Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Expressing-Location
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Welcome to the lesson on Expressing Location in Hungarian! Understanding how to articulate where things are is essential for effective communication. Whether you’re navigating the charming streets of Budapest or finding your way around a local market, knowing how to express location can enhance your experience and interactions.
In this lesson, we will dive into the world of Hungarian prepositions and location words, such as “here,” “there,” and “everywhere.” By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently describe locations and give directions in Hungarian.
Importance of Expressing Location
Understanding location is a vital aspect of communication. In Hungarian, expressing location involves using specific prepositions and location words. This is not only important for basic conversations but also for practical situations such as asking for directions or describing your surroundings.
Structure of the Lesson
This lesson will cover the following topics:
- Common Hungarian prepositions related to location
- Key location words
- Examples illustrating usage
- Practice exercises to reinforce learning
Common Prepositions in Hungarian
Prepositions play a crucial role in expressing location. Here are some of the most commonly used prepositions in Hungarian related to location:
| Hungarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| a / az | a / az | at / in / on |
| mellett | ˈmɛlːlɛt | next to |
| előtt | ˈɛlœtt | in front of |
| mögött | ˈmøɡøtt | behind |
| fölött | ˈfølœtt | above |
| alatt | ˈɒlɒtt | below |
| között | ˈkœzœtt | between |
These prepositions will help you create meaningful sentences about locations.
Key Location Words
In addition to prepositions, we will look at some essential location words that can help you express where something is:
| Hungarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| itt | it | here |
| ott | ɔt | there |
| mindenhol | ˈmindɛnhol | everywhere |
| sehol | ˈsɛhol | nowhere |
| valahol | ˈvɒlɒhol | somewhere |
These words will allow you to specify locations more precisely.
Examples of Expressing Location
Let’s look at some examples to see how we can put these prepositions and location words into practice. Below are 20 sample sentences to illustrate different contexts:
| Hungarian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| A könyv az asztalon van. | A ˈkøɲv ɒz ˈɒstɒlon vɒn. | The book is on the table. |
| A kutya mellett ülök. | A ˈkutyɒ ˈmɛlːlɛt ˈylœk. | I am sitting next to the dog. |
| A macska a kanapé alatt van. | A ˈmɒt͡ʃkɒ ɒ kɒnɒpɛ ˈɒlɒtt vɒn. | The cat is under the couch. |
| A gyümölcs a tál fölött van. | A ˈɟymølʧ ɒ tɑːl ˈføːlœtt vɒn. | The fruit is above the bowl. |
| A ház előtt állok. | A ˈhɑːz ˈɛlœtt ˈaːlok. | I am standing in front of the house. |
| A park mögött van egy bolt. | A ˈpɒrk ˈmøɡøtt vɒn ɛɟ bɔlt. | There is a shop behind the park. |
| Az autó az utcán van. | ɒz ˈɒutɔ ɒz ˈutsɒn vɒn. | The car is on the street. |
| A kutyák között játszanak. | A ˈkutyɒk ˈkœzœtt ˈjɒt͡sɒnɒk. | The dogs are playing between (them). |
| Mindenhol keresem a kulcsomat. | ˈmindɛnhol ˈkɛrɛʃɛm ɒ ˈkulʧomɒt. | I am looking for my keys everywhere. |
| Sehol nem találom a táskámat. | ˈsɛhol nɛm tɒlʲɒlom ɒ ˈtɑːʃkɒmɒt. | I can't find my bag anywhere. |
| Valahol ott van a régi fénykép. | ˈvɒlɒhol ɔt vɒn ɒ ˈreːɡi ˈfeːɲkɛp. | The old photo is somewhere over there. |
| A lámpa a falon van. | A ˈlɒmpɒ ɒ ˈfɒlon vɒn. | The lamp is on the wall. |
| A szék a teraszon áll. | A ˈsɛːk ɒ ˈtɛrɒsɒn ɒːl. | The chair stands on the terrace. |
| A játékok az ágy alatt vannak. | A ˈjɒtɛkɒk ɒz ˈɒɟ ɒlɒtt ˈvɒnnɒk. | The toys are under the bed. |
| A gyerekek a játszótér mellett játszanak. | A ˈɟɛrɛkɛk ɒ ˈjɒt͡sotɛːr ˈmɛlːlɛt ˈjɒt͡sɒnɒk. | The children are playing next to the playground. |
| A híd a folyó fölött ível. | A ˈhiːd ɒ ˈfoɪjɔ ˈføːlœtt ˈiːvɛl. | The bridge spans above the river. |
| Az ablak a falon van. | ɒz ˈɒblɒk ɒ ˈfɒlon vɒn. | The window is on the wall. |
| A kutya az udvaron van. | A ˈkutyɒ ɒz ˈudvɒron vɒn. | The dog is in the yard. |
| A hűtő a konyhában van. | A ˈhyːtø ɒ ˈkoɲhɒbɒn vɒn. | The fridge is in the kitchen. |
| A könyvek a polcon vannak. | A ˈkøɲvɛk ɒ ˈpolt͡son ˈvɒnnɒk. | The books are on the shelf. |
These examples cover a range of locations and situations, illustrating how to use prepositions and location words effectively.
Practice Exercises
Now that you have learned about expressing location, it’s time to practice! Below are 10 exercises designed to reinforce your understanding. Each exercise comes with a solution for your reference.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct preposition from the list: "a / az," "mellett," "előtt," "mögött," "fölött," "alatt," "között."
1. A könyv ___ asztalon van.
2. A kutya ___ ülök.
3. A macska ___ kanapé alatt van.
4. A gyümölcs ___ tál fölött van.
5. A ház ___ állok.
6. A park ___ van egy bolt.
7. Az autó ___ utcán van.
8. A kutyák ___ játszanak.
9. Mindenhol keresem a kulcsomat.
10. Sehol nem találom a táskámat.
Solutions:
1. a
2. mellett
3. mögött
4. fölött
5. előtt
6. mögött
7. az
8. között
9. (no answer needed)
10. (no answer needed)
Exercise 2: Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences from English to Hungarian:
1. The book is on the table.
2. I am standing in front of the house.
3. The cat is under the couch.
4. The children are playing next to the playground.
5. The old photo is somewhere over there.
Solutions:
1. A könyv az asztalon van.
2. A ház előtt állok.
3. A macska a kanapé alatt van.
4. A gyerekek a játszótér mellett játszanak.
5. A régi fénykép valahol ott van.
Exercise 3: Create Sentences
Using the following words, create your own sentences in Hungarian:
1. lámpa (lamp), fal (wall), van (is)
2. kutyák (dogs), játszótér (playground), mellett (next to)
3. könyv (book), polc (shelf), alatt (under)
4. autó (car), udvar (yard), van (is)
5. gyümölcs (fruit), tál (bowl), fölött (above)
Example Solutions:
1. A lámpa a falon van.
2. A kutyák a játszótér mellett vannak.
3. A könyv a polc alatt van.
4. Az autó az udvaron van.
5. A gyümölcs a tál fölött van.
Exercise 4: Matching Exercise
Match the Hungarian location words with their English translations:
1. itt
2. ott
3. mindenhol
4. sehol
5. valahol
Solutions:
1. here
2. there
3. everywhere
4. nowhere
5. somewhere
Exercise 5: Sentence Correction
Correct the following sentences:
1. A kutya a falon van.
2. A könyv a tál alatt van.
3. Az autó az asztalon van.
4. A gyümölcs a polcon van.
5. A lámpa a játszótér fölött van.
Solutions:
1. A kutya a földön van. (The dog is on the ground.)
2. A könyv a tál fölött van. (The book is above the bowl.)
3. Az autó az udvaron van. (The car is in the yard.)
4. A gyümölcs a tál alatt van. (The fruit is under the bowl.)
5. A lámpa a falon van. (The lamp is on the wall.)
Exercise 6: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct preposition to complete the sentence:
The book is ___ the table.
a) a
b) mögött
c) mellett
Solution:
a) a
Exercise 7: Short Answer
Answer the following questions in Hungarian:
1. Hol van a könyv? (Where is the book?)
2. Hol áll a kutya? (Where is the dog standing?)
3. Hol vannak a gyerekek? (Where are the children?)
Example Answers:
1. A könyv az asztalon van.
2. A kutya a ház előtt áll.
3. A gyerekek a játszótér mellett játszanak.
Exercise 8: Fill in the Gaps
Fill in with appropriate location words:
1. A macska ___ kanapé alatt van.
2. A gyerekek ___ játszanak.
3. A régi fénykép ___ van.
Solutions:
1. a
2. a
3. valahol
Exercise 9: Write a Paragraph
Write a short paragraph describing your room using at least five location words or prepositions.
Example Solution:
A szobámban van egy ágy az ablak mellett. A könyvek a polcon vannak, és a lámpa a falon áll. Az íróasztal a padlón van, és a számítógép az asztalon áll.
Exercise 10: Quiz Yourself
Create five questions about expressing location in Hungarian and try to answer them.
Example Questions:
1. Mi a magyar szó a "here"-re?
2. Hol van a gyümölcs?
3. Mit jelent a "mellett"?
4. A kutya hol áll?
5. Milyen szavakat használsz a helyek kifejezésére?
Solutions:
1. Itt.
2. A gyümölcs a tál fölött van. (The fruit is above the bowl.)
3. Next to.
4. A kutya a ház előtt áll. (The dog is in front of the house.)
5. Prepozíciókat. (Prepositions.)
With these exercises, you will solidify your understanding of expressing location in Hungarian. Don’t forget to practice speaking and using these phrases in conversation whenever you can!
Videos
Hungarian: Complex and Wonderfully Expressive, with Carol ...
Sources
- Expressing need with personal infinitive verbs in Hungarian ...
- Simplified Grammar of the Hungarian Language/Nouns - Wikisource ...
Other Lessons
- Pronunciation and accentuation
- 0 to A1 Course
- Aspect and mood combinations
- Verbs and tenses
- Complex sentence structures
- Nouns
- Adverbs of Time and Frequency
- Pronouns and possessives
- Negation
- Comparisons and superlatives
| ◀️ Common Prepositions — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Modes of Transportation ▶️ |