 116, 117
fed 81
fedel 36
fej 29, 31
fekszik 117, 127, 130
fekiidt 81, 128
fel 141, 143
fel 8, 31, 36
felbe 141
fele 41,42, 43
feled 81

felelem 33
felgyiilemlik 126
/e/o/ 41,43
/e/re 141
felsd 60
felul 142
fenek 36
fenn 10, 61, 142
fent 61
fenylik 117, 126
ferfi 14, 40
ferj 31
feslik 126
feszek 33
figyelem 33

/mg 14
fingik 117
/m 14, 38
fog (noun) 8, 20, 21, 29,
31
fog (verb) 11, 112
fog (future) 104, 107,
108, 165, 168
fogad 81
i
fogalom 33
fogoly 33
fogzik 117, 126
folyik 79, 117
fonl 31, 36
fonott 115
forgalom 33
forog 120
forradalom 33
foszlik 123, 126
fo 78, 124, 125
fo! 141, 143
fold 31
fole 41,43
fdldtt/feleit 41, 43
/o/;7/ 41, 43,141,142
fonii 142
fuldoklik 117, 123,125
fuldokol 123
furakszik 130
fu 31, 35, 36

fiii 1 3 ,2 0 ,2 1 ,2 8 , 29,
31
fiirdik 117, 120, 120,
123
fustolog 123
f t IA, 83,98, 112
gally 31
gtol 123
gazdagszik 130
godor 33
gozolog 123
gyakorol 123
gyanakszik 130
gyr 31
gyarapszik 130
gyszol 123
gyfc 14
gyomor 33
gydker 36
gydtdr 119, 120, 123
gydtrelem 33
gyozelem 33
gyiilekszik 127, 130
gyulik 117
/a ... (akkor) 10
habzik 117, 126
haj 31
/io////: 117, 123
hajoi 123
ha! 10. 16, 31
halad 79, 80, 81
halszik 117
haldoklik 117, 123
hali 8, 80, 87
hallatszik 117, 127
hmlik 117, 126
liangzik 117, 123
/yd/ry? 51, 52
hanyadik? 51, 52
hnyadik? 51,52
hanyatUk 117, 126

hnykor? 51
haragszik 117, 127,
130,

harmad 67

153

harminc 64, 65
hrom 33, 65
has 10, 11,28,31
haszo n 33

/wf 82, 88
hatalom 33
Mfra 142
havazik 117
/jaz 13, 26, 31, 65
ftaza 142
hazudik 117
/!<y 31
/!e(y 30, 31
helyesel 123
helyett 42, 43
helyre 142
fcef 11, 36, 65
hinyzik 117, 123
hid 14,31,36
himez 123
hinni 114
hisz 8, 112, 113, 131,
132,
133, 135, 138,
139, 140
hiv 14
hizeleg 123
hlzik 14, 117
ho 31,35
hogy(an)? 53
hol? 53
hold 31
hlyagzik 123
honnan? 53
horgszik 117
hosszu 60
hov? 53
hozz 49, 142

/fo/g} 31
hdmpdlydg 123
/?drag 123
huli 80, 87, 117
hullmzik 117,123
hunyorog 123

/im.k 65
huszad 67

M f74, 98, 112

We 109, 142, 143
ido 37
ifju 38, 60
igyekszik 127, 128, 130
j 14

f e r 34
illik 117, 166, 167
iYyerc 44
ilyet 46
imbolyog 123
31,36
indt 14
ingerel 123
innen 42
inni 114
mog 123
ir 14, 115, 166
irnyoz 123
irigyel 123
irodalom 34
rott 115
ismetel 123
iszik 14, 112, 114, 117,
131,
133, 138, 139,
140
izgalom 34
fzlik 117, 126
izom 34
izzik 117
jtszik 117, 127
ja va so l123
jeg 36
jegyez 123
jel Iernez 123
j 10, 60, 62, 63
joi 61
jon 112, 114, 131,135,
137, 140
juh 10
jutalom 34
kanl 31
kapocs 34
kromol 123
kavarog 123
179

In d ex o f w o rd s

kazal 32
kehely 34
kejeleg 123
kell 80, 87, 166,167,
168
kenyelem 34
kenyer 37
kepez 11, 123
kereg 34
kerek 37
kereskedelem 34
keresztiil 42, 142
kesik 117
ket 65
ketl- 125, 126
142
ketted 67
to fo 61, 62
rcve'i- 60
Arez 31, 37
/142, 143, 144
ki? 51
At/ch 58, 60
kicsinyel 123
8,61
kinoz 123
kint 61
fcij 58
kisebb 60
kisziiremlik 126
zWvh/ 42, 43
kborol 123
fcotoz 123
kopik 117
korom 34
kosr 31,37
117, 123
kotor 123
kotorszik 117
M 31, 35, 37
AwffiA' 126
kdlydk 34
konny 28, 31
konnyu 60, 167
kdnydrdg 123
180

kdnyv 24, 26,31,70,

71, 72
korom 34
orw7 142

kdtekszik 130
kotel 37
kozbe 142
kozben 42
fcoze 41, 43
fcozep 37

kdzdl123
kozott 41, 42, 43
kdzre 142
fcozw/ 41, 43, 63

kuszik 117
fa/f 31, 37
kiilon 142
fci/jJ 60

lb 31
lakik 107, 118
60,

62, 63

lt 12, 70, 74, 76, 96,

97, 98, 112, 140
ltszik 118, 127
le 142, 143

le 37
legkisebb 60
legy 37
/e/egz/A' 118, 120, 121,
123
lelek 37
lenn 61

lenni 114
lent 61
lepkecl 81
lesz 8, 105, 112, 113,
131, 132, 133, 135.
136
letele.pszik 130
level 31, 37
16 31, 35, 37
lt(-fut) 74, 96, 112
lo 78, 112, 114, 124,
125
/hc/ 31, 37

Index o f w ord s

lyuk 3 1
madr 31,37
maga 47, 49, 50, 70
magaslik 126
mj 3 1
malom 34
marok 34
mszik 118
meddig? 53
meder 34
meg 142, 144
megalkuszik 130
megbetegszik 131
megcsdmorlik 126
megelegszik 131
megfeneklik 123
meghalad 81
meghasonlik 123, 126
megjegyez 123
megtorol 123
megy 9, 106, 107, 109,
112, 114, 131, 135,
137, 139, 140
meh 10
mekkora? 51, 52
melegszik 131
mell 31
melle 41, 43, 142
mellett 41, 42, 43
mellol 41, 43
melyik? 51,52
menni 162, 165
mennyi ideig? 53
mennyi? 51, 52
mereg 34
mereszel 123
merre? 53
merrol? 53
mersekel 123
mesz 11, 31, 37
meszrol 124
mettol? 53
mez 11,31
mezo 37
mi? 51

miatt 42, 43
mienk 47
mienk 47
mifele? 51, 52
m iko r?

53

milyen? 51, 52
mindegyik 55
minden 55, 71
mindenfele 55
mindenki 55
mita? 53
mocsr 31, 37
morajlik 118, 126
mosakszik 127, 128,131
mosdik 118
mosolyog 124
mozog 124
moge 41, 43
mogott 41
mogiil 41, 43
mulik 117
mulva 42
mu 31, 35
mut 74, 98, 112
nagy 8,12
nagyon 61
ne 110, 164

nyugszik 118, 131

nyul 31 , 37
nyulik 118
nyu 35 , 78 , 125
nyiizsog 124
ocsrol 124
oda 142, 143
olh 10
oldal 3 1
lom 34
olyan 62
olyat 46
omlik 118, 124
orvosol 124
oszlik 118, 124
ta 42
obol 34
des 39
ogyeleg 124
dkdl 28 , 33 , 34
dkdr 28 , 32 , 33 , 34
dl 30,31

omlik 118, 124

on 47
oregszik 131
oriz 119 , 124

37, 167
neki 48, 142
nlkiil 42,43
n em 8, 10, 110, 163

orol 124
drvnylik 126
ossze 142
dsztdndz 124
dtlik 124

nev 31

dv 31

n in cs 170, 171
no 78, 124, 125
n d ve k szik 127, 130,
nya k 31
n y a la kszik 131
n y r 8, 31, 37
n ya va ly o g 124
n ye l 31,37
n yil 14, 31, 37
n yttik 14, 117
n yit 14

ove 47
ovek 47
ozonlik 118
panaszol 124
parzs 31,37
parzslik 118, 126
prolog 124
przik 118
patakzik 118, 126
pattogzik 124
pazarol 124
pecsetel 124
peder 124

nehz

nyolc 26, 65
nyolcad 67

130

pehely 34
perei 124
pezseg 124
piszok 34
pohr 31, 37
pokol 34
porlik 126, 147
potol 124
podor 124
porog 124
r 142, 143
rabol 120, 124
ragad 79, 80, 81
rajta 48, 142
rejlik 117, 126
remlik 126
repked 81
rez 31, 37
rezeg 124
r 78, 124, 125
robajlik 126
rohangszik 118
romlik 118, 124
rogtonoz 124
rud 31,37
riih 10
sajog 124
sar 31, 37
sarok 34
stor 34
sebez 124
sejlik 126
selyem 34
semekkora 55
semelyik 55
semmi 55, 71
semmifele 55
seinmilyen 55
senki 55, 71
senyved 81
seper 119, 124
siklik 117, 126
smyl- 125, 126
sr 14, 79
sistereg 124