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-ál. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
-ál, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
-ál in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
-ál you have here. The definition of the word
-ál will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
-ál, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Hungarian
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From -á- (linking vowel) + -l (verb-forming suffix).
Suffix
-ál
- (verb-forming suffix) Same as -l with the -á- linking vowel. Used for integrating loanwords into Hungarian.
- telefon (“telephone”) + -ál → telefonál (“to telephone”)
Usage notes
- (verb-forming suffix) Variants:
- -l is added to words ending in a vowel. Final -a changes to -á-. Final -e changes to -é-. Final long vowels may shorten, e.g. ű → ü.
- -ol is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -al is added to other back-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -el is added to unrounded (and some rounded) front-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -öl is added to most rounded front-vowel words ending in a consonant
- -ál is added to some back-vowel words ending in a consonant
Note: Certain words take another, synonymous suffix, -z/-oz/-az/-ez/-öz/-áz or -zik/-ozik/-azik/-ezik/-özik.
Derived terms
Etymology 2
From the original open, lengthened stem-final vowel connecting to the ancient verb-forming suffix -l.
Suffix
-ál
- (frequentative suffix) Added to a verb to form a verb that expresses repetitive action.
- dob (“to throw”) + -ál → dobál (“to throw one after the other”)
Usage notes
- (frequentative suffix) Variants:
- -ál is added to back-vowel verbs
- -él is added to front-vowel verbs
Derived terms
Etymology 3
From the original open stem-final vowel connecting to the ancient noun-forming suffix -l.
Suffix
-ál
- (archaic, noun-forming suffix) Added to a verb to form a noun.
- fon (“to weave”) + -ál → fonál (“thread”)
Usage notes
- (noun-forming suffix) Variants:
- -ál is added to back-vowel verbs
- -él is added to front-vowel verbs
- See also the suffix variants -al/-el.
Derived terms
Etymology 4
Suffix
-ál
- (personal suffix) Forms the second-person singular indefinite of verbs. It presents in the past tense as -tál, in conditional mood, as -nál, and in subjunctive mood, as -jál.
- tud (“to know”)
- Tudtál erről? ― Did you know about this?
- Tudnál segíteni? ― Could you help?
- Azt akarta, hogy tudjál róla. ― He wanted you to know about it. (literally, “…that you should know…”)
See also