A2 Verb Conjugation 1 min read سهل

The '-lak/-lek' Special Conjugation

وضع علامة كمكتسب
تدرّب عليها

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use -lak/-lek when you, the speaker, are doing something to 'you' (the listener).

  • Use -lak for back-vowel verbs: Szeretlek (I love you).
  • Use -lek for front-vowel verbs: Kérlek (I ask you).
  • This suffix replaces the standard object conjugation for 'you'.
Subject(I) + Verb + (-lak/-lek) = I do [verb] to you

The -lak/-lek Suffixation

Verb Stem Vowel Type Suffix Result
szeret
front
-lek
szeretlek
lát
back
-lak
látlak
hív
front
-lek
hívlak
vár
back
-lak
várlak
kér
front
-lek
kérlek
zavar
back
-lak
zavarlak

Meanings

This suffix is used exclusively when the subject is 'I' (én) and the direct object is 'you' (téged/titeket). It simplifies the conjugation by combining the verb, the person, and the object into one word.

1

Direct interaction

Expressing an action directed from the speaker to the listener.

“Szeretlek.”

“Látlak.”

2

Requesting

Polite or direct requests.

“Kérlek, ülj le.”

“Segítelek.”

Reference Table

Reference table for The '-lak/-lek' Special Conjugation
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem + lak/lek
Szeretlek
Negative
Nem + Stem + lak/lek
Nem szeretlek
Question
Standard Conjugation
Szeretsz?
Past Tense
Stem + t + lak/lek
Szerettelek
Conditional
Stem + nál/nél + lak/lek
Szeretnélek

طيف الرسمية

رسمي
Szeretem önt.

Szeretem önt. (Expressing affection)

محايد
Szeretlek.

Szeretlek. (Expressing affection)

غير رسمي
Szeretlek.

Szeretlek. (Expressing affection)

عامية
Imádlak.

Imádlak. (Expressing affection)

The -lak/-lek Logic

I (Subject)

Object

  • Téged You

Suffix

  • -lak/-lek The Shortcut
سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Szeretlek.

I love you.

2

Látlak.

I see you.

3

Hívlak.

I call you.

4

Várlak.

I wait for you.

1

Kérlek, segíts!

Please, help me!

2

Nem látlak a tömegben.

I don't see you in the crowd.

3

Holnap hívlak.

I will call you tomorrow.

4

Szeretlek, anya.

I love you, mom.

1

Már régen várlak itt.

I have been waiting for you here for a long time.

2

Nem zavarlak tovább.

I won't bother you anymore.

3

Megtalállak, bárhová mész.

I will find you wherever you go.

4

Kérlek, ne menj el.

Please, don't leave.

1

Én is szeretlek téged.

I love you too.

2

Nem értelek, mit akarsz?

I don't understand you, what do you want?

3

Figyelmeztetlek a veszélyre.

I am warning you about the danger.

4

Meghívlak egy vacsorára.

I invite you to dinner.

1

Nem becsüllek alá, de ez nehéz.

I don't underestimate you, but this is hard.

2

Megajándékozlak egy könyvvel.

I am gifting you a book.

3

Kérlek, fontold meg a döntést.

Please, consider the decision.

4

Megcsodállak a kitartásodért.

I admire you for your perseverance.

1

Kérlek, ne félreérts, de ez elfogadhatatlan.

Please, don't misunderstand me, but this is unacceptable.

2

Megtisztellek a bizalmammal.

I honor you with my trust.

3

Nem korlátozlak a szabadságodban.

I do not restrict you in your freedom.

4

Kérlek, fogadd el a bocsánatkérésemet.

Please, accept my apology.

سهل الخلط

The '-lak/-lek' Special Conjugation مقابل Definite Conjugation

Learners think -lak/-lek is just another definite suffix.

The '-lak/-lek' Special Conjugation مقابل Indefinite Conjugation

Learners use indefinite for 'you'.

The '-lak/-lek' Special Conjugation مقابل Question forms

Learners use -lak/-lek in questions.

أخطاء شائعة

✗

Szeretlak

✓

Szeretlek

Wrong vowel harmony.
✗

Látlak?

✓

Látsz?

Using -lak in a question.
✗

Szeretem téged

✓

Szeretlek

Redundant object pronoun.
✗

Várlak téged

✓

Várlak

The object is already in the verb.
✗

Kérlek téged

✓

Kérlek

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Hívlak?

✓

Hívsz?

Question form error.
✗

Zavarlék

✓

Zavarlak

Wrong vowel harmony.
✗

Szeretnélek téged

✓

Szeretnélek

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Látlak-e?

✓

Látsz?

Incorrect question structure.
✗

Kérlek, hogy segíts

✓

Kérlek, segíts

Unnecessary conjunction.
✗

Megajándékozlak téged

✓

Megajándékozlak

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Értelek téged

✓

Értelek

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Figyelmeztetlek téged

✓

Figyelmeztetlek

Redundant pronoun.

أنماط الجُمل

___, kérlek.

___, szeretlek.

Nem ___ téged.

Holnap ___ a moziban.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Szeretlek!

Social Media very common

Látlak a képen!

Job Interview occasional

Kérlek, nézze meg a CV-met.

Travel common

Várlak a reptéren.

Food Delivery occasional

Kérlek, hozd ide.

Family constant

Szeretlek, anya.

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة
💡

Check the Vowels

Always look at the last vowel of the stem. If it's a, o, u, use -lak.
⚠️

No Questions

Never use -lak/-lek in a question. Use the standard conjugation instead.
🎯

Drop the Pronoun

You don't need to say 'én' or 'téged'. The verb says it all.
💬

Be Direct

Hungarians value directness. Using these forms is perfectly polite.

Smart Tips

Don't add 'téged'. The suffix already includes it.

Szeretlek téged. → Szeretlek.

Switch to standard conjugation.

Látlak? → Látsz?

Check the last vowel of the stem.

Szeretlak. → Szeretlek.

Add -t- before the suffix.

Szeretlek tegnap. → Szerettelek tegnap.

النطق

SZERET-lek

Suffix stress

The stress remains on the first syllable of the verb, not the suffix.

Declarative

Szeretlek. ↘

Falling intonation for a statement.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'LAK' as 'Look At K(you)'. If you look at you, use -lak.

ربط بصري

Imagine a mirror where you see yourself, but instead of you, you see your friend. You point at them and say 'Lát-lak!'

Rhyme

Back vowel -lak, front vowel -lek, I love you is what I check.

Story

I am standing at the station. I see my friend. I shout 'Várlak!' (I'm waiting for you). They arrive, and I say 'Szeretlek!' (I love you).

Word Web

SzeretlekLátlakVárlakHívlakKérlekZavarlak

تحدٍّ

Write 5 sentences using -lak/-lek to describe things you do for your best friend.

ملاحظات ثقافية

Hungarian is a direct language. Using -lak/-lek is the standard, polite way to express these feelings.

The -lak/-lek suffix is an ancient Uralic feature that merged the verb and the object pronoun.

بدايات محادثة

“

Kit szeretsz?

“

Vársz valakire?

“

Értesz engem?

“

Zavarlak?

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Write about someone you love.
Describe a time you waited for a friend.
Write a formal request to a colleague.
Reflect on a misunderstanding.

أخطاء شائعة

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct suffix.

Szeret___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lek
Szeret is front-vowel.
Choose the correct form. اختيار متعدد

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Látlak
Lát is back-vowel.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Szeretlak.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Szeretlek
Vowel harmony error.
Change to statement. Sentence Transformation

Látsz?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Látlak
Statement form uses -lak.
Match the verb to the suffix. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -lak
Vár is back-vowel.
Is this correct? اختيار متعدد

Látlak?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No
Cannot use -lak in questions.
Fill in the blank.

Holnap hív___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lak
Hív is front-vowel, but wait, Hív is front! Correct is lek.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

I love you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Szeretlek
Direct translation.

Score: /8

تمارين تطبيقية

8 exercises
Fill in the correct suffix.

Szeret___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lek
Szeret is front-vowel.
Choose the correct form. اختيار متعدد

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Látlak
Lát is back-vowel.
Fix the mistake. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Szeretlak.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Szeretlek
Vowel harmony error.
Change to statement. Sentence Transformation

Látsz?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Látlak
Statement form uses -lak.
Match the verb to the suffix. Match Pairs

Vár -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: -lak
Vár is back-vowel.
Is this correct? اختيار متعدد

Látlak?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No
Cannot use -lak in questions.
Fill in the blank.

Holnap hív___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lak
Hív is front-vowel, but wait, Hív is front! Correct is lek.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

I love you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Szeretlek
Direct translation.

Score: /8

الأسئلة الشائعة (8)

Only with transitive verbs where the object is 'you'.

Because 'hív' has a front vowel 'í'.

It is neutral. Use it with friends and family.

Use 'szeretem'.

The grammar rules for questions require standard conjugation.

Yes, very common in texts and emails.

The -lak/-lek suffix works for both singular and plural 'you'.

Yes, it becomes -talak/-telek.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

سجّل مجاناً للتدريب

In Other Languages

Spanish partial

Te amo

Hungarian is agglutinative; Spanish is analytic.

French partial

Je t'aime

Hungarian suffixation is mandatory.

German low

Ich liebe dich

German maintains word order for objects.

Japanese low

Aishiteru

Hungarian explicitly marks the object in the verb.

Arabic moderate

Uhibbuka

Arabic suffixes are gendered.

Chinese none

Wo ai ni

Chinese has no conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Present Tense Definite Conjugation

Related Grammar Rules

A1

Present Tense Indefinite Conjugation
A1

The '-ik' Verbs (Indefinite)
A2

Present Tense Definite Conjugation
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