Hungarian language, indefinite vs. definite conjugation

by Don  

Hungarian, like English, has indefinite and definite articles that indicate whether you are speaking about a specific object or a non specific object. For instance,

Indefinitea caregy autó
Definitethe caraz autó

Now here is a bit of fun. Hungarian also indicates by verb endings whether the object of the verb is definite or indefinite. Observe:

IndefiniteI see a carLátok egy autó
DefiniteI see the carLátom az autó

Isn't that curious? The definiteness of the direct object is double coded. This distinction of definite/indefinite for the direct object is coded in all the verb forms. For instance, here is the complete conjugation of the verb ‘see’ in the present tense:

IndefiniteDefinite
SingularPluralSingularPlural
1stlátoklátunklátomlátjuk
1st to 2ndlátlak
2ndlátszláttoklátodlátjátok
3rdlátlátnaklátjalátják

Lots of languages double code things, but this is the first time I've encountered it for definiteness in the verb. It's quite common to double code negativity in languages. For instance,

SpanishNo sé nada.Not I know nothing.I don't know anything.
RussianНичего не знаю.Nothing not I know.I don't know anything.

Hungarian language, day 3

by Don  

I'm actually making good progress on my Hungarian. So far there is exactly one word that for some reason is causing me problems, although today I may finally have it down. It is the word for goodbye which is:

viszontlátásra

Yes, I know you are desperate to surpass my linguistic awesomeness, so you can hear and practice the pronunciation here.

Hungarian language, numbers 20-90

by Don  

10tíz
20húsz
30harminc
40negyven
50ötven
60hatvan
70hetven
80nyolcvan
90kilencven
100száz

Hungarian language, verb ‘would like’

by Don  

This is the conditional form of the verb ‘love.’

IndefiniteDefinite
SingularPluralSingularPlural
1stszeretnékszeretnénkszeretnémszeretnénk
1>2szeretnélek
2ndszeretnélszeretnétekszeretnédszeretnétek
3rdszeretneszeretnénekszeretnészeretnék

Hungarian language, verb ‘know’

by Don  

This is the present tense conjugation of the verb ‘know.’

IndefiniteDefinite
SingularPluralSingularPlural
1sttudoktudunktudomtudjuk
1>2tudlak
2ndtudsztudtoktudodtudjátok
3rdtudtudnaktudjatudják

In the definite it is used to discuss knowing a particular fact. (Knowing a person involves the verb ismer, not tud.) In the indefinite it is used to discuss knowing how to do something.

I know where it is.Tudom, hol van.
I know how to drive.Tudok vezetni.

(The source for those two sentences is wiktionary.)

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