Imperative Mood in Hungarian

In Brief

Hungarian forms commands and requests with the imperative mood, usually marked by -j: várj! “wait!” and kérjetek! “ask!” The form changes according to the person addressed and, just as in the present tense, according to whether the verb has a definite object: olvass! “read!” but olvasd el a levelet! “read the letter!” Use ne, not nem, to make a negative command.

Overview

The imperative mood (felszólító mód) is a set of verb forms used to tell, ask, invite, or encourage someone to do something. English often uses the bare verb—“Come!”, “Wait!”, “Let’s go!”—but Hungarian adds endings. The core marker is -j, although sound changes can turn it into -s, -sz, or another form.

This topic is introduced at A2 because it builds directly on Hungarian conjugation. A verb agrees with its subject (the person doing the action), and most persons also distinguish indefinite and definite conjugation. The definite conjugation is used when the verb acts on a specific object, such as a könyvet “the book” or ezt “this.” Compare Olvass! “Read!” with Olvasd ezt! “Read this!”

Commands do not have to sound forceful. Depending on tone and context, an imperative can be an instruction, a friendly suggestion, a wish, or a polite request. Hungarian also has courteous patterns with tessék and legyen szíves, which are especially useful with strangers and in service situations.

How It Works

The beginner rule

For a first practical approach:

1. Choose who is to perform the action.
2. Decide whether the verb has a definite object.
3. Add the imperative ending, with the appropriate vowel harmony.
4. Put ne before the verb for a negative command.

The most common form is informal second-person singular—the form used with one person addressed as te:

• vár “wait” → Várj! “Wait!”
• kér “ask” → Kérj! “Ask!”
• olvas “read” → Olvass! “Read!”
• olvas + a könyvet → Olvasd a könyvet! “Read the book!”

Hungarian often leaves out the subject pronoun because the ending already identifies the person. Te várj! is possible, but the explicit te adds contrast: “You wait!”

Indefinite forms

Use the indefinite conjugation when there is no direct object (the person or thing directly affected), or when the object is not definite: Várj! “Wait!”, Kérj segítséget! “Ask for help.” The following table uses vár “wait” and kér “ask” to show back-vowel and front-vowel endings.

Person	vár	kér	Typical meaning
én	várjak	kérjek	let me wait/ask; that I should wait/ask
te	várj	kérj	wait/ask!
ő / Ön	várjon	kérjen	let him/her wait/ask; please wait/ask (formal)
mi	várjunk	kérjünk	let’s wait/ask
ti	várjatok	kérjetek	wait/ask! (plural informal)
ők / Önök	várjanak	kérjenek	let them wait/ask; please wait/ask (formal plural)

The vowels in the endings follow vowel harmony: Hungarian chooses a back-vowel or front-vowel version that fits the verb. Thus várjon, várjatok, várjanak contrast with kérjen, kérjetek, kérjenek. Rounded front-vowel verbs can have forms such as ülj, üljön, üljünk from ül “sit.”

Definite forms

Use the definite conjugation when a transitive verb has a definite direct object: a levelet “the letter,” ezt “this,” Pétert “Péter,” or an object already understood as specific. Here is the full paradigm of vár in the sense “wait for him/her/it” and kér in the sense “ask for it.”

Person	vár (definite)	kér (definite)	Typical meaning
én	várjam	kérjem	let me wait for it / ask for it
te	várd	kérd	wait for it! / ask for it!
ő / Ön	várja	kérje	let him/her do it; please do it (formal)
mi	várjuk	kérjük	let’s do it
ti	várjátok	kérjétek	do it! (plural informal)
ők / Önök	várják	kérjék	let them do it; please do it (formal plural)

The short te forms várd and kérd are standard and very common. Longer forms, várjad and kérjed, also occur, especially in speech or when the form is emphasized. With a sibilant-final verb such as olvas, the central contrast is:

• Olvass! — “Read!” (no definite object)
• Olvasd! — “Read it!” (definite object)
• Olvassátok el! — “Read it!” (addressing several people)

A definite object does not always need to be spoken aloud. If both speakers know which letter is meant, Olvasd el! naturally means “Read it!”

Stem changes before the imperative marker

The written -j is easy after many stems, but the final sound of the verb can merge with it. These changes are part of normal Hungarian pronunciation and spelling.

Present stem	Change	Informal singular	Meaning
vár	regular + j	várj	wait!
kér	regular + j	kérj	ask!
olvas	s + j → ss	olvass	read!
hoz	z + j → zz	hozz	bring!
mos	s + j → ss	moss	wash!
tanít	t changes before j	taníts	teach!
mutat	t changes before j	mutass	show!
tart	consonant + t gives ts	tarts	keep/hold!
lát	irregular	láss	see!

Do not try to reconstruct every changed form while speaking. Learn frequent verbs as pairs: olvas—olvass, hoz—hozz, tanít—taníts, lát—láss.

Essential irregular verbs

Several everyday verbs have highly frequent irregular imperatives.

Infinitive	Informal singular imperative	English
menni	menj	go!
jönni	gyere / jöjj	come!
lenni	légy	be!
tenni	tégy	put/do!
venni	végy	take/buy!
vinni	vigyél	take/carry!
enni	egyél	eat!
inni	igyál	drink!

Some irregular verbs have more than one accepted form or a shorter and longer variant. Gyere! is the ordinary conversational command “Come!”, while Jöjj! also occurs. Forms such as tégy and végy can sound more elevated in some contexts; everyday usage also frequently has tegyél and vegyél.

Verbal prefixes move in commands

A verbal prefix is a short element such as el-, be-, or fel- that modifies a verb’s meaning. In a neutral statement it normally stands before the verb: elolvasod “you read it through.” In a direct affirmative command, it usually moves after the verb:

• Elolvasod a levelet. — “You read the letter.”
• Olvasd el a levelet! — “Read the letter!”
• Bemész. — “You go in.”
• Menj be! — “Go in!”

This separation is not optional in a neutral command. English speakers often keep the prefix attached because English “read it” gives no warning that Hungarian word order must change.

Negative commands use ne

Use ne for “don’t” and for negative wishes or requests. Nem negates statements, not ordinary commands.

• Ne menj el! — “Don’t leave!”
• Ne olvasd el ezt a levelet! — “Don’t read this letter!”
• Ne beszéljetek olyan hangosan! — “Don’t speak so loudly!”

Notice that a separated verbal prefix remains after the verb: ne menj el, not ne elmenj in a neutral prohibition.

Polite requests

A third-person imperative with Ön (formal singular “you”) is a standard polite request: Várjon egy pillanatot! “Please wait a moment.” The pronoun itself is normally omitted.

Two useful alternatives avoid a bare command:

• tessék + infinitive: Tessék leülni! “Please sit down.”
• legyen szíves + infinitive: Legyen szíves várni! “Please wait.”

The infinitive is the dictionary-like “to” form of a verb, such as leülni “to sit down” or várni “to wait.” Tessék is conventional and polite, though its tone depends on the situation. Legyen szíves is a respectful formula. Informally to one person, Légy szíves, csukd be az ajtót! means “Please close the door.”

Examples in Context

Hungarian	English	Note
Gyere ide!	Come here!	Informal singular; common irregular form
Olvass minden nap!	Read every day!	Indefinite: no specific object
Olvasd el ezt az üzenetet!	Read this message!	Definite object; el- follows the verb
Kérj egy kávét!	Ask for a coffee!	Indefinite object
Kérd a számlát!	Ask for the bill!	Definite object
Menjünk haza!	Let’s go home!	First-person plural suggestion
Üljetek le!	Sit down!	Informal plural
Ne nyisd ki az ablakot!	Don’t open the window!	Negative definite command
Várjon itt, kérem!	Please wait here.	Formal singular
Tessék leülni!	Please sit down.	Polite tessék + infinitive
Legyen szíves megismételni!	Please repeat that.	Respectful request
Hadd segítsek!	Let me help!	First-person imperative after hadd
Pihenjenek egy kicsit!	Have a little rest.	Formal plural or “let them rest”
Ne felejtsd el a kulcsot!	Don’t forget the key!	Definite singular; separated el

Common Mistakes

Using the indefinite form with a definite object

• Wrong: Olvass a levelet!
• Right: Olvasd el a levelet!
• Why: A levelet means “the letter,” a definite direct object, so the verb needs the definite form olvasd. The prefix el- adds the natural sense of reading it through.

Using nem for “don’t”

• Wrong: Nem menj el!
• Right: Ne menj el!
• Why: Nem negates a statement. A prohibition or negative request uses ne plus an imperative form.

Leaving the verbal prefix attached

• Wrong: Elmenj haza!
• Right: Menj haza! or Menj el!
• Why: In a neutral command, a verbal prefix moves after the imperative verb. Which sentence is natural depends on whether you mean “go home” or simply “go away.”

Treating every verb as perfectly regular

• Wrong: Olvasj! or jönj! formed by simply adding -j
• Right: Olvass!; commonly Gyere! or Jöjj!
• Why: Final consonants often merge with j, and several basic verbs are irregular. Memorize the imperative with each high-frequency verb.

Using an informal command with a stranger

• Wrong: Várj! to a customer or an unfamiliar older person
• Right: Várjon egy pillanatot, kérem! or Legyen szíves várni!
• Why: Várj belongs to informal te address and can sound abrupt in a formal relationship. Hungarian politeness requires both the appropriate person form and a suitable tone.

Usage Notes

A bare imperative is not automatically rude. Gyere! between friends or Nézd! “Look!” in lively conversation can be completely natural. Adding kérlek “please” softens an informal request: Kérlek, segíts! “Please help!” With formal address, third-person forms such as jöjjön and várjon are central.

English uses “please” across many situations, but Hungarian chooses among several constructions. Kérem can accompany a formal request: Írja alá, kérem! “Please sign it.” Tessék is common in courteous instructions and can also mean “here you are,” depending on context. Because intonation strongly affects politeness, copying a short imperative without its original situation can produce a sharper tone than intended.

The first-person plural form is an everyday equivalent of English “let’s”: Induljunk! “Let’s leave!” and Nézzük meg! “Let’s have a look!” It often sounds collaborative rather than commanding.

Beyond the Basics: Imperatives Outside Direct Commands

You do not need to master this section at A2, but the same forms appear in more than direct orders. Hungarian uses imperative forms in clauses introduced by hogy “that” after expressions of wanting, requesting, necessity, or purpose. In this role, the mood overlaps with what English expresses using “should,” “to,” or a subjunctive-like construction.

• Azt akarom, hogy gyere el. — “I want you to come.”
• Megkértem, hogy várjon. — “I asked him/her to wait.”
• Fontos, hogy időben érkezzünk. — “It is important that we arrive on time.”
• Azért jöttem, hogy segítsek. — “I came to help.”

Here the person can be anyone, which is why Hungarian has imperative forms for all six persons. The first-person form in hogy segítsek does not mean that the speaker is ordering themself; it marks a desired or intended action.

Hadd introduces permission or an eager proposal and is followed by an imperative: Hadd menjek! “Let me go!”; Hadd nézzem meg! “Let me see it!” The choice between nézzek and nézzem still depends on whether the object is indefinite or definite.

The short and long second-person definite forms can also carry stylistic differences: mondd and mondjad both mean “say/tell it,” while the longer form may sound more emphatic, insistent, or colloquial in a particular sentence. These nuances are best learned from whole expressions rather than treated as a rigid rule.

Practice Tips

1. Learn verbs in command pairs. For each new verb, record the informal indefinite and definite forms when relevant: olvas—olvass—olvasd, kér—kérj—kérd, nyit—nyiss—nyisd.
2. Transform statements aloud. Change Elolvasod a könyvet into Olvasd el a könyvet!, then into Ne olvasd el a könyvet! This trains the ending, prefix position, and negation together.
3. Role-play three levels of address. Ask a friend, several friends, and a stranger to wait: Várj!, Várjatok!, Várjon, kérem! Learning the social setting with the form prevents polite-address mistakes.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Present Definite Conjugation — the same definite-versus-indefinite object distinction determines many imperative endings.