úgy látszik

Apparently

Level 4

Hungarian uses the impersonal verbs látszik (is visible) and tűnik (appears), usually paired with the adverb úgy (so/in that way), to express that something appears to be true based on evidence or a subjective feeling.

How It Works

These expressions are essential for making inferences in Hungarian. They can be used in two main ways: impersonally or personally.

1. Impersonal Construction (3rd Person Singular)
When used with a hogy-clause (that-clause), the verb is always in the 3rd person singular. The word úgy acts as a placeholder (adverbial proform). While úgy is highly optional for látszik, it is standard and expected for tűnik in modern Hungarian:

  • (Úgy) látszik, hogy esni fog. (It seems that it will rain.)
  • Úgy tűnik, hogy eltévedtünk. (It appears that we are lost.)

2. Personal Construction (Subject-to-Subject Raising)
Unlike the impersonal form, these verbs conjugate fully to agree with the subject. Crucially, the adjective describing the subject must take the dative case suffix (-nak/-nek):

  • Fáradtnak látszol. (You seem tired.)
  • A gyerekek boldognak tűnnek. (The children seem happy.)

3. Nuance Differences

  • Úgy látszik: Literally 'it is seen so.' Use this when you have external, visible, or factual evidence.
  • Úgy tűnik: Literally 'it appears so.' This is common in all registers. It often suggests a more subjective impression or gut feeling.

4. The 'Mintha' Construction
To express a stronger sense of uncertainty or a hypothetical comparison, you can use mintha (as if):

  • Úgy tűnik, mintha aludna. (It seems as if he were sleeping.)

5. Parenthetical Use
You can insert these phrases into a sentence to act like the English adverb 'apparently':

  • A vonat, úgy látszik, késik. (The train, apparently, is late.)

Examples (5)

  1. Úgy látszik, elfelejtette a kulcsát.

    Apparently, he forgot his key.

    Word by Word: So it-is-seen, he-forgot the his-key.

    Here, 'úgy látszik' indicates an inference based on the fact that he can't get in.

  2. A terv, úgy tűnik, nem fog beválni.

    The plan, it appears, will not work out.

    Word by Word: The plan, so it-appears, not will to-turn-out.

    This uses 'úgy tűnik' as a parenthetical remark to express a subjective impression about the plan's success.

  3. Úgy látszik, holnap esni fog.

    It looks like it will rain tomorrow.

    Word by Word: So it-is-seen, tomorrow to-rain it-will.

    A common way to predict weather based on visible signs like clouds.

  4. Péter fáradtnak tűnik ma.

    Péter seems tired today.

    Word by Word: Péter tired-as it-appears today.

    This demonstrates the 'subject + adjective + tűnik' structure for personal impressions.

  5. Úgy látszik, senki nincs otthon.

    Apparently, nobody is home.

    Word by Word: So it-is-seen, nobody not-is at-home.

    Uses 'úgy látszik' with a negative existential clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the personal 'lát' (to see) instead of 'látszik' (to be seen/seem).

    Úgy lát, hogy esik.
    Úgy látszik, hogy esik.

    'Lát' is a transitive verb requiring a subject (I see, he sees). 'Látszik' is the mediopassive form used for 'it seems' or 'it is visible.'

  • Confusing 'látszik' (it seems) with 'látszódik' (it is physically visible).

    Úgy látszódik, hogy igazad van.
    Úgy látszik, hogy igazad van.

    While both relate to seeing, 'látszódik' is strictly for physical visibility (e.g., a stain on a shirt). For abstract 'seeming' or inferences, 'látszik' is the correct choice.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

úgy látszikLevel 4Apparently

Learn This First

To use 'úgy látszik' (it seems/apparently), you need to understand how to connect it to a subordinate clause using 'hogy'. It is also important to understand how 'úgy' behaves as a modifier to the verb 'látszik' (to appear/be visible).

Words in This Pattern

látszikúgy