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A1 verb Neutral 3 min read

felejt

/ˈfɛlɛjt/
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Overview

The Hungarian verb 'felejt' (pronounced approximately 'FEY-yit') is a fundamental and frequently used verb meaning 'to forget'. Understanding its conjugation and usage is crucial for anyone learning Hungarian.

Basic Conjugation (Present Tense, Definite and Indefinite):

Hungarian verbs conjugate based on the subject and whether the object is definite or indefinite. 'Felejt' is a regular verb, making its conjugation predictable.

  • Indefinite Conjugation (when the object is indefinite or there is no object):

* én felejtek (I forget)

  • te felejtesz (you [singular, informal] forget)

* mi felejtünk (we forget)

  • ti felejtettek (you [plural, informal] forget)

* ők felejtenek (they forget)

Example: 'Gyakran felejtek.' (I often forget.) 'Ő felejt egy nevet.' (He/she forgets a name.)

  • Definite Conjugation (when the object is definite, e.g., 'the book', 'him/her/it'):

* én felejtem (I forget it/him/her)

  • te felejted (you [singular, informal] forget it/him/her)

* mi felejtjük (we forget it/him/her)

  • ti felejtitek (you [plural, informal] forget it/him/her)

* ők felejtik (they forget it/him/her)

Example: 'A kulcsaimat felejtem.' (I forget my keys. - 'my keys' is definite) 'Nem felejtem el a születésnapodat.' (I won't forget your birthday.)

**Past Tense:**

The past tense is formed by adding '-ott/-ett/-ött' to the verb stem (depending on vowel harmony) and then the personal endings.

* ők felejtették (they forgot it/him/her)

Example: 'Elfelejtettem a táskámat otthon.' (I forgot my bag at home.)

**Future Tense:**

Hungarian typically expresses the future tense using the present tense verb with a future-indicating adverb or context, or with the auxiliary verb 'fog'.

  • 'El fogom felejteni.' (I will forget it.)
  • 'Majd elfelejtem.' (I'll forget it later.)

**Verb Prefixes (Preverbs):**

'Felejt' very commonly appears with the preverb 'el-'. 'Elfelejt' specifically means 'to forget something completely or permanently'. Without 'el-', 'felejt' can sometimes imply a more temporary forgetting or simply the act of forgetting.

  • 'Elfelejtettem a neved.' (I forgot your name [completely].)
  • 'Felejtem a részleteket.' (I'm forgetting the details [as time passes, perhaps gradually]).

**Common Phrases and Nuances:**

  • 'Ne felejtsd el!' (Don't forget it! / Don't forget! - informal singular)
  • 'Megfelejtkezik valamiről' (to forget about something, to overlook something - this is a reflexive verb often used with a '-ról/-ről' ending).

Example: 'Megfeledkeztem az időről.' (I forgot about the time.)

  • 'Felejtsd el!' (Forget about it! / Drop it! - informal singular, often used to dismiss something.)
  • 'A felejtés homályába merül' (to sink into oblivion/to be forgotten).

Understanding the definite/indefinite conjugation and the use of the preverb 'el-' are the keys to mastering 'felejt'.

Examples

1

Elfelejtettem a kulcsaimat.

Everyday situation

I forgot my keys.

2

Ne felejtsd el megvenni a kenyeret!

Giving an instruction/reminder

Don't forget to buy the bread!

3

Kezdem felejteni a régi dolgokat.

Speaking about memory loss

I'm starting to forget old things.

4

Soha nem felejtem el ezt a napot.

Expressing strong memory

I will never forget this day.

5

A nagymama már feledékeny.

Describing a person's trait

Grandma is already forgetful.

Common Collocations

felejti a múltat
felejti a születésnapokat
felejti a szöveget
nem felejti el

Often Confused With

felejt vs téved

Both can imply making a mistake, but 'téved' is specifically about being mistaken or erring in judgment, while 'felejt' is about forgetting something from memory.

felejt vs elhagy

Both can mean leaving something behind, but 'elhagy' often implies abandonment or forsaking, whereas 'felejt' is specifically about forgetting to take something or forgetting where something is.

Grammar Patterns

valamit felejt valahol felejt valakit/valamit felejt (átvitt értelemben)

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The verb 'felejt' is a versatile and commonly used word in Hungarian, meaning 'to forget.' It is a transitive verb, meaning it typically takes a direct object. For example, 'Elfelejtettem a kulcsaimat' translates to 'I forgot my keys.' The prefix 'el-' often intensifies the meaning, indicating a complete act of forgetting, similar to how 'away' or 'off' might function in English phrasal verbs, but it's very frequently used and often interchangeable with 'felejt' in casual speech. 'Felejt' can also be used in more abstract contexts, such as forgetting a skill or a piece of information, e.g., 'Elfelejtettem, hogyan kell biciklizni' (I forgot how to ride a bicycle). It's important to note the accusative case for the object being forgotten, which in Hungarian is often marked by the suffix '-t' or '-ot/-et/-öt' depending on vowel harmony. When expressing forgetting to do something, the infinitive form of the verb is used with 'felejt,' e.g., 'Elfelejtettem szólni' (I forgot to tell/speak). The reflexive form, 'elfelejtődik,' is less common but can be used to describe something being forgotten on its own, without an active agent, though this construction is often avoided in favor of more direct phrasing.

Common Mistakes

Common mistakes include confusing 'felejt' with similar-sounding words like 'fejleszt' (to develop) or misplacing the 'j' sound, which is pronounced like the 'y' in 'yes'. Another common error is using the wrong conjugation for different tenses or persons, as Hungarian verbs have many forms. For example, 'I forget' is 'felejtek', but 'he forgets' is 'felejt'. Make sure to practice the various conjugations.

Tips

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Infinitive

The infinitive form of the verb is 'felejteni'.

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Conjugation - Present Tense (Definite)

Here's the conjugation for 'felejt' in the present tense, definite conjugation: - Én felejtem (I forget it) - Te felejted (You forget it) - Ő/Ön felejti (He/She/You formal forget it) - Mi felejtjük (We forget it) - Ti felejtitek (You plural forget it) - Ők/Önök felejtik (They/You formal plural forget it)

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Conjugation - Present Tense (Indefinite)

Here's the conjugation for 'felejt' in the present tense, indefinite conjugation: - Én felejtek (I forget) - Te felejtesz (You forget) - Ő/Ön felejt (He/She/You formal forget) - Mi felejtünk (We forget) - Ti felejtettek (You plural forget) - Ők/Önök felejtenek (They/You formal plural forget)

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Past Tense (Definite)

Here's the conjugation for 'felejt' in the past tense, definite conjugation: - Én felejtettem (I forgot it) - Te felejtetted (You forgot it) - Ő/Ön felejtette (He/She/You formal forgot it) - Mi felejtettük (We forgot it) - Ti felejtettétek (You plural forgot it) - Ők/Önök felejtették (They/You formal plural forgot it)

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Past Tense (Indefinite)

Here's the conjugation for 'felejt' in the past tense, indefinite conjugation: - Én felejtettem (I forgot) - Te felejtettél (You forgot) - Ő/Ön felejtett (He/She/You formal forgot) - Mi felejtettünk (We forgot) - Ti felejtettetek (You plural forgot) - Ők/Önök felejtettek (They/You formal plural forgot)

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Future Tense

To form the future tense, you use the auxiliary verb 'fog' (will) with the infinitive. For example: - Én felejteni fogok (I will forget) - Te felejteni fogsz (You will forget)

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Common Expressions

- Elfelejt valamit (To forget something) - Ne felejtsd el! (Don't forget it!) - Feledékeny vagyok (I am forgetful)

Word Origin

From Proto-Uralic *śäli- meaning 'to forget'. Cognates include Finnish syli ('lap, embrace') and Komi зель (źeľ, 'poison'). The Hungarian word has undergone semantic shift from 'lap' to 'forget' through an intermediate stage of 'to put aside, to neglect'.

Cultural Context

The Hungarian word 'felejt' (to forget) carries significant cultural weight, often appearing in folk songs, poems, and everyday expressions that reflect Hungarian perspectives on memory, loss, and the passage of time. In a culture that values history and tradition, forgetting can sometimes be viewed with a touch of melancholy or regret, especially when it concerns national heritage, historical events, or personal relationships. For instance, the phrase 'Ne feledd!' (Don't forget!) is a common and heartfelt admonition, used in various contexts from remembering historical lessons to cherishing personal connections. It underscores a cultural emphasis on holding onto memories, both collective and individual. The act of forgetting can also be linked to healing and moving on, particularly after difficult experiences, making it a nuanced concept within Hungarian thought. Furthermore, in Hungarian literature, themes of memory and oblivion are frequently explored, offering deep insights into the human condition from a Hungarian viewpoint. The word 'felejt' itself, while seemingly simple, opens a door to understanding these intricate cultural layers.

Memory Tip

Associate 'felejt' with 'fell laid' - imagine someone fell and laid down, and in their daze, forgot what they were doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

'Felejt' is a Hungarian verb that directly translates to 'to forget' in English. It's a common and fundamental verb used to express the act of losing remembrance of something or someone. Like many Hungarian verbs, it can be conjugated in various ways to indicate tense, mood, and person, making it quite versatile in communication. Understanding its nuances is key to grasping Hungarian expressions related to memory and omission.

The conjugation of 'felejt' follows regular Hungarian verb patterns. In the present tense, for example, it would be: 'felejtek' (I forget), 'felejtesz' (you forget, singular informal), 'felejt' (he/she/it forgets), 'felejtünk' (we forget), 'felejttek' (you forget, plural informal/formal singular), 'felejtenek' (they forget). Past tense forms include 'felejtettem' (I forgot), and future tense often uses the auxiliary verb 'fog' with the infinitive, like 'fogok felejteni' (I will forget). The specific ending changes based on the subject and the tense, which is characteristic of Hungarian grammar.

Yes, 'felejt' can be part of several idiomatic expressions in Hungarian. For instance, 'felejtésbe merül' literally means 'to sink into oblivion' or 'to fall into disuse/be forgotten.' Another common phrase is 'felejtős,' which is an adjective derived from 'felejt,' often used informally to describe something that is easily forgotten, not important, or simply not worth remembering. These idiomatic uses add richness and depth to the meaning of the word beyond its literal translation.

Absolutely! Besides the idiomatic uses, 'felejt' appears in many everyday Hungarian phrases. You might hear 'Ne felejtsd el!' (Don't forget it!), which is a very common way to remind someone. Another example is 'elfelejteni' (to completely forget), where 'el-' is a verbal prefix intensifying the meaning of 'forgetting.' People also use it in expressions like 'felejtésbe merül' (to fall into oblivion/be forgotten) when talking about things that are no longer remembered or used. These phrases highlight the various contexts in which 'felejt' is used in daily conversation.

Test Yourself

fill blank

Én sosem ____ (to forget) a születésnapod.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
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Ő gyakran ____ (to forget) a kulcsait.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
fill blank

Mi ____ (to forget) a találkozót tegnap.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Score: /3

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