-val/-vel

With / by Means of

Level 1

The instrumental-comitative case (-val/-vel) is used for two main purposes: showing who you are with (accompaniment) and what tool or transport you are using (instrument). It changes based on vowel harmony and assimilates to the final consonant of the word.

How It Works

The instrumental-comitative case is one of the most versatile suffixes in Hungarian. It has two primary functions: Instrumental (indicating the tool, means, or vehicle used, e.g., autóval - by car) and Comitative (indicating the person or thing accompanying the subject, e.g., a barátommal - with my friend). It is formed using two main variants based on vowel harmony:

  • -val: Used for back-vowel words (e.g., autóval - by car).
  • -vel: Used for front-vowel words (e.g., kefével - with a brush).

Complete Assimilation:
If the noun ends in a consonant, the 'v' of the suffix changes to match that consonant. For example:

  • ház (house) + -val → házzal (with a house)
  • villamos (tram) + -val → villamossal (by tram)
  • kés (knife) + -vel → késsel (with a knife)

Special Rules:

  • Digraphs: When a digraph (a two-letter consonant like sz, zs, cs, gy, ty, ny, ly) is doubled due to assimilation, only the first letter is repeated (e.g., busz + -val = busszal, not buszszal).
  • Triple Consonant Rule: If a word already ends in a double consonant, the suffix assimilation does not add a third letter (e.g., sakk + -val = sakkal). However, for proper nouns, the triple consonant is preserved and the suffix is attached with a hyphen (e.g., Bükk + -vel = Bükk-kel).
  • Words ending in 'v': These follow the standard doubling rule (e.g., év + -vel = évvel).
  • Vowel Lengthening: If a word ends in -a or -e, these vowels lengthen to -á and -é (e.g., alma → almával).
  • Other Vowels: If a word ends in any other vowel (such as -i, -o, -ó, -u, -ú, -ö, -ő, -ü, -ű), the suffix is simply attached without any changes to the stem (e.g., kocsi + -val = kocsival; nő + -vel = nővel).

Demonstratives and Pronouns:

  • Demonstratives: The pronouns ez and az become ezzel (with this) and azzal (with that). In spoken Hungarian, the forms evvel and avval are also frequently used and grammatically correct.
  • Personal Pronouns: The case suffix itself functions as the stem to which possessive endings are attached. Note that these pronouns exclusively use the front-vowel stem (vel-) for all persons: velem (with me), veled (with you), vele (with him/her/it), velünk (with us), veletek (with you all), velük (with them).

Together With (együtt):
The comitative function is frequently paired with the word együtt (together) to emphasize doing something together. For example: a barátommal együtt (together with my friend).

Time Expressions:
The suffix is also used to form adverbs of time from certain nouns, indicating when something happens. Common examples include:

  • nappal (during the day)
  • éjjel (at night)
  • ősszel (in autumn)
  • tavasszal (in spring)

Verbal Government (Vonzatok):
Certain verbs strictly require their objects to take the -val/-vel suffix. This is known as verb government. Common examples include:

  • találkozik valakivel (meets with someone)
  • beszélget valakivel (chats with someone)
  • foglalkozik valamivel (deals with/works on something)

Examples (4)

  1. Autóval megyek a munkába.

    I am going to work by car.

    Word by Word: Car-with I-go the work-into.

    Here, -val is used to show the means of transportation (instrumental).

  2. A barátommal vacsorázom.

    I am having dinner with my friend.

    Word by Word: The friend-my-with I-dine.

    Here, -val shows accompaniment (comitative). Note how the 'v' assimilated to the 'm' in 'barátom'.

  3. Késsel és villával eszünk.

    We eat with a knife and fork.

    Word by Word: Knife-with and fork-with we-eat.

    Demonstrates the use of tools. 'Kés' (front vowel) takes -vel (késsel), while 'villa' (back vowel) takes -val (villával).

  4. Beszélsz velem?

    Are you talking to me?

    Word by Word: Talk-you with-me?

    Shows the personal pronoun form 'velem' and how certain verbs require this case.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to double the consonant (failing to assimilate).

    buszval
    busszal

    The 'v' in -val/-vel undergoes complete assimilation, meaning it must always turn into the final consonant of the noun if it ends in one.

  • Writing three identical consonants in a row.

    sakkkal
    sakkal

    If a word already ends in a double consonant (like 'sakk'), the suffix assimilation does not result in three identical consonants; it remains written with two (sakkal, not sakkkal).

  • Ignoring vowel lengthening for words ending in -a or -e.

    almaval
    almával

    Final -a and -e must always lengthen to -á and -é before adding the instrumental suffix.

How It Connects

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-val/-velLevel 1With / by Means of

Learn This First

To become confident with the instrumental-comitative case, you must first understand Hungarian vowel harmony to select between the -val and -vel forms. Additionally, familiarity with two-way suffix harmony provides the structural basis for applying these endings to nouns. Note that this suffix is unique because the 'v' assimilates to the final consonant of the word it attaches to.

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-val-vel