Stem-Final Vowel Lengthening

Level 4

In Hungarian, if a stem ends in a short a or e, that vowel lengthens to á or é before most suffixes (like plural -k or accusative -t).

How It Works

Hungarian words ending in the short low vowels a or e are unstable when suffixes are attached. A helpful way to remember this rule is that the final vowel lengthens to 'support' the addition of a suffix.

1. The Sound Change:

  • a → á: The short 'a' (like the 'o' in British 'hot') becomes a long, open 'á' (like 'a' in 'father').
  • e → é: The short 'e' (like 'e' in 'bed') becomes a long, tense 'é' (like the 'a' in 'cake', but without the 'y' sound at the end).

2. When it happens:
It happens with almost all case endings and signs, including:

3. The Exceptions:
A few specific suffixes do not trigger this lengthening:

  • -kor (óra → órakor)
  • -ként (anya → anyaként)
  • The adjective-forming suffix -i (Buda → budai)
  • Suffixes like -szerű (like), -féle (kind of), and -beli (pertaining to), for example: kefe → kefeszerű.

Examples (5)

  1. alma → almák

    apple → apples

    The final 'a' in 'alma' lengthens to 'á' before the plural suffix '-k'.

  2. Látom a macskát.

    I see the cat.

    Word by Word: I-see the cat-(accusative)

    The word 'macska' (cat) changes its final 'a' to 'á' when the accusative '-t' is added.

  3. Ez egy szép mese. → Szeretem a meséket.

    This is a beautiful tale. → I love the tales.

    The final 'e' in 'mese' lengthens to 'é' before the plural '-k' and accusative '-et'.

  4. A szobában vagyok.

    I am in the room.

    Word by Word: The room-in I-am

    The word 'szoba' (room) lengthens its final 'a' to 'á' before the inessive suffix '-ban'.

  5. Hat órakor találkozunk.

    We meet at six o'clock.

    Word by Word: Six hour-at we-meet

    Note the exception: the suffix '-kor' does NOT trigger lengthening, so 'óra' remains 'óra'.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to lengthen the vowel in the accusative or plural forms.

    Szeretem a macskat.
    Szeretem a macskát.

    Learners often treat 'a' and 'á' as the same letter, but in Hungarian, the lengthening is grammatically required and changes the sound.

  • Applying lengthening to exception suffixes like -kor or -ként.

    anyáként
    anyaként

    While most suffixes trigger lengthening, '-ként', '-kor', and '-szerű' are notable exceptions where the vowel stays short.