-tlan/-tlen, -atlan/-etlen
Without / Lacking
The suffixes -tlan/-tlen, -atlan/-etlen, and -talan/-telen are derivational endings that always result in an adjective. They turn nouns, verbs, and even other adjectives into words meaning 'without', 'un-', or 'impossible to'.
How It Works
This privative suffix is highly productive and changes form based on the stem it attaches to. Regardless of the base word, the result is always an adjective.
1. Denominal (From Nouns):
Indicates the absence of the noun, similar to '-less' or 'without'.
- -tlan / -tlen: Used after stems ending in a vowel (e.g., só → sótlan).
- -talan / -telen: Used after stems ending in a consonant (e.g., gond → gondtalan). In these cases, the 'a/e' is considered an integral part of the suffix itself.
2. Deadjectival (From Adjectives):
Creates the opposite of an existing adjective (e.g., boldog → boldogtalan, udvarias → udvariatlan).
3. Deverbal (From Verbs):
Creates a negative adjective, usually using -atlan / -etlen.
- It can mean 'not yet done' (e.g., íratlan - unwritten).
- When used with transitive verbs, it often implies potentiality: 'impossible to do' (e.g., ehetetlen - inedible).
- In deverbal forms, the 'a/e' functions as a linking vowel (Type I: -a/-e) rather than a fixed part of the suffix.
4. Morphological Rules:
Unlike many other suffixes, this one does not use the o/e/ö set. Vowel-shortening stems (like víz or tűz) consistently retain their long vowels (e.g., víztelen, tűztelen).
Examples (6)
- A leves teljesen sótlan, hozzál kérlek egy kis sót.
The soup is completely saltless; please bring some salt.
Word by Word: The soup completely saltless, bring please a little salt.
Here, '-tlan' is added to the vowel-final noun 'só' (salt) to mean 'without salt'.
- Ez a gomba ehetetlen, ne szedd le!
This mushroom is inedible; don't pick it!
Word by Word: This the mushroom eat-impossible, not pick off!
The suffix '-etlen' is added to the transitive verb 'eszik' (to eat) to indicate that the mushroom cannot be eaten.
- Péter még nőtlen, de már keresi az igazit.
Péter is still unmarried, but he is already looking for the one.
Word by Word: Péter still wifeless, but already searches the true-one.
The word 'nőtlen' (unmarried man) literally means 'wifeless', derived from 'nő' (woman/wife).
- A gyerekek boldogtalanok voltak az eső miatt.
The children were unhappy because of the rain.
Word by Word: The children unhappy-plural were the rain because-of.
The suffix '-talan' is added to the adjective 'boldog' (happy) to create its opposite, 'boldogtalan' (unhappy).
- Ez egy íratlan szabály nálunk.
This is an unwritten rule for us.
Word by Word: This a write-un rule at-us.
'-atlan' is added to the verb 'ír' (write) to mean 'unwritten'.
- Nagyon udvariatlan volt a pincér.
The waiter was very impolite.
Word by Word: Very court-y-un was the waiter.
The suffix '-atlan' is added to the adjective 'udvarias' (polite) to create 'udvariatlan' (impolite).
Common Mistakes
Choosing the back-vowel -talan for a front-vowel stem.
pénztalanpénztelenAfter a consonant, the ending harmonizes: back-vowel stems take -talan (cukortalan), front-vowel stems take -telen (pénztelen).
Confusing the suffix with the postposition 'nélkül'.
cukortalan kávécukor nélküli kávé'-talan' implies an inherent quality (sugar-free by nature), while 'nélkül' (without) is used for temporary absence (coffee without sugar added).
Applying the noun form -talan to a verb stem.
írtalaníratlanVerbs require the -atlan/-etlen form, which includes the linking vowel even if the stem ends in a consonant.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the privative suffixes -tlan/-tlen and -atlan/-etlen, learners must be familiar with Hungarian vowel harmony and two-way suffix alternation. It is also helpful to understand how adjectives are derived from nouns using suffixes like -s, as the privative suffix functions as its negative counterpart.
Related Patterns
- Vowel Harmony
The suffix must match the stem's vowels (e.g., sótlan vs. nőtlen).
Level 1 - Linking Vowels
This suffix uses the specific 'lowering' (Type I) linking vowel set.
Level 4 - -hat/-hetCan / May Suffix
The deverbal form -atlan often overlaps in meaning with the negation of the potential suffix -hatatlan (cannot be done).
Level 3 - anélkül, hogyWithout Doing
While -tlan creates adjectives, 'anélkül, hogy' is used to express 'without doing' something in a clause.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -tlan/-tlen, -atlan/-etlen in Bubblegum
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