How to Use Possessive Suffixes in Hungarian for English Speakers

Understanding Possessive Suffixes in Hungarian

In Hungarian, possession is often expressed by adding suffixes directly to the noun, rather than using separate possessive pronouns as in English. These suffixes indicate who owns or is associated with the noun. For English speakers, this can be quite different from what they are used to, but with practice, it becomes natural.

What Are Possessive Suffixes?

Possessive suffixes are endings attached to nouns to show possession. For example, instead of saying "my book," Hungarian attaches a suffix to the word for book (könyv) to indicate "my book."

Basic Possessive Suffixes

Here are the most common possessive suffixes in Hungarian, showing possession for different persons and numbers:

• -m : my (1st person singular)
• -d : your (2nd person singular)
• -ja/-je : his/her/its (3rd person singular)
• -nk : our (1st person plural)
• -tok/-tek/-tök : your (2nd person plural)
• -juk/-jük : their (3rd person plural)

The exact form of the suffix can change depending on vowel harmony and the ending of the noun. For example, könyv (book) becomes könyvem (my book), while ház (house) becomes házam (my house).

Examples of Possessive Suffixes in Use

• Az én könyvem – My book
• A te házad – Your house
• Az ő autója – His/her car
• A mi kutyánk – Our dog
• A ti iskolátok – Your (plural) school
• Az ő házuk – Their house

Vowel Harmony and Suffix Variations

Hungarian vowels are divided into front and back vowels, and suffixes change to harmonize with the vowels in the noun. For example, the 3rd person singular possessive suffix can be -ja or -je depending on the word. Autó (car) takes -ja to become autója, while szék (chair) takes -je to become széke (note: some exceptions exist). Understanding vowel harmony is key to using suffixes correctly.

Possessive Suffixes with Plural Nouns

When the noun is plural, the plural suffix -k is added before the possessive suffix. For example, könyv (book) becomes könyvek (books), and "my books" is könyveim (plural + possessive). The suffix -im here is the 1st person singular possessive suffix combined with the plural marker.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to apply vowel harmony to suffixes.
• Mixing up singular and plural possessive suffixes.
• Using separate possessive pronouns instead of suffixes (Hungarian prefers suffixes).
• Not adding the plural suffix -k before possessive suffixes when the noun is plural.

Summary: How to Form Possessive Nouns in Hungarian

1. Start with the noun you want to use.
2. If the noun is plural, add the plural suffix -k first.
3. Add the appropriate possessive suffix based on the possessor's person and number.
4. Make sure the suffix follows vowel harmony rules.
5. Use the full noun with suffix as the possessive form, often without a separate possessive pronoun.