Önnek

Önnek is a form of the Hungarian polite second-person pronoun used to address a single person in formal speech, and also the dative form for the plural polite pronoun. The singular dative is Önnek, meaning “to you” (formal), while the plural dative is Önöknek, meaning “to you” (plural, formal). The pronoun Ön is capitalized in standard Hungarian when used to address someone formally, and its dative forms retain that capitalization: Önnek, Önöknek.

In usage, Önnek or Önöknek marks the recipient or beneficiary of an action. They commonly occur with verbs that express thanks, gifts, favors, or other directed actions. Example sentences include: “Köszönöm Önnek a segítséget” (Thank you for your help) and “Köszönöm Önöknek a türelmet” (Thank you for your patience). The choice between singular and plural forms depends on whether one person or multiple formal listeners are being addressed.

Orthography and formality are important considerations. The formal pronouns Ön/Önök are preferred in professional, official, or respectful contexts, while te/ti or ők are used in informal conversation. In informal writing, the dative forms would use neked or nektek for singular and plural, respectively, rather than Önnek/Önöknek.

History and status: The use of Ön and Önök reflects Hungarian politeness conventions that distinguish formal from informal address. These forms are integral to standard Hungarian grammar and are taught as part of polite communication in both spoken and written language.