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Forming Plural Nouns and Adjectives (-k, -ok/-ek/-ök/-ak)

Hungarian forms the plural with -k. The exact form follows vowel harmony.

1. Words ending in a vowel: simply add -k. If the word ends in short -a or -e, those vowels lengthen to -á and -é.

• autó (car) -> autók
• nő (woman) -> nők
• alma (apple) -> almák
• körte (pear) -> körték

2. Words ending in a consonant: a linking vowel (o, a, e, ö) usually appears before -k.

• Back vowels (o / a): asztal (table) -> asztalok, ház (house) -> házak
• Front vowels (e): szék (chair) -> székek, könyv (book) -> könyvek
• Rounded front vowels (ö): bőrönd (suitcase) -> bőröndök

Stem-changing exceptions: Some words change their stem in the plural. These need to be learned as vocabulary.

• híd (bridge) -> hidak
• madár (bird) -> madarak
• ló (horse) -> lovak

Plural adjectives in sentences: If an adjective stands before a noun, like English “new taxis,” it does not take plural marking. If it functions as the predicate, like “the taxis are fast,” it agrees in the plural.

• Az új taxik gyorsak. - The new taxis are fast.
• A fák zöldek. - The trees are green.