egymás

Each Other

Level 2

Use egymás when two or more people are doing something to or with one another. It behaves like a noun and can take various case suffixes, but it always follows back-vowel harmony rules.

How It Works

The pronoun egymás is the standard way to say 'each other' or 'one another.' Here are the key rules for its usage:

  • Vowel Harmony: Even though it starts with 'e', the word is governed by the final 'á'. Therefore, it is a back-vowel word. You must use back-vowel suffixes: egymásnak (not nek), egymással (not sel).
  • Definiteness: The form egymást (accusative) is always treated as a definite object. This means the verb must use definite endings. For example: Szeretik egymást (They love each other).
  • Possessive Construction: To express 'each other's', place egymás before the possessed noun. The noun must take the appropriate possessive suffix (usually the third-person singular '-a/-e' or '-ja/-je'). Example: egymás háza (each other's house).
  • No Plural Form: Although the meaning is inherently plural, the word itself never takes the plural marker -k. Forms like egymások do not exist.
  • Case Suffixes and Postpositions: It can take almost any case suffix or be followed by postpositions to show the relationship (e.g., egymás mellett - next to each other).
  • Subject Position: egymás can never be the subject of a sentence. The subject is always the plural 'we', 'you', or 'they' implied by the verb.

Examples (6)

  1. Szeretik egymást.

    They love each other.

    Word by Word: They-love-it each-other-ACC.

    Notice the definite verb ending '-ik' because 'egymást' is always a definite object.

  2. Sokáig beszéltek egymással.

    They talked with each other for a long time.

    Word by Word: Long-time they-talked each-other-WITH.

    Here, the instrumental suffix -val is added to show 'with each other'.

  3. A gyerekek egymás mellett ülnek.

    The children are sitting next to each other.

    Word by Word: The children each-other beside they-sit.

    The postposition mellett follows 'egymás' to indicate physical position.

  4. Segítünk egymásnak.

    We help each other.

    Word by Word: We-help each-other-TO.

    The verb 'segít' (to help) requires the dative case -nak.

  5. Fogják egymás kezét.

    They are holding each other's hands.

    Word by Word: They-hold-it each-other hand-POSS-ACC.

    To express 'each other's', use 'egymás' followed by a noun with a possessive suffix.

  6. Nem látják egymást.

    They don't see each other.

    Word by Word: Not they-see-it each-other-ACC.

    Even in negative sentences, the definite conjugation is maintained.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indefinite conjugation with 'egymást'.

    Szeretnek egymást.
    Szeretik egymást.

    'Egymást' is a definite object, so you must use the definite conjugation.

  • Applying front-vowel harmony suffixes.

    Beszélünk egymásnek.
    Beszélünk egymásnak.

    Despite the 'e' at the beginning, 'egymás' is a back-vowel word because of the 'á'. Always use back-vowel suffixes like -nak, -ban, or -val.

  • Trying to pluralize the pronoun.

    Ismerik egymásokat.
    Ismerik egymást.

    'Egymás' is never used with the plural marker -k. The word itself already implies a plural relationship.

How It Connects

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egymásLevel 2Each Other

Learn This First

To use 'egymás' (each other), you need to understand that it functions as a noun or pronoun that accepts case suffixes. Crucially, it is treated as a definite object, meaning you must use the definite conjugation of the verb when 'egymás' is the object. You also need a solid grasp of Hungarian's case system and vowel harmony to correctly attach suffixes like the accusative (-t) or various directional markers.

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egymás