Cases on Possessed Nouns
In Hungarian, when a noun is both possessed (my, your, his) and has a case (in, to, for), the suffixes follow a strict order: Noun + Possessive + Case. Special rules apply to the 3rd person (vowel lengthening) and the 1st/2nd person accusative (linking vowels).
How It Works
When adding case suffixes to possessed nouns, follow these morphological rules:
- Stem Lengthening: Before adding any possessive suffix, noun stems ending in -a or -e must undergo low-vowel lengthening. For example: alma (apple) becomes almám (my apple) or almátok (your apple).
- Suffix Order: The order is always Noun Stem + (Plural Marker -i-) + Possessive Suffix + Case Suffix. For example: kert (garden) + -em (my) + -ben (in) = kertemben.
- Vowel Harmony: The case suffix must follow vowel harmony based on the possessive suffix, not the original noun stem.
- Vowel Lengthening (3rd Person Singular): If a possessive suffix ends in -a or -e (3rd person singular), that vowel must lengthen to -á or -é before any case suffix. Note that the 3rd person plural (-uk/-ük) does not lengthen.
Example: autója (his car) + -t (accusative) = autóját. - The Accusative (-t) Exception: For 1st and 2nd person singular possessives (-m and -d), the accusative suffix -t requires a 'low' linking vowel (-at/-et).
Example: kabátom + -at = kabátomat. - Accusative Drop: In informal speech, the -t suffix is often omitted for 1st and 2nd person singular possessives (e.g., Keresem a kabátom). However, in formal written contexts, the -t suffix is usually retained.
- Plurality: If the possessed object is plural, you use the possessive plural -i- instead of the standard -k plural marker. Note that if a stem retains a 'j' in the singular, it usually keeps it in the plural (e.g., kertje vs kertjei).
Examples (5)
- Keresem a kulcsomat.
I am looking for my key.
Word by Word: I-look-for the key-my-ACC.
The accusative suffix -t is added to the 1st person possessive -m using the linking vowel -a.
- A barátja házában lakunk.
We live in his friend's house.
Word by Word: The friend-his house-his-in we-live.
The 3rd person possessive -a lengthens to -á before the inessive suffix -ban.
- Add oda a könyvedet Péternek!
Give your book to Peter!
Word by Word: Give away the book-your-ACC Peter-to!
The 2nd person possessive -d uses the linking vowel -e before the accusative -t.
- A macskámról beszélek.
I am talking about my cat.
Word by Word: The cat-my-about I-talk.
The delative suffix -ról attaches directly to the 1st person possessive -m.
- Szeretem a feleségemet.
I love my wife.
Word by Word: I-love the wife-my-ACC.
Note the use of the definite conjugation because 'my wife' is a specific, definite object.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting to lengthen the vowel in 3rd person singular possessives.
Látom az autójat.Látom az autóját.The final -a or -e of a 3rd person singular possessive suffix must always become -á or -é when any case suffix follows. This does not apply to the 3rd person plural -uk/-ük.
Putting the case suffix before the possessive suffix.
A kertbenem van virág.A kertemben van virág.In Hungarian, the possessive suffix always comes before the case suffix.
Using the standard plural -k with possessives.
A könyvekmben van a toll.A könyveimben van a toll.When a noun is possessed, the plural marker -k is replaced by the possessive plural marker -i.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use cases on possessed nouns, you must first be comfortable with the possessive suffixes themselves and the basic case endings. This pattern specifically addresses how these two systems interact, including the specific linking vowels and changes that occur when a case suffix follows a possessive ending.
- -m/-d/-a/-eSingular Possessors
Learners must first understand how to form basic singular possessive nouns before adding case suffixes to them.
Level 1 - -tAccusative Case
The accusative case is the most common case used with possessed nouns and involves specific stem changes (like the linking vowel 'a' in -át/-ét) when following a possessive suffix.
Level 1 - -ban/-benInside / in
Understanding basic case suffixes is necessary to see how they attach to the end of a possessive construction.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Stem-Final Vowel Lengthening
This phonological rule explains why 3rd person possessives change their vowel before a case suffix.
Level 4 - Plural Possessive Case Order
This pattern explains the full chain of suffixes when the possessed object is also plural.
Level 2 - Definite Conjugation
Possessed nouns are always definite, so they trigger the definite conjugation of the verb.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Cases on Possessed Nouns in Bubblegum
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