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The Hungarian language has a reputation for being extremely difficult, but in fact it is perfectly logical.
This thread will prove how easy it really is. Just a few tweets, and voilá, you’ll know how to use suffixes.
1/n
This thread will prove how easy it really is. Just a few tweets, and voilá, you’ll know how to use suffixes.
1/n
Suffixes in Hungarian are easy. You just need to look at the vowels in a word to know which suffix to use.
Compare that to languages with randomly gendered nouns and corresponding various declinations. Complete chaos.
2/n
Compare that to languages with randomly gendered nouns and corresponding various declinations. Complete chaos.
2/n
A central feature of Hungarian is vowel harmony. It distinguishes between vowels articulated with the tongue in the front and in the back. Front: e,é,i,í,ö,ő,ü,ű. Back: a,á,o,ó,u,ú.
Words with front vowels get front suffixes, those with back vowels get back suffixes. Easy.
3/n
Words with front vowels get front suffixes, those with back vowels get back suffixes. Easy.
3/n
Just remember two words: teniszütő (tennis racket) and autó (car). They tell you which vowels are front and back, respectively.
So let’s try.
4/n
So let’s try.
4/n
in the forest = erdő + -ben
in the house = ház + -ban
onto the table = asztal + -ra
onto the chair = szék + -re
Easy, right? Let’s try again.
5/n
in the house = ház + -ban
onto the table = asztal + -ra
onto the chair = szék + -re
Easy, right? Let’s try again.
5/n
The suffix for plurals is -k. If the word ends in a consonant, it is joined to it with a vowel. A harmonising one. So it’s easy:
feet = láb + a + -k = lábak
bridges = híd + e + -k = hídek*
Erm. No. That doesn’t exist. It’s hidak.
6/n
feet = láb + a + -k = lábak
bridges = híd + e + -k = hídek*
Erm. No. That doesn’t exist. It’s hidak.
6/n
There is of course an explanation. Old Hungarian used a sound that was phonetically identical to i (as in English „bin”), except that it was pronounced in the back. Hence, it needed a back vowel. The sound is now forgotten in mainstream Hungarian, but the suffix remains.
7/n
7/n
Ok, that complicates it is a bit. But now that you know about the ancient back i, it’s perfectly logical, isn’t it?
Except that, as you may have noticed…
8/n
Except that, as you may have noticed…
8/n
…sometimes the suffix changes the long vowel inside the word into a short one.
híd --> hidak
Erm…
Well, just remember this, will you? And then you might find…
9/n
híd --> hidak
Erm…
Well, just remember this, will you? And then you might find…
9/n
…that sometimes the plural needs a joining vowel even when the word ends in a vowel.
men = férfi + a + -k = férfiak
Erm…
All languages have exceptions, ok??
10/n
men = férfi + a + -k = férfiak
Erm…
All languages have exceptions, ok??
10/n
...
Yes, I have to admit, in the end it is indeed a bit complex. But all these peculiarities are rooted in the history of the language, and that’s fascinating.
(And true of all other languages, of course.)
Anyway, learn Hungarian! It’s fun!
/The end
Yes, I have to admit, in the end it is indeed a bit complex. But all these peculiarities are rooted in the history of the language, and that’s fascinating.
(And true of all other languages, of course.)
Anyway, learn Hungarian! It’s fun!
/The end
