Three-Way Suffix Harmony

Level 1

The allative case is used for movement toward a destination's side or vicinity, visiting people, and figurative attachment. It follows three-way vowel harmony: -hoz (back), -hez (front unrounded), and -höz (front rounded).

How It Works

The allative case is one of the three 'approaching' cases in Hungarian. Its primary function is to show movement toward the exterior or vicinity of a target.

1. Vowel Harmony Rules:

  • -hoz: Used with back-vowel words (a, á, o, ó, u, ú). Example: ház (house) → házhoz.
  • -hez: Used with front unrounded-vowel words (e, é, i, í). Example: kert (garden) → kerthez.
  • -höz: Used with front rounded-vowel words (ö, ő, ü, ű). Example: tükör (mirror) → tükörhöz.

2. The Neutral Vowel Exception:
The vowels i and í are considered 'neutral'. While they often take the front suffix -hez, they can take the back suffix -hoz if the word also contains back vowels (e.g., papírhoz) or in certain monosyllabic words like híd (bridge) → hídhoz. This is a key part of Vowel Harmony.

3. Stem Changes:
If a word ends in a short -a or -e, that vowel must be lengthened to -á or -é before adding the suffix.
Example: kutya (dog) → kutyához; csésze (cup) → csészéhez.

4. Usage Nuances:

  • People: Always use this case when going to a person. Péterhez megyek (I am going to Peter's).
  • Adjacency: Use it when you move to the side of an object, unlike the illative (into) or sublative (onto). For example, sitting 'to' a table (asztalhoz).
  • Figurative: It is used for belonging (ez a kulcs a zárhoz tartozik - this key belongs to the lock) and comparison (valamihez képest - compared to something).

Examples (5)

  1. Odamegyek az ablakhoz.

    I am going over to the window.

    Word by Word: There-go-I the window-to.

    Here, -hoz is used because 'ablak' contains back vowels (a). It indicates moving to the side of the window.

  2. Mikor mész az orvoshoz?

    When are you going to the doctor?

    Word by Word: When go-you the doctor-to?

    In Hungarian, you go 'to' (allative) a person, not 'into' them. 'Orvos' takes -hoz due to back vowels.

  3. Vidd a széket a szekrényhez!

    Take the chair to the wardrobe!

    Word by Word: Take-you the chair-ACC the wardrobe-to!

    'Szekrény' contains front unrounded vowels (e, é), so it takes the -hez suffix.

  4. Üljünk le a gyümölcshöz.

    Let's sit down by the fruit.

    Word by Word: Sit-let-us down the fruit-to.

    'Gyümölcs' contains front rounded vowels (ü, ö), so it requires the -höz suffix.

  5. Ez a kulcs a kutyához tartozik.

    This key belongs to the dog.

    Word by Word: This the key the dog-to belongs.

    Notice the final 'a' in 'kutya' lengthens to 'á' before the suffix -hoz.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -hez for front rounded vowels.

    Megyek a tükörhez.
    Megyek a tükörhöz.

    Words with front rounded vowels (ö, ő, ü, ű) must use -höz, not -hez. This is the 'three-way' part of the harmony.

  • Forgetting vowel lengthening on final -a or -e.

    Megyek a kutyahoz.
    Megyek a kutyához.

    When a word ends in -a or -e, it must lengthen to -á or -é before any suffix starting with a consonant like -hoz.

  • Confusing -hoz with -ba/-be (into).

    Megyek az orvosba.
    Megyek az orvoshoz.

    Using -ba/-be with a person sounds like you are physically entering their body. Use -hoz/-hez/-höz for visiting people.

How It Connects

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Three-Way Suffix HarmonyLevel 1

Learn This First

To become confident with three-way suffix harmony, you must first understand the Hungarian vowel system and the basic principles of vowel harmony. Starting with two-way harmony helps build the intuition needed for the additional distinction between rounded and unrounded front vowels.

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Patterns that build on this one.

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Words in This Pattern

-hoz-hez-höz