-i (melléknévképző)

Relational Adjectives

Level 4

The -i suffix is an invariant (non-changing) ending that turns nouns into adjectives. It indicates where something is from, when it happens, or what it is related to.

How It Works

The relational suffix -i is one of the most productive tools in Hungarian word formation. It allows you to use a noun as a modifier for another noun.

Key Functions:

  • Origin/Location: Used for cities and countries. Single-word proper nouns become lowercase (e.g., Pécs → pécsi). Multi-word names retain capitalization and use a hyphen (e.g., New York → New York-i).
  • Time: Used with time expressions like ma (today) → mai (today's) or tél (winter) → téli (winter/wintry).
  • Association: Describes a general relationship, such as házi (home/domestic) from ház (house).

Morphological Rules:

  • No Vowel Harmony: It is always -i, regardless of the stem vowels.
  • No Lengthening: Unlike most suffixes, final -a and -e do NOT lengthen to -á or -é. For example, iskola + -i = iskolai (NOT iskolái).
  • Silent Letters: If a name ends in a silent letter or a complex foreign spelling where the last letter is not pronounced, a hyphen is required, but the word is still lowercased (e.g., bordeaux-i).
  • Words ending in 'i': For single-word place names already ending in -i (like Helsinki), the adjective form is identical to the noun but lowercased (helsinki). For common nouns ending in -i (like kifli), the suffix is typically omitted when used as a modifier. The suffix -beli is a semantic alternative meaning 'from within' or 'belonging to' (e.g., városbeli - someone from within the city).

Examples (5)

  1. A tegnapi vacsora nagyon finom volt.

    Yesterday's dinner was very delicious.

    Word by Word: The yesterday-related dinner very delicious was.

    Here, '-i' is added to 'tegnap' (yesterday) to create a relational adjective describing the dinner.

  2. Szeretem a budapesti parkokat.

    I like the Budapest parks.

    Word by Word: I-like the budapest-from parks.

    Notice that 'Budapest' becomes lowercase 'budapesti' when it turns into an adjective.

  3. Ez egy iskolai feladat.

    This is a school task.

    Word by Word: This one school-related task.

    The noun 'iskola' (school) ends in 'a', but it does not lengthen to 'á' before the '-i' suffix.

  4. A konyhai asztal kicsi.

    The kitchen table is small.

    Word by Word: The kitchen-related table small.

    Using '-i' shows the table is located in or associated with the kitchen.

  5. Milyen a mai időjárás?

    How is today's weather?

    Word by Word: How-like the today-related weather?

    'Ma' (today) becomes 'mai' to modify the noun 'időjárás'.

Common Mistakes

  • Lengthening the final -a or -e vowel.

    konyhái asztal
    konyhai asztal

    In Hungarian, final -a and -e usually lengthen before suffixes, but the relational -i is a major exception. Keep the vowel short!

  • Incorrectly capitalizing adjectives derived from proper nouns.

    a Budapesti utca, a New yorki lakos
    a budapesti utca, a New York-i lakos

    Single-word proper nouns become lowercase (budapesti). However, multi-word names retain their capitalization and require a hyphen (New York-i).

  • Using the relational adjective -i where the possessive plural -i is needed.

    Different Meaningaz almai
    az almái

    'Az almai' is a fine adjective form (apple-related), but it does not mean 'his/her apples'. For that, use the plural possessed items marker -i, which lengthens the vowel: almái. The relational adjective -i does NOT lengthen it.

How It Connects

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

-i (melléknévképző)Level 4Relational Adjectives

Learn This First

To understand relational adjectives, learners need to know how adjectives function in Hungarian sentences (placed before the noun) and be able to distinguish this derivational suffix from other similar-looking markers like the plural possessive suffix.

Words in This Pattern

-i