Sibilant Assimilation in Verbs

Level 2

In Hungarian, when a verb stem ends in a sibilant (s, sz, z, dz) and meets a suffix starting with 'j', the 'j' disappears and the sibilant doubles (e.g., mos + j → moss).

How It Works

Sibilant assimilation occurs when a verb stem ends in a sibilant consonant (s, sz, z) or the affricate dz and is followed by a suffix beginning with j. The j is absorbed, and the consonant is doubled in pronunciation, and often in spelling.

1. The Rules of Transformation:

  • s + j → ss (mos + -jon → mosson)
  • sz + j → ssz (játsz + -juk → játsszuk)
  • z + j → zz (néz + -jük → nézzük)
  • dz + j → ddz (edz + -j → eddz)

Note: For digraphs (sz, dz), only the first letter is doubled in spelling (ssz, ddz).

2. Spelling vs. Pronunciation:
This rule is triggered by the imperative and subjunctive marker -j and Present Definite Endings that start with j (-ja, -juk/-jük, -játok, -ják). However, spelling rules differ:

  • Standard sibilant stems (s, sz, z, dz): The spelling change is mandatory in both the imperative and definite present.
  • Stems ending in -st, -szt: In the imperative, the 't' drops and the sibilant doubles in spelling (fest → fess). In the definite present, the 't' and 'j' are both written (festjük, osztjuk). In standard speech, they are pronounced with the sibilant followed by a short 'ty' sound (e.g., fes-tyük, osz-tyuk) due to consonant degemination. Note: In colloquial speech, you will often hear native speakers use the imperative form (fessük) instead of the indicative present (festjük), a widespread morphological substitution known as suksükölés.
  • Irregular v-stems: Verbs like tesz or vesz follow Irregular Verb Stems in the imperative (tegyél). However, they do follow the sibilant assimilation rule in the definite present tense (e.g., tesz + -jük → tesszük).

Examples (5)

  1. Moss kezet ebéd előtt!

    Wash your hands before lunch!

    Word by Word: Wash hand-ACC lunch before!

    The stem 'mos' (to wash) combines with the imperative marker '-j'. The 'j' is absorbed, resulting in 'moss'.

  2. Nézzük meg ezt a filmet!

    Let's watch this movie!

    Word by Word: Watch-we-it PERF this-ACC the movie-ACC!

    The stem 'néz' (to watch) combines with the definite imperative/present suffix '-jük'. The 'j' is absorbed, resulting in 'nézzük'.

  3. A gyerekek a kertben játsszanak.

    Let the children play in the garden.

    Word by Word: The children the garden-in play-should-they.

    The stem 'játsz' (to play) combines with the imperative suffix '-janak'. The 'j' is absorbed, resulting in 'játsszanak'.

  4. Hozza ide a könyvet!

    Bring the book here!

    Word by Word: Bring-formal-it here the book-ACC!

    The stem 'hoz' (to bring) combines with the definite imperative suffix '-ja' (used here for formal address). The 'j' assimilates to the 'z', resulting in the doubled sibilant 'hozza'.

  5. Válassz egy színt!

    Choose a color!

    Word by Word: Choose-you one color-ACC!

    The stem 'választ' (to choose) drops the 't' and the 'sz' assimilates with the imperative 'j', resulting in 'válassz'.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing the 'j' literally after a sibilant in the imperative mood.

    Nézjünk tévét.
    Nézzünk tévét.

    In the imperative mood, you must change the spelling to reflect the assimilation. Writing 'z+j' is orthographically incorrect for these verbs.

  • Using the imperative fessük where the present tense festjük is meant.

    Different MeaningFessük a falat.
    Festjük a falat.

    Fessük a falat is a real sentence: it is the imperative, let's paint the wall. Festjük a falat is the present tense, we paint the wall. For verbs ending in -st or -szt, only the imperative changes the spelling (Fess!), so mixing the two forms changes the meaning.

  • Confusing sibilant assimilation with irregular 'v-stems' in the imperative.

    Tesszél valamit!
    Tegyél valamit!

    Verbs like 'tesz', 'vesz', and 'hisz' are Irregular Verb Stems. They do not follow standard sibilant assimilation in the imperative; instead, they use a 'gy' stem. However, they do follow this rule in the definite present (e.g., 'tesszük').

How It Connects

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Sibilant Assimilation in VerbsLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand sibilant assimilation, you must first be familiar with the definite conjugation and the imperative mood, as both utilize the -j- marker. This phonological rule explains how that -j- merges with specific stem-final consonants (s, sz, z) to create a doubled consonant.