-ság/-ség

Abstract Nouns

Level 4

The suffix -ság/-ség is the primary way to create abstract nouns in Hungarian. It functions like the English suffixes -ness, -hood, or -ity. It follows vowel harmony rules.

How It Works

The -ság/-ség suffix is a two-form suffix determined by vowel harmony:

  • -ság: Used with back-vowel words (e.g., jó → jóság 'goodness').
  • -ség: Used with front-vowel words (e.g., szép → szépség 'beauty').

Key Functions:
1. Qualities from Adjectives: Describes an abstract trait (e.g., okos 'smart' → okosság 'cleverness').
2. States from Nouns: Describes a relationship or status (e.g., barát 'friend' → barátság 'friendship').
3. Collectives: Refers to a group of people or an institution (e.g., rendőr 'police officer' → rendőrség 'police force').
4. Offices/Roles: Refers to a position or jurisdiction (e.g., elnök 'president' → elnökség 'presidency').
5. Concepts from Verbs: Forms nouns from certain verb stems (e.g., segít 'help' → segítség 'help/assistance').
6. Concepts from Numerals: Forms nouns from numbers (e.g., egy 'one' → egység 'unity/unit').
7. Geographic Territories / Realms: Forms nouns representing landscapes or realms (e.g., király 'king' → királyság 'kingdom', hegy 'mountain' → hegység 'mountain range').

Morphological Notes:
• No Vowel Lengthening: This suffix is a notable exception to the rule of low-vowel lengthening. If a stem ends in a short -a or -e, the vowel remains short when adding -ság/-ség (e.g., ritka → ritkaság, fekete → feketeség).
• Linking Vowels: Sometimes, this suffix requires linking vowels (-a- or -e-), creating the variants -aság / -eség (and sometimes -asság / -esség). This often happens with certain adjectives, nouns, or verbs (e.g., rossz 'bad' → rosszaság 'badness', bölcs 'wise' → bölcsesség 'wisdom', nyer 'win' → nyereség 'profit', sok 'many' → sokaság 'multitude').

Orthographic Note:
When a stem ends in -s, adding the suffix results in a double -ss- (e.g., magas 'tall' → magasság 'height'). Note that this is simply standard concatenation (a stem ending in 's' plus a suffix starting with 's' naturally results in 'ss'), not a special consonant assimilation rule.

Pronunciation Note:
The s at the beginning of the suffix often triggers regressive consonant assimilation in pronunciation (though the spelling remains unchanged). This includes:
• Sibilant Assimilation: If the stem ends in sz, z, zs, c, or cs, it merges with the s in speech (e.g., egészség 'health' is pronounced [egésség]).
• Affrication: When the stem ends in t or d, combining it with the s of the suffix produces a long cs [t͡ʃː] sound (e.g., barátság 'friendship' is pronounced [baráccság], szabadság 'freedom' is pronounced [szabaccság]).
• Voicing Assimilation: The voiceless s causes preceding voiced consonants (like b or g) to become voiceless in speech (e.g., kisebbség 'minority' is pronounced [kiseppség]).

Examples (5)

  1. Az egészség a legfontosabb dolog.

    Health is the most important thing.

    Word by Word: The health the most-important thing.

    Here, the adjective 'egész' (whole/healthy) becomes the abstract noun 'egészség' (health).

  2. A szabadság alatt Olaszországba utazunk.

    We are traveling to Italy during the vacation.

    Word by Word: The freedom under Italy-into travel-we.

    'Szabadság' comes from 'szabad' (free). While it means 'freedom', it is also the standard word for 'vacation' or 'time off'.

  3. Ez a könyv egy igazi ritkaság.

    This book is a real rarity.

    Word by Word: This the book a real rarity.

    Note that unlike many other suffixes, '-ság' does not cause the final 'a' in 'ritka' (rare) to lengthen; it remains short.

  4. A rendőrség az utcán van.

    The police are on the street.

    Word by Word: The police-force the street-on is.

    In this case, the suffix creates a collective noun referring to the institution/force rather than an abstract quality.

  5. Köszönöm a barátságodat!

    Thank you for your friendship!

    Word by Word: Thank-I the friendship-your-accusative!

    This shows the suffix attached to a noun: 'barát' (friend) becomes 'barátság' (friendship).

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing -ság/-ség with the verbal noun suffix -ás/-és.

    A futóság jó testmozgás.
    A futás jó testmozgás.

    Use the verbal noun -ás/-és suffix for actions (like running). Use -ság/-ség for states, collectives, or qualities derived from adjectives, nouns, numerals, or verbs.

  • Applying the wrong vowel harmony form.

    szépság
    szépség

    The word 'szép' contains a front vowel, so it must take the front-vowel suffix '-ség' according to the rules of vowel harmony.

  • Lengthening stem-final 'a' or 'e' before the suffix.

    ritkáság
    ritkaság

    Unlike most Hungarian suffixes, -ság/-ség is an exception to low-vowel lengthening. A stem-final 'a' or 'e' remains short (e.g., ritka → ritkaság, fekete → feketeség).

How It Connects

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-ság/-ségLevel 4Abstract Nouns

Learn This First

To form abstract nouns with -ság/-ség, you must understand Hungarian vowel harmony to select the correct suffix variant. Additionally, since these nouns are often derived from adjectives or other nouns, familiarity with basic descriptive vocabulary is necessary.

Words in This Pattern

-ság-ség