Number Derivation

Level 4

Hungarian uses a systematic set of suffixes to transform cardinal numbers into ordinals, fractions, groupings, approximations, frequencies, nominals, and adverbials of state.

How It Works

Hungarian number derivation is highly regular but involves specific morphological rules and a few crucial exceptions. Here are the primary derivations:

  • The Number Two (két vs. kettő): Hungarian has two forms for the number 2. Use the attributive két before nouns and in multiplicatives (kétszer). Use the stripped stem kett- for derivations like nominals (kettes), people (ketten), and fractions (ketted), while kettő is used as the standalone number.
  • Ordinals (-dik): Indicates position (e.g., 3rd, 4th). It requires a linking vowel matching the stem (ötödik, hatodik). Note the irregulars: 1st is első (not egyedik) and 2nd is második. However, in compound numbers, they revert to regular forms: 21st is huszonegyedik, and 22nd is huszonkettedik (where második becomes -kettedik). Ordinals are also used for dates, taking the forms -dika/-dike (the day itself) and -dikán/-dikén (on a specific day). Note the major exception for the 1st of the month: use elseje for the day itself and elsején for "on the 1st". To ask for an ordinal number, use the question word Hányadik? For dates, use the question words Hányadika (van)? (What is the date?) and Hányadikán? (On what date?).
  • Fractions (-ad/-ed/-od/-öd/-d): Indicates a mathematical part of a whole (e.g., 1/3 = harmad, 1/4 = negyed, 1/5 = ötöd, 1/6 = hatod). Most numbers require a linking vowel. Note that for "half" in everyday speech, you must use the distinct word fél, reserving ketted strictly for mathematics.
  • Number of People (-an/-en): Expresses how many people are involved in an action or state (e.g., hárman = three of us/them). To ask how many people, use the question word Hányan?
  • Multiplicatives/Frequency (-szor/-szer/-ször): Expresses how many times something happens (e.g., kétszer = twice, ötször = five times).
  • Nominals/Digit Names (-s/-os/-as/-es/-ös): Used for identifiers like bus numbers, grades, or digits (e.g., kettes = number two, a grade of two). To ask for a nominal number, use the question word Hányas?
  • Distributives (-nként, -ával/-ével): Expresses grouping or rate. Hármanként means "in groups of three" or "three at a time". The suffix -ával/-ével can attach to the nominal (-s) stem (e.g., kettesével) or directly to the base number (e.g., hármával, négyével, tízével), meaning "two by two", "by threes", etc. Note that for large numbers like 100 (száz) and 1,000 (ezer), the suffix usually attaches directly to the base number (százával, ezrével), meaning "in their hundreds/thousands".
  • Approximations (-nyi): Expresses an approximate magnitude, such as ezernyi (thousands of).

Stem Changes: Many numbers undergo vowel shortening or syncopation (dropping a vowel) before these suffixes. For example, három becomes harm- (harmadik, harmad, hárman), négy becomes negy- (negyedik, negyed), hét becomes het-, tíz becomes tiz- (tizedik, tizen-), and húsz becomes husz- (huszadik, huszon-). Understanding these vowel-shortening stems is essential to become proficient in Hungarian number derivation.

Examples (6)

  1. A harmadik emeleten lakom.

    I live on the third floor.

    Word by Word: The third floor-on live-I.

    Demonstrates the ordinal suffix '-dik' with the syncopated stem 'harm-' (from három).

  2. A torta egynegyedét megettem.

    I ate one-quarter of the cake.

    Word by Word: The cake one-quarter-its-acc ate-I.

    Demonstrates the fractional suffix '-d' with the shortened stem 'negy-' (from négy).

  3. A diákok kettesével mentek be a terembe.

    The students went into the room two by two.

    Word by Word: The students two-by-two went in the room-into.

    Demonstrates the distributive suffix '-ával/-ével' (here as kettesével) to show grouping.

  4. Hárman vagyunk a szobában.

    There are three of us in the room.

    Word by Word: Three-of-us are-we the room-in.

    Demonstrates the adverbial of state suffix '-an/-en' used for the number of people.

  5. Már kétszer láttam ezt a filmet.

    I have already seen this movie twice.

    Word by Word: Already twice saw-I this the movie-acc.

    Demonstrates the multiplicative/frequency suffix '-szor/-szer/-ször'.

  6. A kettes busszal megyek.

    I am taking bus number two.

    Word by Word: The two-nominal bus-with go-I.

    Demonstrates the nominal suffix '-s/-os/-as/-es/-ös' used for digit names and identifiers.

Common Mistakes

  • Over-applying irregular ordinal forms to compound numbers.

    A huszonelső században élünk.
    A huszonegyedik században élünk.

    While 'first' is 'első', compound numbers ending in 1 (like 21st, 31st) revert to the regular suffix '-egyedik'.

  • Pluralizing the noun after a fraction or number.

    Két harmadok
    Kétharmad

    Hungarian strictly requires singular nouns and singular forms after quantifiers and fractions.

  • Using 'ketted' for 'half' in everyday speech.

    Kérek egy ketted kenyeret.
    Kérek egy fél kenyeret.

    While 'ketted' is the mathematical fraction for 1/2, everyday speech always uses the distinct word 'fél' for 'half'.

How It Connects

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

Number DerivationLevel 4

Learn This First

To become confident with number derivation, you must first understand the basic cardinal number system and how Hungarian vowel harmony dictates suffix selection. Since many derived forms (like fractions) are built upon the ordinal suffix (-dik), familiarity with basic ordinal formation is also required.