Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Plurals

Hungarian Grammar - Plurals

Hi Hungarian learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will talk about plural forms in Hungarian. Plurals are common in all languages, and in Hungarian, forming plurals can sometimes be tricky. However, with practice and a good understanding of the grammar rules, you will be able to use plural forms with ease.

To navigate this lesson, use the table of contents below:

Plural Suffixes

One of the main ways to form plurals in Hungarian is by adding suffixes to the end of the word. Which suffix to add depends on the word's vowel harmony.

If the word's last vowel is a front vowel (i, e, é), then the plural suffix will be -k. For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
híd (bridge)	[hi:d]	bridges	kéz (hand)	[ke:z]	hands	lecke (lesson)	[letse]	lessons

If the word's last vowel is a back vowel (a, á, o, ó, u, ú), then the plural suffix will be -k.

For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
szék (chair)	[se:k]	chairs	toll (pen)	[toʎ:]	pens	cipő (shoes)	[tʃipo:]	shoes

If the word's last vowel is a neutral vowel (ö, ő), then the plural suffix will be -k.

For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
hajó (ship)	[ha:jó]	ships	szőnyeg (carpet)	[søɲeɡ]	carpets	köröm (nail)	[ko:røm]	nails

As you can see, -k is the most common plural suffix in Hungarian. However, there are some exceptions where different suffixes are used. For example:

- words that end in a consonant cluster: the plural suffix is -ek. For example, bank (bank) → bankok (banks) - words that end in -s, -sz, -z, -dz: the plural suffix is -ok. For example, kés (knife) → kések (knives) - words that end in -t, -d: the plural suffix is -ek. For example, kert (garden) → kertek (gardens)

It's important to note that some words have irregular plural forms that you will need to memorize. For example, barát (friend) → barátok (friends), szép (beautiful) → szépek (beautiful). Make sure to study these irregular forms and practice using them in context.

Plural Formation Without Suffixes

In addition to adding plural suffixes, there are some instances where plurals are formed without any suffixes.

For example, when referring to family members, no plural suffix is added. Instead, the word itself is changed to reflect the number of people being referred to. For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
apa (father)	[ɒpɒ]	father	apák (fathers)	[ɒpɒk]	fathers

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
lány (daughter)	[la:nj]	daughter	lányok (daughters)	[la:njok]	daughters

In addition, some nouns have different forms in the singular and plural, with no suffix added. For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
ember (person)	[ɛmbɛr]	person	emberek (people)	[ɛmbɛrɛk]	people

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
szem (eye)	[sɛm]	eye	szemek (eyes)	[sɛmɛk]	eyes

1. 1. Pronunciation Tip:

When adding plural suffixes, the stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable. For example: ház-házak (houses), kép-képek (pictures).

1. 1. Dialogue

To see plural forms in action, here's a dialogue between two people:

• Person 1: Nézd, öt kisgyerek van az utcán! (Look, there are five children on the street!)
• Person 2: Öt kisgyerek? Nem, hat. (Five children? No, six.)

1. 1. Cultural Note:

In Hungarian, it's common to use diminutives instead of plural forms to express endearment or emphasis. For example, instead of saying "dogs," you might say "little dogs" to communicate fondness.

1. 1. Additional Resources:

To practice Hungarian plurals further, check out the Find native speakers and ask them any questions you might have. You can also learn more about Hungarian Grammar on the Polyglot Club website.

1. 1. Sources ##

• Hungarian grammar
• Hungarian language

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