-n (időhatározó)
On a Day / Date
In Hungarian, we don't use 'in' or 'at' for days and dates. Instead, we use the superessive case (literally 'on top of'). For example, hétfőn (on Monday) or május elsején (on May 1st).
How It Works
To express 'on' a specific day or date, Hungarian uses the superessive case family: -n / -on / -en / -ön.
1. Days of the Week:
- For days ending in a vowel, use -n. Note that final -a or -e must lengthen to -á or -é (e.g., szerda → szerdán).
- For days ending in a consonant, use -on / -en / -ön based on vowel harmony.
- Exception: The word vasárnap (Sunday) usually stands alone without a suffix to mean 'on Sunday'.
2. Dates:
In Hungarian, dates follow a Year-Month-Day order. Dates are formed by taking the ordinal number, adding the 3rd person singular possessive suffix (-a/-e or -ja/-je), and then adding -n.
- 20-án (huszadikán - on the 20th)
- The 1st of the month is irregular: elsején (on the 1st).
3. Usage Note:
This pattern is strictly for days and dates. Do not confuse it with -kor, which is used for clock time (e.g., öt órakor - at 5 o'clock). Additionally, while days take -n, months and years take the inessive case (-ban/-ben) (e.g., májusban - in May).
Examples (5)
- Találkozzunk kedden délután!
Let's meet on Tuesday afternoon!
Word by Word: Let-us-meet Tuesday-on afternoon!
Kedd (Tuesday) ends in a consonant and has front vowels, so it takes the -en suffix.
- Szerdán moziba megyek.
On Wednesday, I am going to the cinema.
Word by Word: Wednesday-on cinema-into I-go.
Szerda (Wednesday) ends in -a, which lengthens to -á before the -n suffix is added.
- Az ünnep október huszonharmadikán van.
The holiday is on October 23rd.
Word by Word: The holiday October twenty-third-on is.
Dates use the ordinal number + possessive suffix + -n.
- Március elsején utazom Budapestre.
I am traveling to Budapest on March 1st.
Word by Word: March first-on I-travel Budapest-to.
The 1st of the month uses the irregular form 'elsején'.
- Pénteken nem dolgozom.
I don't work on Friday.
Word by Word: Friday-on not I-work.
Péntek (Friday) takes the -en suffix due to vowel harmony.
Common Mistakes
Using a suffix for 'Sunday' in standard contexts.
Vasárnapon megyek a boltba.Vasárnap megyek a boltba.Unlike other days, 'vasárnap' (Sunday) already functions as an adverb meaning 'on Sunday'. Adding -on is usually unnecessary and sounds unnatural in basic sentences.
Forgetting vowel lengthening on 'szerda'.
Szerdan találkozunk.Szerdán találkozunk.A final 'a' lengthens to 'á' before most endings, including -n: szerda + n = szerdán.
Using -kor for days instead of -n.
Hétfőkor jövök.Hétfőn jövök.The suffix -kor is for clock times and for some events (kettőkor, karácsonykor). Days of the week take the superessive -n family: hétfőn.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To express 'on' a specific day or date in Hungarian, you must first understand the superessive case (-on/-en/-ön/-n) and how its three-way vowel harmony system functions, as these rules govern how the suffix attaches to time-related nouns.
Related Patterns
- -korAt a Time
While -n is for days, -kor is used for specific clock times and certain holidays.
Level 1 - -dikOrdinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are the base for forming dates before adding the temporal suffix.
Level 1 - Stem-Final Vowel Lengthening
This rule explains why 'szerda' becomes 'szerdán'.
Level 4 - -nkéntPer / Each
Used to express recurring days (e.g., 'hétfőnként' - on Mondays/every Monday) rather than a single specific day.
Level 2 - -ban/-benInside / in
Used for 'in' a month or year, whereas -n is used for 'on' a specific day.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice -n (időhatározó) in Bubblegum
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