Prefix Meg- (Completion) in Hungarian

Overview

The verbal prefix meg- is the most common and most important prefix in Hungarian. Its primary function is to mark an action as completed or perfective — transforming an ongoing process into a finished result. At the CEFR A1 level, understanding meg- is the first step toward grasping Hungarian's aspect system, which relies on prefixes rather than tense to distinguish between ongoing and completed actions.

Without meg-, a verb describes a process or habitual action: írok (I write / I am writing). With meg-, the action is completed: megírom (I finish writing it / I write it completely). This distinction is fundamental to how Hungarians think about actions and is used constantly in conversation.

Meg- can also change verb meaning entirely in some combinations, creating new vocabulary items that must be learned as units.

How It Works

Perfective Function

Without meg- (imperfective)	With meg- (perfective)	Difference
Írok. (I write/am writing.)	Megírom. (I finish writing it.)	process → completion
Ettem. (I was eating.)	Megettem. (I ate it all.)	process → completion
Tanulom. (I'm learning it.)	Megtanulom. (I learn/master it.)	process → result
Csináltam. (I was doing.)	Megcsináltam. (I did/finished it.)	process → completion

Meaning-Changing Function

Some meg- combinations create new meanings:

Base verb	With meg-	New meaning
áll (stand)	megáll (stop)	new meaning
néz (look)	megnéz (look at, check)	slight change
ismer (know)	megismer (get to know)	inchoative
hall (hear)	meghall (catch/hear suddenly)	momentary
szólít (call)	megszólít (address someone)	specific

Meg- in Different Tenses

Tense	Example	English
Present	Megírom.	I'll write it (finish it).
Past	Megírtam.	I wrote it (finished).
Future	Meg fogom írni.	I will write it.
Imperative	Írd meg!	Write it (finish it)!

Examples in Context

Hungarian	English	Note
Írok. → Megírom.	I write. → I'll finish writing it.	completion
Ettem. → Megettem.	I was eating. → I ate it all.	past completion
Tanulom. → Megtanulom.	I study it. → I'll master it.	result
Csináltam. → Megcsináltam.	I was doing. → I finished it.	completion
Megállok itt.	I stop here.	meaning change
Megnézem a filmet.	I'll watch the film.	"check out"
Megértettem.	I understood.	resultative
Megkérdezem.	I'll ask.	completion of asking
Megveszem.	I'll buy it.	completion
Megiszom a kávét.	I'll drink (up) the coffee.	completion

Common Mistakes

Ignoring the aspect difference

• Wrong: Treating írok and megírom as identical
• Right: Understanding that meg- signals completion
• Why: Írok egy levelet (I'm writing a letter — process) vs Megírom a levelet (I'll finish/complete the letter — result).

Using meg- with intransitive verbs inappropriately

• Wrong: Megmegyek. (I finish-go?)
• Right: Elmegyek. (I leave/go away.)
• Why: Not every verb takes meg- for its perfective form. Some use other prefixes: el-, ki-, be-, etc.

Not separating meg- when required

• Wrong: Nem megírom.
• Right: Nem írom meg.
• Why: In negation, the prefix separates and moves after the verb.

Usage Notes

The present tense with meg- often has future meaning: Megírom typically means "I will write it (and finish it)" rather than "I am finishing writing it right now." This is because a completed action in the present naturally refers to future completion.

Meg- is the default perfective prefix. When in doubt about which prefix makes a verb perfective, meg- is often the answer, though this is not universal.

Practice Tips

• Take ten common verbs and practice them with and without meg-. Note the meaning difference.
• Practice meg- in past tense to describe completed actions: Megettem. Megírtam. Megcsináltam.
• Learn which verbs do NOT take meg- for completion and use other prefixes instead.

Related Concepts

This is a foundational concept for understanding Hungarian verbal aspect and connects to the broader verbal prefix system studied at B1.