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amíg. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
amíg, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
amíg in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
amíg you have here. The definition of the word
amíg will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
amíg, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Hungarian
Etymology
az + míg
Pronunciation
Adverb
amíg
- as long as, while
- Synonyms: ameddig, míg
- (chiefly in the negative) until, till
- Synonyms: ameddig, míg
- Boldogan éltek, amíg meg nem haltak. ― They lived happily ever after. (literally, “…(up) until they died.”)
Usage notes
Both of these translations may be correct depending on whether the verb that follows is negated.
Amíg is actually equivalent to the opposite of until in the same way that unless is the opposite of if. It specifies a case in which the statement of the main clause is not valid or the time period during which the event of the main clause persisted:
- Addig sétáltunk, amíg világos volt. (no negation) ― We walked as long as it was light.
- Addig sétáltunk, amíg sötét nem lett. ― We walked until it got dark.
- Amíg nem csinálod meg a házi feladatodat, addig nem játszhatsz. ― You can’t play until you’re done with your homework.
- Zenét hallgattam, amíg a metrón ültem. (no negation) ― I was listening to music while I was on the subway.
Sentences should be translated using the pronoun or wording that matches the intent of the speaker: amíg … nem/nincs is similar to until and amíg is similar to while.
Derived terms
References
Further reading
- amíg in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
- amíg in Ittzés, Nóra (ed.). A magyar nyelv nagyszótára (‘A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published A–ez as of 2024)