Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Comparisons-and-superlatives

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Hungarian Grammar → Intermediate Hungarian grammar → Comparisons and superlatives

In this lesson, we will learn how to create comparisons and express superlatives in Hungarian. We will use adjectives and adverbs in different forms and contexts to describe different objects, people, or situations. This lesson is suitable for students who have already studied basic Hungarian grammar and know how to use verbs and nouns correctly.

Comparisons

We use comparisons to describe how two things are similar or different. Hungarian uses different forms of adjectives and adverbs to express comparisons.

Comparison of equality

To express that two items or people are equal, we use "olyan...mint" (as...as). For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
A város olyan nagy, mint a főváros.	Ah vaa-rosh o-lyan nog-y, mint ah fo-vaarosh.	The city is as big as the capital.

Comparison of inequality

To express that two items or people are not equal, we use "nem olyan...mint" (not as...as). For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
Az apja nem olyan magas, mint ő.	Oz upp-yuh nem o-lyan mog-gosh, mint oh.	His father is not as tall as him.

Comparative form

To express that one item or person has a greater or lesser quality than another, we use the comparative form of an adjective or adverb, which generally uses the suffix "-bb" (more) or "-abb" (most). For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
A kutya nagyobb, mint a macska.	Ah kut-yuh nog-yobb, mint ah ma-ts-ka.	The dog is bigger than the cat.
Szeretek hamarabb kelni, mint Te.	Ser-et-ek ho-maar-ubb kel-ni, mint Teh.	I like getting up earlier than you.

Note that some adjectives have irregular comparative forms:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
jó	yoh	good	jobb	yo-bb	better	rossz	ross	bad	rosszabb	ross-ab-bb	worse	sok	shok	many/much	több	tøbb	more	kevés	kev-esh	few/little	kevesebb	kev-esh-ebb	less

Superlative form

To express that an item or person has the highest or lowest quality among all, we use the superlative form of an adjective or adverb, which generally uses the suffix "-leg-" (most) or "-nél/nélkül" (least). For example:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
Budapest a legszebb város Magyarországon.	Bu-da-pesht ah leg-szebb vaarosh mod-yar-or-shaa-gon.	Budapest is the most beautiful city in Hungary.
Ez a tanár a legjobb matektanár.	Ez ah taa-naar ah leg-yobb mat-ek-taa-naar.	This teacher is the best math teacher.

Note that some adjectives have irregular superlative forms:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
jó	yoh	good	legjobb	leg-yobb	best	rossz	ross	bad	legsrosszabb	legs-rosh-ab-bb	worst	sok	shok	many/much	legtöbb	leg-tøbb	most	kevés	kev-esh	few/little	legkevesebb	leg-kev-esh-ebb	least

Exercises

Translate the following sentences into Hungarian:

My car is not as fast as yours.
This book is more interesting than that one.
The soup is not as hot as the coffee.
This is the cheapest store in town.
Budapest is the biggest city in Hungary.

Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the comparative or superlative:

Az alma ___ (finom) a banánnál.
A hétvégi utazás ___ (drága) az előzőnél.
A matek a ___ (nehéz) tantárgyak közé tartozik.
Az én macskám ___ (barátságos) a te kutyádnál.
Az én testvérem ___ (magas) a te testvérednél.

Sources

Superlative adjectives in Hungarian: leg--abb [HungarianReference ...
Hungarian grammar - Wikipedia
Simplified Grammar of the Hungarian Language/Adjectives ...
[Hungarian Superlatives & Comparisons – Better Hungarian]

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Greetings and Introductions

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

Numbers and Time

Questions and Negation

Family and Relationships

Adjectives and Adverbs

Food and Dining

Prepositions and Location

Travel and Transportation

Hungarian Customs and Traditions

Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

Hungarian History and Geography

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