Birtokos szerkezet

A1 — Névmások

Possessive suffixes on nouns: házam, házad, háza; vowel harmony

Can express possession using suffix on noun with correct vowel harmony

Possessive suffixes on nouns: házam, házad, háza; vowel harmony

Examples

A barátom Budapesten lakik. — My friend lives in Budapest.
Hol van a könyved? — Where is your book?
A nevünk Kovács. — Our name is Kovács.

NévmásokA1

Possessive structure

Possessive suffixes on nouns; vowel harmony in possessives

Learning Goal

Can express possession using suffix on noun with correct vowel harmony

Exam Skills:BeszédHallás utáni értésÍrásOlvasás

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 Exercises

Learners use separate possessive words. The suffix IS the possessive — attach it to the noun with correct vowel harmony.

Common Error Patterns

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

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is Birtokos szerkezet used?: A magyarban nincs külön birtokos névmás (my/your). A birtokost toldalékkal fejezzük ki a főnéven:
How is Birtokos szerkezet formed?: Magánhangzó-harmónia: hátsó hangrendű szavakhoz -am/-ad/-a, elülső hangrendűekhez -em/-ed/-e.
What are common mistakes with Birtokos szerkezet?: Learners use separate pronoun words instead of suffixes. 🇬🇧 English: No equivalent — English uses 'my/your/his'. In Hungarian the suffix IS the possessive. 🇷🇺 Russian: мой/твой → suffix on noun instead. Vowel harmony determines which suffix. 🇨🇿 Czech: můj/tvůj → suffix attached to the noun. Remember vowel harmony. 🇩🇪 German: mein/dein → suffix on noun. No gender agreement on possessive suffix.

Frequently asked questions

When is Birtokos szerkezet used?

A magyarban nincs külön birtokos névmás (my/your). A birtokost toldalékkal fejezzük ki a főnéven:

How is Birtokos szerkezet formed?

Magánhangzó-harmónia: hátsó hangrendű szavakhoz -am/-ad/-a, elülső hangrendűekhez -em/-ed/-e.

What are common mistakes with Birtokos szerkezet?

Learners use separate pronoun words instead of suffixes. 🇬🇧 English: No equivalent — English uses 'my/your/his'. In Hungarian the suffix IS the possessive. 🇷🇺 Russian: мой/твой → suffix on noun instead. Vowel harmony determines which suffix. 🇨🇿 Czech: můj/tvůj → suffix attached to the noun. Remember vowel harmony. 🇩🇪 German: mein/dein → suffix on noun. No gender agreement on possessive suffix.