Understanding Prepositions of Movement in Hungarian Grammar

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricate and fascinating world of prepositions of movement in Hungarian grammar. Hungarian, a unique and rich language, stands apart from many others due to its complex system of prepositions, which are essential for conveying direction and motion. As we explore the primary prepositions of movement, we will provide detailed explanations, examples, and tips to help you grasp their usage and achieve competency in Hungarian grammar.

The Fundamentals: Prepositions of Movement and Their Usage

At the heart of Hungarian grammar are several key prepositions of movement that one must understand in order to effectively communicate. We will analyze the following prepositions:

• fel
• le
• be
• ki
• átmegy/áthatol

These prepositions encompass various scenarios involving movement and direction, such as upwards, downwards, inward, outward, and crossing from one space to another.

Fel – Upwards

Fel is used to denote movement in an upward direction or moving toward a higher position. Here are a few examples to illustrate its usage:

    A macska felmászott a fára. - The cat climbed up the tree.
    Felmegyek a lépcsőn a tetőtérbe. - I'm going up the stairs to the attic.
    A füst felkavarodott. - The smoke swirled upward.

Adding the suffix -re/-ra to fel creates felé, expressing a destination or an endpoint of movement:

    Felé sétálnak a dombnak. - They walk towards the hill.
    Felmegyek az emeletre. - I'll go up to the next floor.

Le – Downwards

Le is the opposite of fel, representing movement in a downward direction or towards a lower position. The following examples showcase its correct utilization:

    A gyerek lecsúszott a csúszdán. - The child slid down the slide.
    A golyó lepattogott a lépcsőn. - The ball bounced down the stairs.
    A hó lehullott. - The snow fell down.

Similar to the rule for fel, the suffix -re/-ra transforms le into felé, indicating a movement towards a lower position:

    Lehajolok a padló felé. - I bend down towards the floor.
    Lehúzódik a lejáróra. - It pulls down to the ramp.

Be – Inward

Be signifies movement in an inward direction, typically exemplifying entrance into a space, such as a room or building. Refer to these examples for proper be usage:

    Belépett az ajtón. - He entered through the door.
    Berakom az árut a kamionba. - I'll load the goods into the truck.
    Beugrottam a boltba egy kis tejpótlóért. - I popped into the store for some milk substitute.

Ki – Outward

Conversely, ki represents movement in an outward direction or exiting a space. Observe the following examples to understand its application:

    Kiléptem az ajtón. - I stepped out of the door.
    Kidobták a szemetet. - They threw the garbage out.
    Kiolvastam a könyv minden szavát. - I read every word of the book out loud.

Átmegy/Áthatol – Moving from One Space to Another

These two prepositions, átmegy and áthatol, refer to crossing from one space to another or moving between different places. Consider the following examples:

    Áthatolt a szobán. - He walked through the room.
    Átmegyek a hídon. - I'll go across the bridge.
    A vízcseppek áthatoltak a szűrőn. - The water droplets passed through the filter.

Mastery of Prepositions of Movement in Hungarian Grammar

By thoroughly understanding and mastering the usage of these essential prepositions of movement in Hungarian grammar, you will have taken a significant step toward proficiency in the Hungarian language. Integrating these prepositions correctly in conversation and writing is crucial, as they shape the context and meaning of your message. As with any language skill, practice is necessary, so be sure to apply these prepositions to various situations and scenarios to truly cement your knowledge.