az (anaforikus)

The anaphoric az is a core feature of Hungarian syntax used across all registers to track abstract ideas in discourse.

1. Morphological Rules, Assimilation, and Vowel Harmony
When az takes a case suffix, its final -z completely assimilates to the initial consonant of most consonant-initial suffixes. When a suffix begins with a vowel, there is no assimilation (e.g., az + ért = azért, az + on = azon). Furthermore, following vowel harmony, az is a back-vowel word and strictly takes back-vowel suffixes (whereas ez takes front-vowel suffixes):

• az + ban = abban (in that)
• az + ra = arra (onto that)
• az + hoz = ahhoz (to that) - Note: Because Hungarian phonotactics generally reject a geminate 'h', ahhoz and ehhez are pronounced with a single, short 'h' (ahoz, ehez).

With the instrumental case, the suffix's initial -v assimilates to the -z of the pronoun (azzal), or the pronoun's -z assimilates to the suffix's -v (avval). While both forms are correct, azzal/ezzel are the standard, preferred forms in modern written Hungarian, whereas avval/evvel can feel slightly more colloquial, archaic, or dialectal. For the translative case, however, the standard forms are azzá/ezzé. An important exception to the consonant assimilation rule is the accusative suffix -t, which does not trigger assimilation, resulting in azt (and ezt). Conversely, an exception to the vowel-initial rule is the terminative suffix -ig, which forms addig (and eddig for ez) as fixed irregular forms to learn with the pronouns. To form the plural, a linking vowel is added before the plural suffix -k, resulting in azok (and ezek). This z-assimilation concerns the singular. In plural forms, the final -k remains before these suffixes (e.g., azokban, ezeket, azokhoz). Established adverbial uses can be written as one word, for example ezután (from now on). A demonstrative that points back to a concrete noun can remain separate from its postposition. Spelling depends on the construction and meaning, not simply whether a noun is repeated. When fusing with consonant-initial postpositions, the -z is dropped entirely (e.g., az + miatt = amiatt, ez + mellett = emellett). Unlike consonant-initial postpositions, adjectival suffixes like -fajta, -féle, and -nyi trigger full assimilation of the -z (e.g., affajta, afféle, annyi). Another key example of assimilation is the temporal case suffix -kor, forming akkor (and ekkor). For directional and locative postpositions, the standard modern forms drop the -z without gemination (e.g., afelé, afelett). Furthermore, postpositions governing other cases require the pronoun to take the respective case suffix and remain separate words (e.g., azon kívül, ahhoz képest, annak ellenére).

2. The "This" vs. "That" Distinction
Learners often wonder whether to use ez or az. In Hungarian, az is the default distal pronoun for referring back to an established proposition. However, ez is also perfectly natural for proximal discourse deixis (referring back to a proposition just uttered, e.g., Ez igaz - This is true). Crucially, when using az/ez for discourse deixis, the case of az/ez is dictated by the verb in the new sentence, not the previous one.

3. Definite Conjugation
When az (or ez) is used in the accusative case (azt / ezt) to refer back to a proposition, it functions as a definite object. Therefore, it strictly triggers the definite conjugation of the verb (e.g., Azt tudom, never Azt tudok).

4. The "Dummy" Pronoun (Utalószó) with Hogy-Clauses
A primary syntactic structure used to achieve discourse deixis in Hungarian is the use of az as a "dummy" pronoun or placeholder (utalószó) for a hogy-clause. Because Hungarian verbs govern specific cases (e.g., számít valamire - counts on something), the required case suffix is attached to az in the main clause, which acts as a placeholder for the subordinate clause. This can be cataphoric (pointing forward) or anaphoric (pointing backward). For example: Számítok arra, hogy eljössz. (I am counting on [that], that you will come.) or Nem tudtam arról, hogy beteg vagy. (I didn't know about [that], that you are sick.). Hungarian frequently requires or strongly prefers this placeholder az in the main clause, unlike English where "it" or "that" is often omitted.

5. Obligatory Usage
While Hungarian frequently drops third-person pronouns, when a proposition is the topic, the focus, or requires an oblique case governed by a verb (like ahhoz or arra), the declined form of az is normally needed. It is often dropped with verbs such as örül (to be glad).

6. Attributive Agreement
When az modifies a noun, it must be followed by the definite article (a/az) and mirror the noun's case and plural marking (e.g., abban az esetben - in that case). This case agreement on demonstratives is mandatory. Furthermore, this mandatory agreement also applies to postpositions: when az/ez acts as a determiner with a postposition, the postposition must be applied to both the demonstrative and the noun, and they are written as separate words (e.g., e mellett a ház mellett - beside this house).