-nák

See also: nak, NAK, nák, nāk, -nak, and ␕

Hungarian

Etymology

-ná (conditional suffix) +‎ -k (personal suffix)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [naːk]

Suffix

-nák

1. (personal suffix) Used to form the third-person plural present tense of verbs (conditional mood, definite conjugation).

   olvas (“to read”) → Nem olvasnák a könyvet, ha nem lenne érdekes. ― They would not read the book if it weren't interesting.

2. (personal suffix, proscribed) Occasionally used to form the first-person singular present tense of back-vowel verbs (conditional mood, indefinite conjugation). This usage is usually considered a grave offence; it is called nákolás.

   Synonym: (standard variant) -nék

Usage notes

    Conditional definite – personal endings

Person		Back      vowel	Front vowel
			unrounded	rounded
én	1st person singular	-nám	-ném
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anám	-eném
te	2nd person singular	-nád	-néd
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anád	-enéd
ő maga ön	3rd person singular	-ná	-né
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-aná	-ené
mi	1st person plural	-nánk (archaic -nók)	-nénk (archaic -nők)
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anánk (archaic -anók)	-enénk (archaic -enők)
ti	2nd person plural	-nátok	-nétek
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anátok	-enétek
ők maguk önök	3rd person plural	-nák	-nék
	after two consonants or a long vowel + t	-anák	-enék
See also: present-tense indefinite-object suffixes and second-person-object suffixes for informal addressing.

• (personal suffix) Harmonic variants:

  -nák is added to most back vowel verbs

  vár (“to wait”) → A szülők azt várnák, hogy a gyerekek tanuljanak. ― The parents would expect the children to study.

  -nék is added to most front vowel verbs

  kér (“to ask”) → A szüleim azt kérnék, hogy hívd fel őket. ― My parents would (like to) ask you to call them.

  -anák is added to back vowel verbs ending in two consonants or in a long vowel + t (exceptions áll, száll, varr, forr, lát)

  mond (“to say”) → Nem mondanák, ha nem lenne igaz. - They would not say it if it weren't true.

  tanít (“to teach”) → Ők tanítanák a gyerekeket. ― They would teach the children.

  -enék is added to front vowel verbs ending in two consonants or in a long vowel + t

  fest (“to paint”) → Ők festenék a házat. ― They would paint the house.

  segít (“to help”) → Ők segítenék a családot. ― They would help the family.

See also

• Category:Hungarian verb forms
• Appendix:Hungarian suffixes