Possessive suffixes on nouns; vowel harmony in possessives
Can express possession using suffix on noun with correct vowel harmony
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
A barátom Budapesten lakik.
My friend lives in Budapest.
Hol van a könyved?
Where is your book?
A nevünk Kovács.
Our name is Kovács.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Possession is expressed by suffixes on the noun. Vowel harmony determines which suffix: back vowels → -am/-ad/-a, front → -em/-ed/-e.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesLearners use separate possessive words. The suffix IS the possessive — attach it to the noun with correct vowel harmony.
Using a separate possessive word instead of suffix
Hungarian has no 'my/your' — attach -om/-em/-öm to the noun instead.
Using wrong vowel in possessive suffix
Back vowels (a/á/o/ó/u/ú): -am/-ad/-a. Front vowels (e/é/i/í/ö/ő/ü/ű): -em/-ed/-e.
A barátom Budapesten lakik.
My friend lives in Budapest.
barát + -om = my friend (back vowel harmony). No separate 'my' word.
Hol van a könyved?
Where is your book?
könyv + -ed = your book (front vowel harmony: ö is a front vowel).
A nevünk Kovács.
Our name is Kovács.
név → nev- + -ünk = our name (front rounded vowel harmony: é→e + -ünk).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises