-szor/-szer/-ször

Times

Level 2

The suffixes -szor/-szer/-ször turn numbers into frequency adverbs, equivalent to the English word 'times'.

How It Works

This suffix transforms cardinal numbers, quantifiers, and ordinal numbers into frequency adverbs. It indicates how many times an action occurs.

1. Vowel Harmony Rules:

  • -szor (Back): háromszor (3 times), sokszor (many times)
  • -szer (Front-Unrounded): négyszer (4 times), egyszer (once)
  • -ször (Front-Rounded): ötször (5 times), többször (several times)

2. Interrogatives and Demonstratives:
You can ask about frequency using hányszor? (how many times?). Demonstrative forms include ennyiszer (this many times) and annyiszor (that many times).

3. Special Stems:

  • The number 2 (kettő) uses its shorter form: kétszer.
  • The numbers 4 (négy) and 7 (hét) keep their long vowels: négyszer, hétszer.
  • The quantifier kevés (few) results in the sequence kevésszer (stem + suffix).

4. Ordinal Usage:
When used with ordinals, it means 'for the Xth time'. Note the irregular form for 'first time': először. While cardinal 4 and 7 keep long vowels, their ordinal versions follow standard shortening rules: negyedszer (for the 4th time) and hetedszer (for the 7th time).

Examples (6)

  1. Már háromszor hívtalak ma.

    I have already called you three times today.

    Word by Word: Already three-times I-called-you today.

    Uses the back-vowel suffix -szor with 'három' (three).

  2. Hányszor voltál már Magyarországon?

    How many times have you been to Hungary?

    Word by Word: How-many-times you-were already Hungary-on?

    Uses the interrogative form 'hányszor' (how many times).

  3. Először vagyok Budapesten.

    I am in Budapest for the first time.

    Word by Word: First-time I-am Budapest-on.

    Uses the irregular ordinal form 'először' to mean 'for the first time'.

  4. Sokszor elfelejtem a kulcsomat.

    I often (many times) forget my keys.

    Word by Word: Many-times away-I-forget the key-my-ACC.

    The suffix attaches to the quantifier 'sok' (many) to create the adverb 'often'.

  5. Kétszer ettem ma.

    I ate twice today.

    Word by Word: Two-times I-ate today.

    Demonstrates the use of the short stem 'két' instead of 'kettő'.

  6. Ötször láttam ezt a filmet.

    I have seen this movie five times.

    Word by Word: Five-times I-saw this the movie-ACC.

    Uses the front-rounded suffix -ször with 'öt' (five).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the full form of 'two' (kettő) instead of the short stem.

    Kettőször voltam ott.
    Kétszer voltam ott.

    In Hungarian, 'kettő' always changes to 'két' before frequency suffixes.

  • Using 'elsőször' for 'the first time'.

    Elsőször látom őt.
    Először látom őt.

    The word for 'first time' is irregular: 'először'. 'Elsőször' is grammatically incorrect.

  • Confusing the adverbial suffix with the adjective form -szoros/-szeres/-szörös.

    Háromszoros hívtalak.
    Háromszor hívtalak.

    -szor is an adverb (three times), while -szoros is an adjective (triple/threefold). Use the adverb to describe the action of calling.

How It Connects

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-szor/-szer/-szörLevel 2Times

Learn This First

To understand the multiplicative suffix, you need to be familiar with Hungarian's three-way vowel harmony system to choose the correct suffix form. Additionally, since this suffix is most commonly applied to numbers, knowledge of cardinal numbers is essential.

Words in This Pattern

-szor-szer-ször