hol... hol...

Now … Now / Sometimes … Sometimes

Level 4

Use hol... hol... to describe a situation that keeps switching back and forth between two different states, like changing weather or shifting moods.

How It Works

The Hungarian hol... hol... is a correlative pair, meaning both parts must be present to create the 'alternating' meaning.

1. Usage and Meaning:
While the word hol usually means 'where', in this repeated structure, it loses its spatial meaning and refers to time or state. It emphasizes the oscillation between two points. It is more dynamic than simply saying 'sometimes'; it implies a 'back-and-forth' nature. A common synonym for this structure is egyszer... másszor... (once... at another time...).

2. Sentence Structure:

  • The first hol comes before the first state/action.
  • The second hol comes before the second state/action.
  • In written Hungarian, a comma is mandatory before the second hol.
  • The pattern can be extended to three or more alternating states: Hol esik, hol fúj, hol süt a nap. (Now it rains, now the wind blows, now the sun shines.)

3. Versatility:
It can be used with:

  • Verbs: Hol esik, hol fúj. (Now it rains, now the wind blows.)
  • Adjectives: A leves hol sós, hol sótlan. (The soup is sometimes salty, sometimes bland.)
  • Nouns/Pronouns: It can show alternating subjects or objects. Hol Péter jön, hol Pál. (Sometimes Péter comes, sometimes Pál.)
  • Locations: Hol itt van, hol ott. (Sometimes he is here, sometimes there.)

4. Comparison:
Unlike akár... akár... (whether... or...), which presents a choice or indifference, hol... hol... describes an actual sequence of events that are currently happening or habitually occur.

Examples (5)

  1. Hol esik, hol süt a nap.

    Now it's raining, now the sun is shining.

    Word by Word: Where rains, where shines the sun.

    This is a classic way to describe changeable weather using the alternating pattern.

  2. A gyerek hol sír, hol nevet.

    The child is crying one moment and laughing the next.

    Word by Word: The child where cries, where laughs.

    Here, the pattern describes rapidly shifting emotional states.

  3. Hol itt dolgozom, hol otthon.

    Sometimes I work here, sometimes at home.

    Word by Word: Where here I-work, where at-home.

    This shows the pattern used with locations/adverbs of place.

  4. A macska hol kint van, hol bent.

    The cat is sometimes outside, sometimes inside.

    Word by Word: The cat where outside is, where inside.

    Demonstrates the alternation between two opposite positions.

  5. Hol vidám vagyok, hol szomorú.

    Now I am happy, now I am sad.

    Word by Word: Where happy I-am, where sad.

    The pattern links two predicate adjectives to show a change in mood.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the first 'hol' in the pair.

    Néha esik, hol fúj.
    Hol esik, hol fúj.

    In English, we can say 'Sometimes it rains, other times it blows,' but in Hungarian, the correlative pair 'hol... hol...' must be complete.

  • Using 'most... most...' to translate 'now... now...' literally.

    Most esik, most fúj.
    Hol esik, hol fúj.

    While 'most' means 'now', it cannot be used as a correlative conjunction to show alternation. 'Hol... hol...' is the correct idiomatic structure.

  • Forgetting the comma before the second 'hol'.

    Hol itt van hol ott.
    Hol itt van, hol ott.

    Hungarian punctuation rules require a comma between the two parts of a correlative conjunction pair.

How It Connects

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

hol... hol...Level 4Now … Now / Sometimes … Sometimes

Learn This First

To understand 'hol... hol...', learners first need to be familiar with the basic question word 'hol' (where), as this pattern uses its form in a non-interrogative, correlative way. It is also helpful to understand how Hungarian handles frequency and time-based descriptions to correctly interpret the 'sometimes X, sometimes Y' meaning.

Words in This Pattern

hol