-ék

Associative Plural

Level 3

The associative plural -ék is attached to a name or title to mean 'X and their group' (family, friends, or colleagues). Unlike the standard plural, it refers to a group of different people centered around one person.

How It Works

The associative plural is a unique feature of Hungarian used to simplify referring to social groups.

1. Invariant Suffix:
Unlike most Hungarian suffixes, -ék does not follow vowel harmony. It is always -ék, regardless of the vowels in the name (e.g., Béláék, Tiborék).

2. Stem Changes:
If a name or noun ends in -a or -e, these vowels undergo stem-final vowel lengthening to -á- and -é- before the suffix is added (e.g., anya → anyáék).

3. Grammatical Agreement:
Even though you attach it to a singular name, the resulting word is plural. You must use plural verb endings (e.g., Jánosék vannak).

4. Usage Context:
It is most commonly used for families (The Kovács family = Kovácsék) or to describe visiting someone's home. Megyek Péterékhez means 'I am going to Péter's place', where Péter lives with his family or housemates; Megyek Péterhez is 'I am going to Péter'.

Examples (4)

  1. Kovácsék a szomszédunkban laknak.

    The Kovácses (the Kovács family) live next door to us.

    Word by Word: Kovács-and-group the our-neighbor-in live-they.

    Here, -ék refers to the entire Kovács family as a single unit.

  2. Jánosék holnap érkeznek Budapestre.

    John and his family/group arrive in Budapest tomorrow.

    Word by Word: John-and-group tomorrow arrive-they Budapest-onto.

    Note that the verb 'érkeznek' is in the plural form to agree with 'Jánosék'.

  3. Megyünk anyáékhoz vacsorázni.

    We are going to Mom and the others' for dinner.

    Word by Word: Go-we mom-and-group-to to-dine.

    Notice the 'a' in 'anya' lengthens to 'á' before the -ék suffix.

  4. A doktorék már befejezték a rendelést.

    The doctor and his staff have already finished the consultation.

    Word by Word: The doctor-and-group already finished-they the consultation-acc.

    The suffix can be used with titles to include the person's professional team or family.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the standard plural -k where -ék is the usual way to name a family.

    Different MeaningA Kovácsok itt laknak.
    Kovácsék itt laknak.

    'A Kovácsok itt laknak' is correct and can mean a Kovács family. 'Kovácsék' is the usual way to say 'the Kovács family' or 'Kovács and the people with him'.

  • Applying vowel harmony to the suffix (changing it to -ák).

    Béláák jönnek.
    Béláék jönnek.

    The suffix -ék is invariant; it never changes to -ák, even if the name contains back vowels.

  • Forgetting to lengthen the final -a or -e of the stem.

    anyaék
    anyáék

    Final 'a' and 'e' must always lengthen to 'á' and 'é' when any suffix starting with a vowel (like -ék) is added.

How It Connects

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

-ékLevel 3Associative Plural

Learn This First

The associative plural -ék is a specialized suffix used with names or roles to denote a group (like a family or circle of friends). Learners should already be familiar with how nouns are pluralized in a general sense and have a basic grasp of Hungarian phonology.

Words in This Pattern

-ék