alatt / fölött

Under and Above

Level 1

Hungarian uses postpositions like alatt (under) and fölött/felett (above) to show spatial relationships. Unlike English prepositions, these come after the noun they describe.

How It Works

Hungarian postpositions are words that follow a noun to indicate location, time, or relationship.

1. Spatial Usage:

  • alatt: Used when something is physically underneath another object. Example: az asztal alatt (under the table).
  • fölött / felett: Used when something is above or over another object. These two forms are interchangeable variants. Example: a kép fölött (above the picture).

2. Grammar Rules:

  • No Suffixes: The noun before the postposition stays in its basic form. Do not add accusative or other case endings to the noun.
  • Demonstratives: If you use ez (this) or az (that), the postposition must be repeated: az alatt a fa alatt (under that tree).
  • Personal Forms: To say 'under me' or 'above you', the postposition takes a suffix: alattam, fölötted.

3. Non-Spatial Meanings:

  • Temporal: Alatt means 'during' when used with time-related nouns (e.g., a szünet alatt - during the break).
  • Abstract: Fölött/felett is used for being 'over' a limit, such as age or price (e.g., tíz fok felett - above ten degrees).

Examples (5)

  1. A macska a szék alatt van.

    The cat is under the chair.

    Word by Word: The cat the chair under is.

    Here, 'alatt' shows the physical location of the cat relative to the chair.

  2. A lámpa az asztal fölött lóg.

    The lamp is hanging above the table.

    Word by Word: The lamp the table above hangs.

    You can use 'fölött' or 'felett' here; they mean the same thing.

  3. A film alatt nem beszélünk.

    We do not talk during the movie.

    Word by Word: The movie during not we-talk.

    In this context, 'alatt' translates to 'during' because it refers to a time period.

  4. Ez a könyv ezer forint felett van.

    This book is over a thousand forints.

    Word by Word: This the book thousand forint over is.

    Using 'felett' to indicate a value exceeding a specific limit.

  5. Az alatt a híd alatt folyik a Duna.

    The Danube flows under that bridge.

    Word by Word: That under the bridge under flows the Danube.

    Notice how 'alatt' is repeated after both the demonstrative 'az' and the noun 'híd'.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a case suffix to the noun before the postposition.

    A kutya a házat alatt van.
    A kutya a ház alatt van.

    Nouns must remain in the nominative (base) form before postpositions like 'alatt'.

  • Forgetting to repeat the postposition with 'ez' or 'az'.

    Az alatt a fa alszom.
    Az alatt a fa alatt alszom.

    In Hungarian, if a demonstrative (this/that) is used, the postposition must follow both the demonstrative and the noun.

  • Using 'alatt' when the ball moves into the place under the table.

    Different MeaningA labda az asztal alatt gurul.
    A labda az asztal alá gurul.

    'A labda az asztal alatt gurul' is correct, but it says the ball is already under the table and rolls there. Use 'alá' if the ball moves to a position under the table.

How It Connects

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

alatt / fölöttLevel 1Under and Above

Learn This First

To understand 'alatt' (under) and 'fölött' (above), learners need to be familiar with the basic syntax of Hungarian postpositions, where the noun does not take a case suffix, and the concept of answering location-based questions.

Words in This Pattern

alattfölöttfelett