Hungarian

Suffix

-ál

1. (verb suffix) Same as -l with the -á- linking vowel. Used for integrating loanwords into Hungarian.

   telefon ‎(“telephone”) → telefonál ‎(“to telephone”)

2. (frequentative suffix) Added to a verb to form a verb to express repetitive action.

   dob ‎(“to throw”) → dobál ‎(“to throw one after the other”)

3. (noun suffix, archaic) Added to a verb to form a noun.

   fon ‎(“to weave”) → fonál ‎(“thread”)

4. (personal suffix) Used in the second-person singular indefinite form of verbs. It appears in past tense as -tál, in conditional mood present as -nál and in subjunctive mood present as -jál.

   tud ‎(“to know”)

   Tudtál erről? - Did you know about this?

   Tudnál segíteni? - Could you help?

   Azt akarta, hogy tudjál róla. - He wanted you to know about it.

Usage notes

• (verb suffix) Variants:

  -l is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-. Final long vowels may shorten, e.g. ű → ü.

  -ol is added to some back vowel words ending in a consonant

  -al is added to other back vowel words ending in a consonant

  -el is added to unrounded front vowel words ending in a consonant

  -öl is added to rounded front vowel words ending in a consonant

  -ál is added to some back vowel words ending in a consonant

• (frequentative suffix) Variants:

  -ál is added to back vowel verbs

  -él is added to front vowel verbs

• (archaic noun suffix) Variants:

  -ál is added to back vowel verbs

  -él is added to front vowel verbs

  See also the suffix variants -al/-el.

Derived terms

See also

• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes