Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Gender

Hungarian Grammar - Gender

Hi Hungarian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore one of the most unique features of the Hungarian language: gender. Hungarian is different from many languages as it does not use gender to convey who is who, but it uses it to indicate vowels or consonants in words. This means that different gender forms can be used for the same word, depending on the suffix. But don't worry, we will break it down in a simple way for you to understand. 🔍

Introduction

In the Hungarian language, there is no grammatical gender like in languages such as French or Spanish. This means that there are no words that are inherently masculine or feminine. Instead, gender in Hungarian is indicated through suffixes on certain words, and these suffixes can change depending on the gender of the noun they are attached to.

There are two genders in Hungarian: the vowel harmony-based feminine (also known as the i-type), and the consonant harmony-based neutral (also known as the e-type). In this lesson, we will explore these two genders in depth.

Vowel harmony-based feminine (i-type)

The vowel harmony-based feminine gender is based on the vowel harmonies present in Hungarian. In this system, there are two types of vowels - front vowels and back vowels. Front vowels include e, é, i, í, ö, ő, ü, ű; while back vowels include a, á, o, ó, u, ú. Words in Hungarian must use either all front vowels or all back vowels. For example, if the first vowel in a word is a back vowel, then all subsequent vowels in that word must also be back vowels.

In the feminine gender, words that end with a front-vowel sound take the -i suffix. Meanwhile, words that end with a back-vowel sound take the -a suffix. Let's take a look at some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
ház-i	hah-zee	house (feminine)
asztal-a	ah-stahl-ah	table (feminine)
rózs-a	rohz-ah	rose

As you can see from the table above, the -i suffix is used with words that end in a front vowel sound such as in "ház-i" which means house (feminine). On the other hand, the -a suffix is used with words that end in a back-vowel sound such as in "asztal-a" which means table (feminine). Note that some words do not follow the rules exactly as there are exceptions in Hungarian.

Consonant harmony-based neutral (e-type)

The consonant harmony-based neutral gender is based on the consonant harmonies present in Hungarian. This system is based on the two classes of consonants, namely "hard" and "soft" consonants. Hard consonants include b, c, cs, d, dz, dzs, g, gy, k, l, n, ny, p, r, s, sz, t, ty, v, z, and zs; while soft consonants include f, h, j, k, (in most cases), p, s, and t (in certain cases).

In the neutral gender, words that end with soft consonants take the -e suffix. Meanwhile, words that end with hard consonants take the -a suffix. Let's take a look at some examples:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
hajó-a	hah-yoh-ah	ship (neutral)
pad-la-e	pahd-lah-eh	floor (neutral)
gyümölcs-a	dyuem-uhlch-ah	fruit (neutral)

As you can see from the table above, the -a suffix is used with words that end in a hard consonant such as in "hajó-a" which means ship (neutral). On the other hand, the -e suffix is used with words that end in a soft consonant such as in "pad-la-e" which means floor (neutral).

Gender in Use

It's important to note that gender in Hungarian is used mainly in written language, unlike in some other languages where gender is used frequently and changes the meaning of the word. Therefore, while it is important to understand gender in Hungarian, it does not need to be a priority. However, it's still essential to learn basic gender rules and practice work to improve your Hungarian speech quality.

Dialogue

Let's see some examples of gendered words in a dialogue so you can see how it works in context.

• Person 1: Szeretném megvenni ezt a hálószoba-i szekrény-et. ()
• Person 2: Persze, átmegyünk azok-hoz az árusok-hoz, ahol mindig van sok bútor-a. (<Sure, we will go to those shops where they always have many furniture (neutral)>)

Conclusion

In Hungarian, gender is a unique feature because it is indicated through suffixes on certain words. Basic knowledge of standard gender rules is essential for written Hungarian, but it is also necessary to understand the language in the proper context. By understanding gender in Hungarian, you will have a better understanding of the language and be able to communicate more effectively. Remember, keep practicing and don't hesitate to ask questions! 😃

Sources

• Simplified Grammar of the Hungarian Language/Gender ...
• Does Hungarian have grammatical gender? If so, where is it used ...
• 1 Grammatical Gender Trouble and Hungarian Gender[lessness ...

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