Learn Hungarian Noun Cases Fast: Complete Grammer Crash Course for Beginners

Learn Hungarian Noun Cases Fast: Complete Grammer Crash Course for Beginners

Let's go over various Hungarian grammatical cases and suffixes in Hungarian, covering their meanings, uses, and examples.

1. Accusative (-t)

The accusative case is used for the direct object of the sentence, answering the question "what?" or "whom?"

• Example:
  Látom a könyvet. (I see the book.)
  • "a könyvet" is in the accusative case, as it's the direct object of the verb "látom" (I see).

2. Dative (-nak/nek)

The dative case shows the indirect object, answering the question "to whom?" or "for whom?"

• Example:
  Adok neki egy ajándékot. (I give him/her a gift.)
  • "neki" is in the dative case, indicating the person receiving the gift.

3. Illative (-ba/be)

The illative case indicates motion into a place, answering "to where?"

• Example:
  Bemegyek a házba. (I am going into the house.)
  • "a házba" indicates the direction of motion into the house.

4. Inessive (-ban/ben)

The inessive case indicates location inside something, answering "where?"

• Example:
  A házban. (Inside the house.)

5. Elative (-ból/ből)

The elative case expresses motion out of something, answering "from where?"

• Example:
  Kijövök a házból. (I am coming out of the house.)
  • "a házból" shows movement from inside the house.

6. Allative (-hoz/hez/höz)

The allative case expresses motion towards something, answering "to where?"

• Example:
  Meghívom a barátomat a házhoz. (I am inviting my friend to the house.)
  • "a házhoz" shows motion towards the house.

7. Adessive (-nál/nél)

The adessive case indicates a location near something or someone, answering "where?"

• Example:
  Az orvosnal vagyok. (I am at the doctor)
  • "a nal" shows the location near or next to (in theory) the person which is different than val/vel which mean "with" something in a different way than nál/nél stay tuned for more info on that. 

8. Ablative (-tól/től)

The ablative case expresses motion from something, answering "from where?"

• Example:
  ettől/attól. (from this-from that)

9. Sublative (-ra/re)

The sublative case expresses motion onto something, answering "onto where?"

• Example:
  Felszállok a buszra. (I am getting onto the bus.)
  • "a buszra" shows motion onto the bus.

10. Superessive (-on/n)

The superessive case indicates location on or at something, answering "where?"

• Example:
  A könyv az asztalon van. (The book is on the table.)
  • "az asztalon" shows the location on the table.

11. Delative (-ról/ről)

The delative case expresses motion from the surface of something, answering "from where?"

• Example:
  Leszállok a buszról. (I am getting off the bus.)
  • "a buszról" shows movement from the bus.

12. Instrumental (-val/vel)

The instrumental case is used to express the means or instrument by which an action is performed, answering "with what?"

• Example:
  Írok egy tollal. (I write with a pen.)
  • "egy tollal" shows the means by which the action is performed v blends into the previous consonant if ends in one, but use vel with vowel like Katival. 

13. Causal-final (-ért)

The causal-final case expresses the purpose or reason for an action, answering "for what reason?"

• Example:
  A tanulásért dolgozom. (I am working for studying.)
  • "a tanulásért" indicates the purpose of working.

14. Terminative (-ig)

The terminative case indicates until a point in time or place, answering "until when?" or "until where?"

• Example:
  Várunk délutánig. (We are waiting until the afternoon.)
  • "délutánig" shows the time until when.

15. Temporal (-kor)

The temporal case refers to a specific time, answering "when?"

• Example:
  Hétkor találkozunk. (We meet at 7 o'clock.)
  • "hétkor" indicates the time of meeting.

16. Nominative (Subject)

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence, answering the question "who?" or "what?" It’s the default case in Hungarian.

• Example:
  A fiú fut. (The boy runs.)
  • "A fiú" is in the nominative case as the subject of the verb "fut" (runs).

17. Genitive (-é)

The genitive case expresses possession, answering "whose?"

• Example:
  Ez a fiú könyve. (This is the boy's book.)
  • "fiú könyve" shows possession; it is the boy's book.

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Summary of Cases and Their Uses:

1. Accusative: Direct object (-t)
2. Dative: Indirect object (-nak/nek)
3. Illative: Motion into (-ba/be)
4. Inessive: Location inside (-ban/ben)
5. Elative: Motion from inside (-ból/ből)
6. Allative: Motion towards (-hoz/hez/höz)
7. Adessive: Location near or at (-nál/nél)
8. Ablative: Motion from the surface (-tól/től)
9. Sublative: Motion onto (-ra/re)
10. Superessive: Location on (-n)
11. Delative: Motion from the surface (-ról/ről)
12. Instrumental: Means of action (-val/vel)
13. Causal-final: Purpose/reason for action (-ért)
14. Terminative: Until a point in time/place (-ig)
15. Temporal: Time (-kor)
16. Nominative: Subject (default case)
17. Genitive: Possession (-é)

Thank you for reading, this is just a quick taste, so if you have any questions let us know!