Language/Hungarian/Grammar/Pronouns-and-possessives

Hungarian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Hungarian grammar → Pronouns and possessives

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on pronouns and possessives in Hungarian! In this lesson, we will explore the different pronouns and possessives used in the Hungarian language. Pronouns are words that replace nouns, while possessives indicate ownership or possession. Understanding how to use these in sentences is crucial for effective communication in Hungarian.

Throughout this lesson, we will delve into the details of pronouns and possessives, providing numerous examples to illustrate each point. We will also explore any regional variations in their usage and historical reasons for these differences. Additionally, we will share interesting cultural facts and anecdotes that relate to the topic, making the learning experience informative and engaging.

By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of pronouns and possessives in Hungarian and will be able to confidently use them in your own sentences. So let's get started!

Pronouns

Pronouns play an essential role in Hungarian grammar as they replace nouns to avoid repetition and add clarity to sentences. Understanding the different types of pronouns and their usage is crucial for effective communication. In this section, we will explore the various categories of pronouns in the Hungarian language.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns are used to refer to specific people or objects. In Hungarian, personal pronouns have different forms depending on their grammatical case, number, and person. Let's take a look at the personal pronouns in Hungarian:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
Én	[eːn]	I
Te	[tɛ]	You (singular)
Ő	[øː]	He/She/It
Mi	[mi]	We
Ti	[ti]	You (plural)
Ők	[øːk]	They

As you can see, personal pronouns in Hungarian have distinct forms depending on the subject of the sentence. It is important to note that the pronoun "Ő" can refer to both he, she, or it, depending on the context. Let's see some examples:

• Én szeretem a könyveket. (I love books.)
• Te magyar vagy? (Are you Hungarian?)
• Ő a tanár. (He/She is the teacher.)
• Mi Budapesten élünk. (We live in Budapest.)
• Ti jó barátok vagytok. (You are good friends.)
• Ők szeretik az állatokat. (They love animals.)

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people or objects. In Hungarian, there are three main demonstrative pronouns: "ez" (this), "az" (that), and "amaz" (that over there). These pronouns also change their form based on case, number, and gender. Let's see the different forms of demonstrative pronouns in Hungarian:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
ez	[ɛz]	this
az	[ɑz]	that
amaz	[ɑmɑz]	that over there

Here are some examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentences:

• Ez az autó új. (This car is new.)
• Az asztal barna. (That table is brown.)
• Amaz könyvek drágák. (Those books over there are expensive.)

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people or objects. In Hungarian, there are several interrogative pronouns, each serving a specific purpose. Let's take a look at some of the most commonly used interrogative pronouns:

• Ki? - Who?
• Mit? - What?
• Melyik? - Which?
• Hány? - How many?
• Miért? - Why?
• Hogyan? - How?

Here are some examples of interrogative pronouns in sentences:

• Ki az új diák? (Who is the new student?)
• Mit csinálsz? (What are you doing?)
• Melyik könyvet választod? (Which book are you choosing?)
• Hány éves vagy? (How old are you?)
• Miért szereted a zenét? (Why do you love music?)
• Hogyan jutok el a boltba? (How do I get to the store?)

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used to indicate that the subject is also the object of the sentence. In Hungarian, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding the suffix "-sa" or "-sé" to the possessive pronoun. Here are the reflexive pronouns in Hungarian:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
magam	[mɑgɑm]	myself
magad	[mɑgɑd]	yourself
maga	[mɑgɑ]	himself/herself/itself
magunk	[mɑguŋk]	ourselves
magatok	[mɑgɑtok]	yourselves
maguk	[mɑguk]	themselves

Here are some examples of reflexive pronouns in sentences:

• Mosakodom. (I am washing myself.)
• Fogat mosol. (You are brushing your teeth.)
• A macska mosakszik. (The cat is washing itself.)
• Megmosakodunk. (We are washing ourselves.)
• Megmosakodtok. (You are washing yourselves.)
• A kutyák mosakszanak. (The dogs are washing themselves.)

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are used to refer to nonspecific people or objects. In Hungarian, there are several indefinite pronouns, each serving a different purpose. Let's take a look at some of the most commonly used indefinite pronouns:

• valaki - someone
• senki - no one
• mindenki - everyone
• valami - something
• semmi - nothing
• minden - everything

Here are some examples of indefinite pronouns in sentences:

• Valaki kopog az ajtón. (Someone is knocking on the door.)
• Senki nem tudja a választ. (No one knows the answer.)
• Mindenki szereti a süteményt. (Everyone likes the cake.)
• Valami furcsát érzek. (I feel something strange.)
• Semmit nem csinálok ma. (I am not doing anything today.)
• Mindent megteszek érted. (I will do everything for you.)

Possessives

Possessives indicate ownership or possession in a sentence. In Hungarian, possessives are formed by adding suffixes to the noun. The suffixes change depending on the case, number, and definiteness of the noun. Let's explore the different possessive forms in Hungarian.

Singular Possessives

In Hungarian, singular possessives have different forms depending on the noun's gender and definiteness. Let's take a look at the different forms of singular possessives:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
a kutya (the dog)	a kutya	the dog's
a macska (the cat)	a macska	the cat's

Here are some examples of singular possessives in sentences:

• A kutya farka. (The dog's tail.)
• A macska eteti a kiscicát. (The cat feeds the kitten.)

Plural Possessives

Plural possessives in Hungarian are formed by adding suffixes to the noun, similar to singular possessives. The suffixes change depending on the noun's gender and definiteness. Let's see the different forms of plural possessives:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
a kutyák (the dogs)	a kutyák	the dogs'
a macskák (the cats)	a macskák	the cats'

Here are some examples of plural possessives in sentences:

• A kutyák labdája. (The dogs' ball.)
• A macskák játéka. (The cats' toy.)

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns are used to indicate ownership without the need for a separate noun. In Hungarian, possessive pronouns have different forms depending on the case, number, and definiteness. Let's take a look at the possessive pronouns in Hungarian:

Hungarian	Pronunciation	English
az én (mine)	ɑz eːn	mine
a te (yours)	ɑ tɛ	yours
az ő (his/hers/its)	ɑz øː	his/hers/its
a mi (ours)	ɑ mi	ours
a ti (yours)	ɑ ti	yours
az ők (theirs)	ɑz øːk	theirs

Here are some examples of possessive pronouns in sentences:

• Ez az én könyvem. (This is my book.)
• A te autód gyors. (Your car is fast.)
• Az ő háza nagy. (His/Her/Its house is big.)
• Ez a mi kertünk. (This is our garden.)
• A ti kutyátok aranyos. (Your dog is cute.)
• Az ők macskájuk fekete. (Their cat is black.)

Cultural Section

Hungarian culture is rich and diverse, and pronouns and possessives play a significant role in everyday conversations. It is interesting to note that Hungarian has a formal and informal way of addressing people, similar to many other languages. The informal pronoun "te" is used when addressing friends, family members, or people of the same age or lower social status. On the other hand, the formal pronoun "ön" is used to show respect or when addressing someone older or of higher social status.

In Hungarian culture, it is common to address strangers or people you meet for the first time using the formal pronoun "ön" until you establish a closer relationship. This demonstrates politeness and respect for the other person. However, once a closer relationship is formed, it is common to switch to the informal pronoun "te" to express familiarity and friendship.

Hungarian possessives are also used to indicate family relationships. For example, when referring to family members, possessives are often used to indicate the relationship. For instance, "anyukám" means "my mom," and "apád" means "your dad." This usage of possessives adds warmth and intimacy to conversations and reflects the importance of family bonds in Hungarian culture.

Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you have learned! Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of pronouns and possessives in Hungarian.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate pronoun or possessive pronoun.

1. ____ szeretem a zenét. 2. ____ vagy a legjobb barátom. 3. ____ a kutyája nagyon aranyos. 4. ____ tanulok magyarul. 5. ____ könyvet ajánlasz? 6. ____ szeretek a természetben sétálni.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using possessive pronouns instead of possessive nouns.

1. A házam piros. 2. A könyvek az asztalodon vannak. 3. A macskája nagy. 4. A gyerekek játékai a szobában vannak.

Exercise 3: Translate the following sentences into Hungarian.

1. This is my car. 2. Are these your shoes? 3. His hat is black. 4. Our house is big. 5. Their dogs are friendly.

Solutions

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate pronoun or possessive pronoun.

1. Én szeretem a zenét. 2. Te vagy a legjobb barátom. 3. Ő a kutyája nagyon aranyos. 4. Én tanulok magyarul. 5. Mit könyvet ajánlasz? 6. Én szeretek a természetben sétálni.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using possessive pronouns instead of possessive nouns.

1. Az enyém piros. 2. A tiéd az asztalodon vannak. 3. Az övé nagy. 4. A mieink a szobában vannak.

Exercise 3: Translate the following sentences into Hungarian.

1. Ez az én autóm. 2. A ti cipőitek ezek? 3. Az ő kalapja fekete. 4. A mi házunk nagy. 5. Az ő kutyáik barátságosak.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the lesson on pronouns and possessives in Hungarian. You have learned about personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, reflexive pronouns, indefinite pronouns, singular possessives, plural possessives, and possessive pronouns. You have also explored some cultural aspects related to pronouns and possessives in Hungarian conversations.

Continue practicing and using pronouns and possessives in your everyday conversations to strengthen your understanding and fluency in Hungarian. Remember to pay attention to the different forms and endings of pronouns and possessives based on gender, number, and case.

In the next lesson, we will dive into the world of Hungarian vocabulary, focusing on greetings, courtesies, and common expressions. Join us as we explore essential words and phrases for polite and friendly interactions in Hungarian culture.

Table of Contents - Hungarian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Personal Pronouns
• Present Tense Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Time and Frequency

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Prepositions and Location

• Common Prepositions
• Expressing Location

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Hungarian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Traditional Foods

  ---

Possessive Pronouns and Plurals

• Possessive Pronouns
• Forming Plurals

  ---

Hobbies and Leisure Activities

• Common Hobbies
• Discussing Interests

  ---

Hungarian History and Geography

• Important Historical Events
• Geography of Hungary

Sources

• Hungarian possessive pronouns - Grammar
• Appendix:Hungarian possessive suffixes - Wiktionary
• Possession in Hungarian (singular) [HungarianReference.com ...
• Hungarian: Lesson Eight: Possession

Other Lessons

• Passive voice and indirect speech
• Verbs and tenses
• Plural
• How to form the feminine
• Complex sentence structures
• How to Use Have
• Comparisons and superlatives
• Questions
• Definite and indefinite articles
• Adjectives