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 könyvtár<strong>ban</strong> vagyok, nem az iskolá<strong>ban</strong>.
I am in the library, not in the school.
Az üzlet<strong>ben</strong> és a kert<strong>ben</strong> is voltam.
I was both in the shop and in the garden.
A barát<strong>nak</strong> adok egy könyv<strong>et</strong>.
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.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesApplying the wrong suffix class. Always check: is the last vowel back (a/á/o/ó/u/ú) or front?
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 könyvtár<strong>ban</strong> vagyok, nem az iskolá<strong>ban</strong>.
I am in the library, not in the school.
Both 'könyvtár' and 'iskola' have back vowels (á, a) → -ban suffix.
Az üzlet<strong>ben</strong> és a kert<strong>ben</strong> is voltam.
I was both in the shop and in the garden.
'Üzlet' (front ü,e) and 'kert' (front e) → -ben suffix.
A barát<strong>nak</strong> adok egy könyv<strong>et</strong>.
I give a book to the friend.
'Barát' has back á → -nak. 'Könyv' has front ö → accusative -et.
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Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
A1 Module 1: Hungarian greetings, vowel length, and simple sentences