ORIGÓ Hungarian B1 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

tizen- versus -tizen numbers

Tizen- at the start means 'teen': tizenhárom = 13, tizenkilenc = 19. The ending -tíz or -van/-ven after a unit means a multiple of ten: harminc = 30, ötven = 50.

fél, negyed, háromnegyed times

Hungarian counts the fraction toward the next hour: fél három = 2:30, negyed három = 2:15, háromnegyed három = 2:45. This differs from English, where the hour already named has passed.

Discourse markers in listening

Először (first), aztán (then), végül (finally), viszont (however), tehát (so), egyébként (by the way) and sajnos (unfortunately) signal sequence, contrast or the speaker's attitude, and often introduce the answer.

ön versus te address

Ön and maga take third-person verb forms and mark formal distance; te takes second-person forms and marks familiarity. The choice reveals the relationship between speakers in dialogues and letters.

Verb prefix split in questions

In yes/no questions, negation and imperatives the verbal prefix moves after the verb: Megveszed a kenyeret? but Nem veszem meg. Elmész holnap? but Nem megyek el.

Hungarian sentence focus position

The constituent immediately before the verb carries the new or contrasted information. Péter ment el (Péter went, not someone else) contrasts with Péter elment (Péter left, plain statement).

Public text genres

Hirdetés = advertisement, hirdetmény = official notice, menetrend = timetable, használati utasítás = instructions for use, hivatalos levél = official letter. Genre predicts layout and the information to scan for.

Modality words in reading

Kell (must), lehet (may/can), tilos (forbidden), ajánlott (recommended) and szükséges (necessary) change the strength of a rule. Answer options that swap these words are typical distractors.

Formal letter opening and closing

Open with Tisztelt + title and name + !, close with Üdvözlettel: or Tisztelettel: followed by the name. Requests use Kérem, … and thanks use Válaszát előre is köszönöm.

Informal email frame

Open with Szia + first name + ! and close with Üdv: or Puszi + first name. Body uses te-forms and direct requests such as Írj, ha… or Küldd el, ha…

Hungarian date order

Dates are written year, month, day: 2024. május 3. Spoken with a possessive suffix on the day: május harmadika. In letters the date sits at the top right.

Covering prompt bullet points

Each bullet in a writing task corresponds to a content requirement. Missing one costs content marks even when the grammar is correct, so check the list against the finished text before submitting.

Past tense formation

Add the past marker -t or -tt to the verb stem, then the person ending: dolgoztam, mentem, ettem, írtál. The -tt appears after stems ending in a consonant that requires it, as in tanultam.

Conditional suffix -na/-ne

The conditional adds -na/-ne/-ná/-né plus person endings: mennék (I would go), ennél (you would eat), szeretnénk (we would like). It also forms polite requests.

Asking for information politely

Use Meg tudná mondani, hogy…? (Could you tell me…?) or Szeretnék érdeklődni… (I would like to ask…). Both take the formal conditional and third-person forms when addressing an official.

Hungarian fillers for fluency

Hát, nos, tehát, izé and hadd gondoljam meg keep speech flowing while thinking. They prevent long silences, which are penalised more than a slightly imprecise word.

Monologue structure for speaking

State the topic, give two or three reasons or examples, then close with Összefoglalva… or Tehát összességében…. This structure satisfies coherence criteria and fills the required speaking time.

Paraphrasing a missing word

When a word escapes you, describe it: instead of a specific noun use a general one plus a relative clause, e.g. az a dolog, amivel… This keeps the utterance going without switching to another language.

Vowel harmony rule

Back-vowel words take back suffixes (-ban, -nak, -hoz); front rounded words take front rounded suffixes (-ben, -nek, -höz); front unrounded words take -ban-type suffixes after -i, -e, -é.

Indefinite versus definite conjugation

Indefinite conjugation follows an unspecified object: látok egy filmet. Definite conjugation follows a specified object: látom a filmet, látom Pétert, látom őt, látom a kettőt.

Definite triggers beyond articles

The definite conjugation is also required by possessive nouns (látom a könyvedet), demonstratives (ezt látom), proper names (ismerem Pétert) and 1st/2nd-person objects (szeretlek, várlak).

No plural after numerals

After numerals and quantifiers the noun stays singular: három könyv, öt ember, sok diák, néhány ház. The plural suffix appears only when no quantity word precedes the noun.

Possessive suffix set

Singular possessions: -m, -d, -a/-e, -unk/-ünk, -otok/-etek/-ötök, -uk/-ük. The article stays before the noun: a könyvem, a házad, a barátja.

The -é possessive marker

The suffix -é replaces a repeated possessed noun: Ez a Péter könyve? Nem, ez a Marié (Mari's one). It inflects for number: ezek a fiúkéi (these are the boys' ones).

Assimilation of -val/-vel

The instrumental suffix -val/-vel assimilates to a final consonant: kenyérrel (with bread), Péterrel (with Péter), tollal (with a pen). After vowels it stays full: autóval, házával.

Core case suffixes

-t object, -nak/-nek dative, -ban/-ben in, -on/-en/-ön on, -ból/-ből from inside, -hoz/-hez/-höz to, -nál/-nél at, -ig until, -tól/-től from.

Verbal prefix meanings

Meg- makes an action perfective, el- means away, be- in, ki- out, fel- up, le- down, vissza- back, át- through. The prefix changes the aspect or direction of the same base verb.

Plural personal endings present tense

Indefinite present endings: -ok/-ek/-ök, -sz, -, -unk/-ünk, -tok/-tek/-tök, -nak/-nek. Definite: -om/-em/-öm, -od/-ed/-öd, -ja/-i, -juk/-jük, -játok/-itek, -ják/-ik.

Matching speakers to statements

In matching tasks each speaker's opinion is paraphrased in the options. Listen for the evaluative adjective (jó, unalmas, hasznos, nehéz) rather than the topic noun, which may appear in several options.

Scanning for specific data

Locate the paragraph containing the answer type (price, date, condition) and read only that sentence plus its neighbours. Neighbouring sentences often hold the exception that changes the answer.

Register consistency in writing

Choose formal or informal at the start and hold it: formal uses ön-forms, Tisztelt and Üdvözlettel; informal uses te-forms, Szia and Puszi. Mixing the two is a register error.

Situation dialogue functions

Typical functions: requesting (Szeretnék egy…), asking for information (Meg tudná mondani…?), apologising (Elnézést kérek…), refusing politely (Sajnos nem áll módomban…), thanking (Köszönöm szépen).