Superlative Adjectives in Hungarian
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about the extremes using superlative adjectives in Hungarian. Superlative adjectives are used to describe the highest degree of a quality or characteristic. For example, instead of saying something is "good," we can say it is the "best."
Forming Superlative Adjectives
In Hungarian, there are different ways to form superlative adjectives depending on the ending of the adjective. Here are the general rules:
Adjectives ending in a vowel
To form the superlative of adjectives ending in a vowel, we add the suffix -leg to the stem of the adjective.
Example:
- jó (good) -> legjobb (best)
- szép (beautiful) -> legszebb (most beautiful)
Adjectives ending in a consonant
For adjectives ending in a consonant, we have two possibilities to form the superlative:
- We can add the suffix -leg as mentioned above.
- Alternatively, we can add the suffix -nél to the stem of the adjective.
Example:
- nagy (big) -> legnagyobb or nagynál (biggest)
It is important to note that the first form with the suffix -leg is more common and widely used.
Usage of Superlative Adjectives
Superlative adjectives are used to describe the highest degree of a quality or characteristic. They are used to compare one thing to all others in a group. Here are some examples of how to use superlative adjectives in Hungarian:
-
Ez a könyv a leghasznosabb.
- This book is the most useful.
-
A macska a legszeretettebb háziállat.
- The cat is the most beloved pet.
-
Az Everest az legmagasabb hegy a világon.
- Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
-
A téli sportok a legizgalmasabbak.
- Winter sports are the most exciting.
Remember that in Hungarian, the superlative form of the adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number.
Summary
To form superlative adjectives in Hungarian, follow these guidelines:
- For adjectives ending in a vowel, add the suffix -leg to the stem.
- For adjectives ending in a consonant, you can add either the suffix -leg or -nél to the stem, with the -leg form being more common.
- Superlative adjectives are used to describe the highest degree of a quality or characteristic and compare one thing to all others in a group.
Congratulations! Now you have learned how to use superlative adjectives in Hungarian to talk about the extremes and describe the highest degree of a quality or characteristic. Practice using superlative adjectives in sentences to become more comfortable with their usage.