Vowel Harmony
Vowel harmony: back vowels take back suffixes (-ban/-ból/-nak), front vowels take front suffixes (-ben/-ből/-nek)
Can select the correct suffix variant (back/front) for common Hungarian words
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
A könyvtárban vagyok, nem az iskolában.
I am in the library, not in the school.
Az üzletben és a kertben is voltam.
I was both in the shop and in the garden.
A barátnak adok egy könyvet.
I give a book to the friend.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Back vowels (a,á,o,ó,u,ú) take back suffixes: -ban, -ból, -nak. Front vowels (e,é,i,í,ö,ő,ü,ű) take front suffixes: -ben, -ből, -nek.
Applying the wrong suffix class. Always check: is the last vowel back (a/á/o/ó/u/ú) or front?
Common Error Patterns
Using back suffix (-ban/-nak) with a front-vowel word or vice versa
Find the last vowel in the stem. If it is a/á/o/ó/u/ú → back suffix. If e/é/i/í/ö/ő/ü/ű → front suffix.
Choosing wrong class for words with mixed vowels (e.g. sofőr, farmer)
For mixed-vowel loanwords, the last dominant vowel determines harmony. 'Sofőr' (back loan) takes -nak not -nek.
A könyvtárban vagyok, nem az iskolában.
I am in the library, not in the school.
Both 'könyvtár' and 'iskola' have back vowels (á, a) → -ban suffix.
Az üzletben és a kertben is voltam.
I was both in the shop and in the garden.
'Üzlet' (front ü,e) and 'kert' (front e) → -ben suffix.
A barátnak adok egy könyvet.
I give a book to the friend.
'Barát' has back á → -nak. 'Könyv' has front ö → accusative -et.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises